FAQ – Frequently asked questions

Entry

Please note that the general visa and entry procedure is described in detail in our information sheet:

Welcome! – Information sheet for entry to Switzerland (59 Kb, pdf)

1. General information on entry and visa procedures
2. Special information on Schengen
3. Border-crossing / Travel documents
4. For hosts in Switzerland
5. Travelling in the Schengen area with a Swiss residence permit
6. Questions on granted or refused visas
7. Long-term residency in Switzerland (more than 3 months) / Employment in Switzerland
8. Other questions

1. General information on entry and visa procedures

Do I require a visa?

What type of visa is appropriate for my travel purpose? What visa application form do I need to complete?

How long does the visa procedure take?

How much does a visa cost?

Airport transit visa

Making an appointment at the Embassy – Submitting/completing a visa application form – Documents required

I cannot reach the Embassy

I cannot download the visa application form. What should I do?

Vistor’s visa – period of validity

Obtaining a visa during travel abroad

Entry of persons not requiring a visa

Entry into Switzerland by stateless persons

Addresses of Swiss Embassies abroad

2. Special information on Schengen

Entry with a Schengen visa

I have a Schengen residence permit – do I require a visa for Switzerland?

I have a Type D visa containing an entry saying "Suisse". Does this visa authorise me to travel around in the Schengen area?

I have a residence permit for GB/ Ireland/ USA/ Canada – do I require a visa for Switzerland/Schengen?

I am neither a citizen of the EU nor of the EEA, resident in the United Kingdom, and married to an EU citizen; thus, I am an EU spouse. My British residence permit (EEA Family member Residence Documentation) does not guarantee essentially entry into the Schengen area without a visa. However, a number of Schengen states allow me to enter their territory without a visa, because I am an EU spouse and holder of UK Residence Documentation. Am I entitled to enter Switzerland?

Why is my British residence permit (EEA Family member Residence Documentation) not listed in the list of residence permits issued by the member states (Annex 2 to the Schengen Manual)?

Travel facilities for school pupils

Is a Swiss visa issued before 12.12.2008 still valid?

When is a visa issued free of charge?

Visa exemption for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania

Visa exemption for Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

I am a Romanian/Bulgarian national – do I require a visa? Is my identity card valid for entry?

I am a South African national – do I require a visa?

I've been informed by the Swiss consulate abroad that I cannot enter the Schengen area because of an existing record in the Schengen information System (SIS). Whom can I contact?

3. Border-crossing / Travel documents

May EU or EEA citizens who are travelling on a non-valid travel document or without a travel document made out in their name enter Switzerland?

Will Swiss citizens be admitted into an EU or EEA member state if they neither have a valid travel document nor one made out in their name?

Will Swiss citizens be admitted into a non-EU or EEA member state if they neither have a valid travel document nor one made out in their name?

Are citizens of a non-EU or EEA member state and who are subject to visa requirements admitted into Switzerland if they travel on an expired passport or if their passport has been annulled but still contains a valid visa?

Are infants who are citizens of an EU or EEA member state authorized to enter Switzerland if they do not hold travel document made out in their name?

Minors travelling alone or accompanied by people other than their parents or who do not have custody: may these minors enter or exit Switzerland?

Are Italian citizens holding a renewed Italian ID card admitted into Switzerland?

Travel document validity

What is an official passport? Is it different from a normal passport?

4. For hosts in Switzerland

I would like to invite a guest to Switzerland. How should I proceed?

I would like to invite a business partner to Switzerland for a meeting. How should I proceed?

Letter of Invitation

Declaration of sponsorship

Where should I submit the sponsorship declaration?

Travel insurance

I have invited someone to Switzerland. Meanwhile, this person has been granted a visa and now requests money, saying I had to send it her, purportedly because the Swiss Embassy had thus advised her. Am I under an obligation to send any money?

5. Travelling in the Schengen area with a Swiss residence permit

I have a Swiss residence permit. Do I still require a visa for the Schengen area? What about Great Britain and Ireland?

My identity document is currently being extended. Can I still travel?

Can I stay in Switzerland or in another Schengen member state after my Swiss residence permit has expired?

It depends on whether you are subject to visa regulations or not.

If you are subject to visa regulations, you can apply for a visa to the competent diplomatic mission of the Schengen member state of your principal destination. Your application must be submitted no later than 15 days before expiry of your Swiss residence permit. If your principle destination is Switzerland, you can contact the cantonal migration office to extend your stay. The migration office will decide whether to extend your stay or grant you a visa.
If you are not subject to visa regulations, you are permitted to stay in Switzerland as a tourist for a further 90 days without authorisation. If you wish to travel to another Schengen member state, you should – in order to avoid possible difficulties - inquire from the competent authorities of that member state under what circumstance you may stay there.
For further information please consult number 251.424 of our visa directives (555 Kb, pdf) . The information is only available in German, French and Italian.

I am a Kosovo national with a B or C permit but no Kosovo passport. Can I travel to Schengen countries on my old passport? Can I travel to Kosovo via Austria?

Addresses of foreign embassies in Switzerland

6. Questions on granted or refused visas

The Embassy has refused my visa application (receipt of form refusing a visa)

How do I remit an advance on costs?

On entering Switzerland, third-state nationals (people who are neither EU nor EEA citizens) must prove they have sufficient means of subsistence, regardless of whether they are subject to or exempt from visa requirements. What is extent of financial means is expected? Is cash the only form of showing that third-state nationals can support themselves while in Switzerland?

How can I extend my visa?

What is the status of my application?

7. Long-term residency in Switzerland (more than 3 months) / Employment in Switzerland

I would like a residence permit for Switzerland for more than 3 months

I have got married abroad. How can my husband enter Switzerland?

Family reunification

I would like to work in Switzerland

Duty to notify the authorities

Addresses of the cantonal migration and employment authorities

8. Other questions

Where can I find information on the statutory provisions regarding visa and border matters?

Importing household goods / customs formalities

I would like to bring my pet to Switzerland. What points need to be considered?

Buying property in Switzerland