Schengen

The introduction of Schengen meant simplifying travelling, especially for tourists, visitors and business travellers from third countries, who needed a specific visa to enter Switzerland and now only need a Schengen visa, which is valid also for Switzerland since 12th December 2008. Switzerland has been issuing Schengen visas since the Schengen Agreement entered into force. Travelling in the Schengen Area has become easier also for foreigners coming from non-EU/EFTA States (European Free Trade Association) who live in Switzerland: since 12th December 2008 foreigners holding a Swiss B, C or L permit do not need a Schengen visa any more, as long as they carry with them a valid travel document and their residence permit. Moreover, since the entry into force of Schengen, Switzerland is required to comply with the Schengen visa policy . This entails among other things also the conclusion of visa facilitation and visa exemption agreements with certain States. In some cases Switzerland takes advantage of the negotiations to conclude also a readmission agreement at the same time. Finally, since the entry into force of Schengen, Switzerland has been issuing a new aliens permit (NAA) in credit card format. The implementation of this novelty concerns in particular the Cantons. The NAA is granted to citizens of countries that do not belong to the EU or the EFTA.