| 1. |
Do I need a
travel-insurance?
|
YES
Proof of health insurance (travel insurance) - minimum medical coverage
GBP
25,000.00 to cover the whole period of the visa. Insurance can be purchased
from Post Offices, banks, travel agencies or BUPA. Please make sure that the
document includes the following information: name of applicant, duration
of the insurance, cover details. A policy number only is not sufficient.
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 |
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| 2. |
Do
I need a visa?
|
You
do NOT need a visa for short stay
in
Switzerland
if you hold
a valid
(Passport has
to be valid at the time of departure from
Switzerland
)
-
BRITISH PASSPORT: must contain one of the following remarks:
“British Citizen” (B.C) “British National (Overseas)” (B.N:O.)
-
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
- UK travel documents, issued to refugees by the Home Office, with blue cover,
two black stripes (gold stripes since 16.08.96) in the top left hand corner and
mentioning agreement of 28 July 1951.
- LATVIS Aliens Passport
-
NATIONAL PASSPORT, OFFICIAL PASSPORT, IDENTITY CARD:
- of all EU countries; Identity cards for Bulgaria and Romania are not
accepted.
-
NATIONAL-, OFFICIAL-, DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT:
of any of the following countries
|
Andorra
|
Costa Rica
|
Corea
Rep. of
|
San
Marino
|
|
Argentina
|
Croatia
|
Macao
(MSAR only)
|
USA
|
|
Australia
|
Cyprus
|
Malaysia
|
Uruguay
|
|
Brazil
|
El
Salvador
|
Mexico
|
Vatican
|
|
Brunei
|
Guatemala
|
Monaco
|
Venezuela
|
|
Canada
|
Honduras
|
Nicaragua
|
West
Indies (Antiuga and
Barbuda,
Bahamas,
Barbados, St.Kitt and
Nevis)
|
|
Chile
|
Israel
|
New Zealand
|
Hong Kong
(HKSAR)
|
|
|
Japan
|
Panama
|
Singapore
|
|
Paraguay
|
Mauritius
|
Seychelles
|
|
|
Macedonia
*
|
Montenegro
*
|
Serbia
*
**
|
|
*
only holders of
Biometric-Passports are exempt from the visa
** Serbian passports issued by “Koordinaciona uprava” require a Schengen-Visa
to travel
-
to
Switzerland
DIPLOMATIC
PASSPORTS:
|
Albania
|
Dom.Republic
|
Namibia
|
Morocco
|
|
Algeria
|
Ecuador
|
Peru
|
Turkey
|
|
Bolivia
|
Iran
|
Philippines
|
Ukraine
|
|
Columbia
|
Macedonia
|
Thailand
|
Morocco
|
|
Cuba
|
Moldova
|
Tunisia
|
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
|
|
-
OFFICIAL PASSPORTS:
Philippines (issued by the Philippine government for government-members only)
-
SERVICE
PASSPORTS:
|
Algeria
|
Bolivia
|
Dom.Republic
|
Ecuador
|
|
Colombia
|
Cuba
|
Morocco
|
Macedonia
|
|
Namibia
|
Peru
|
Thailand
|
Tunesia
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
|
|
|
-
SPECIAL PASSPORTS:
|
Algeria
|
Bolivia
|
Dom.Republic
|
Ecuador |
|
Colombia
|
Cuba
|
Morocco
|
Macedonia |
|
Namibia
|
Peru |
Thailand |
Tunesia
|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
|
|
|
|
you do not fulfil the above conditions you have to obtain a Schengen visa.
Please note that the visa application must be submitted to the Swiss Mission
responsible for your place of residence. A visa application not submitted to
the correct Swiss Mission may be rejected.
9.
SCHOOL TRIPS EXEMPTION
Pupils of UK schools who would normally require a visa to enter
Switzerland
are exempt from the visa requirements if they are listed
on a “List of Travellers” form which must be shown to immigration officials.
They must also,
- be travelling on a school trip
- be accompanied by a teacher from the school
- have their own valid travel document
- have a valid UK residence permit or visa
To obtain the List of Travellers form the teacher involved should apply online
at:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/listoftravellers
Further information about the List of Travellers can be obtained from
British Council information
Centre
Tel. 0161957
7755
Email:
general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
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| 3. |
Is the visa
issued by the Swiss Embassy London valid for Switzerland only?
|
The Embassy of Switzerland issues visas for Switzerland and for the other
Schengen states. The Schengen visa issued by the Swiss Embassy gives access to
24 Schengen countries in total. However, the Schengen Visa applications will
only be accepted by the Swiss Embassy if Switzerland is the country of maximum
stay. Should the duration of the stay be the same in several Schengen States,
Switzerland must be the first point of entry if making an application at the
Swiss Embassy.
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|
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| 4. |
Where and how
can I apply for a tourist-, business-, and visitors-visa?
|
a)
you can apply in person at the Embassy by appointment only by calling the
premium-rate number 09065771222 (£1.50 per minute).
Afterwards, the application has to be submitted at the Embassy of Switzerland,
16-18 Montagu Place, W1H 2BQ London
Appointments between 09.00 h and 10.00 h only
b)
you can use the drop-box-facilities (see webpage:http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk/Dropbox.aspx)
In order to avoid a long waiting, to make an appointment
click
here.
For information please call the following number 0871 3760023 (free of charge)
08.30 – 17.30
h
Mon – Fri.
Appointments
are given for the next day.
c) you can apply by post only by using one of the visas/travel-agencies – see
Embassy
webpage:
www.eda.admin.ch/london - postal application. Please note
that applications
sent directly to this Embassy will be returned to its senders.
The
Swiss Embassy has accredited the travel- / visa-agencies to lodge visas
applications on behalf of their customers (see list postal application).
Beware: The Swiss Embassy has learnt that some agencies are advertising and
claiming to be authorised to apply on your behalf for a Schengen visa. Please
check the 2010 list of the accredited agencies. Moreover there is NO
express-service fee. The Swiss Embassy is warning visa applicants against the
behaviour of those fraudulent agencies.
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| 5. |
I'm the spouse
of an EU-EEA-citizen and have UK-resident-card of a Family Member of an EEA
National. Do I require a Visa to enter Switzerland?
|
Yes you do require a visa, but it will be free of charge.
|
|
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| 6. |
How early can I
apply?
|
Applicants are free to apply up to 90 days prior to their date of travel. The
Swiss Embassy recommends that you apply at least 3 weeks prior to your date of
travel to accommodate any unforeseen processing delays.
Processing time takes approx. up to 7 working days.
|
|
|
| 7. |
How much is the
visa-fee?
|
Ans.
Visa Application Fee:
GBP
55.00
There
is no visa fee for the following applicants:
- Minors under the age of 6 years
- school pupils, students and
accompanying teachers on study or educational trips
- researchers
- Spouse and children of EU
nationals
Proof of relationship
is required (original passport of EU spouse or children and original birth
certificate/s of child/ren or marriage certificate). Documents not in
English, German, French or Italian require a certified translation. Photocopies
of documents are also required.
Exception: fees for nationals of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
: 32.—£
|
|
|
| 8. |
Do I have to
come personally or can I send the application to the Embassy of Switzerland?
|
a)
you can apply in person at the Embassy by appointment only by calling the
premium-rate number 09065771222 (1.50 £ per minute)
b)
you can use the drop-box-facilities (see webpage:http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk/Dropbox.aspx)
In order to avoid a long waiting, to make an appointment
click
here.
For information please call the following number 0871 3760023 (free of charge)
08.30 – 17.30
h
Mon – Fri.
c) you can apply by post – see Embassy-Webpage:
www.eda.admin.ch/london –
postal application.
Please note applications sent directly to this Embassy will be returned
to its sender.
d) for appointments for work-permit, student-visas, residence-permit (spouse):
Please go to the
webpage:
www.eda.admin/london
left side,
link “inquiries”, fill in
the form and send it off.
Please note that NO
information will be given by phone. (see also question 4)
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| 9. |
What are the
documents required for a Swiss Visa?
| After deciding the eligible visa category, applicants can log on
to http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk
to check the recommended documents for the Visa category you have chosen. All
supporting documents must be submitted together and in duplicate
(original+photocopy). |
|
|
| 10. |
Can I apply at
the Swiss Embassy in London if I want to go to Spain or Paris? I can arrange
for bookings accordingly?
| If you plan to apply for your Schengen visa at the Embassy of
Switzerland your main destination and the maximum period of stay in the
Schengen States must be in Switzerland only. Please provide proof to support
this information. |
|
|
|
11.
|
What should I
provide as proof of relationship or my spouse's nationality?
| Originals
and photocopies of your marriage certificate or birth certificate are the only
documents that will be accepted as proof of relationship (Documents not in
English, German, French or Italian require a certified translation).
|
|
|
|
12.
|
Will my fees be
refunded if my visa is refused?
| All fees are non-refundable and will not be refunded if your visa
application is not successful. |
|
|
|
13.
|
What is
procedure to get my passport back?
The
passport can be collected on the on the date indicated at the time of
submission between 09.00 and 10.00 h, Monday to Friday except declared
holidays. It takes usually up to 7 working days to issue a visa.
For the following nationals the visa-processing takes up to 14 working days:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Egypt (except diplomatic passport
holders) Guinea Equatorial, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Kazakhstan
(diplomatic passport only), Dem. Rep. of Congo, Lebanon, Libya, Korea North,
Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi-Arabia, Somalia,
Sudan, Surinam, Syria, Vietnam, Palestine
If you wish your passport to be returned by post please provide a prepaid,
self-addressed, stamped envelope for registered delivery for the safe return of
the document(s). The Swiss Embassy however does not assume any liability for
the loss of documents returned by post.
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|
14.
|
What if I
cannot return to collect my passport in person?
In
your absence, along with your receipt and stamped passport copy, an authority
letter from you in the name of your relative will be required. We can post the
application to you by Registered Delivery (Please provide a prepaid,
self-addressed, stamped envelope for registered delivery for the safe return of
the document (s) (only pre-paid envelopes from Royal Mail - special delivery are
accepted). However, this request needs to be made at the time of
submitting your application and cannot be requested at a later date. This
service is restricted to Royal Mail coverage in the
UK
and
Northern Ireland
only. The Swiss Embassy however does not assume any
liability for the loss of documents returned by post
|
|
|
| 15. |
When can I
reapply; is there a timeframe after the refusal that I must wait before I can
reapply?
| You are free to re-apply at anytime if your application has been
refused earlier. There is no time gap to be observed after a refusal to make a
fresh application. However, it is recommended that you note the reasons for the
earlier refusal before submitting a new application and make amendments where
applicable. |
|
|
|
16.
|
Can my
application be processed on the same day that I submit it at the Swiss Embassy?
| Applications cannot be processed on the same day. Processing time
is seven working days from the date of the appointment/receipt of the
documents. For the following nationals the visa-processing takes up to 14
working days: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi, Egypt (except
diplomatic passport holders) Guinea Equatorial, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen,
Jordan, Kazakhstan (diplomatic passport only), Dem. Rep. of Congo, Lebanon,
Libya, Korea North, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda,
Saudi-Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Surinam, Syria, Vietnam, Palestine
|
|
|
| 17. |
What are the
procedures to get a visa for study, work, joining a spouse or residenc-permit?
| Please check the relevant leaflet on the webpage
www.eda.admin/london - visa link: Swiss Visa VFS Global – preparing for your
application – visa categories. For further inquiries please go to the webpage:
www.eda.admin.ch/london - visa left side, link “inquiries”, fill in the
form and send it off. Please note that NO information will be given by phone. |
|
|
| 18. |
How can I find
out whether my work-, residence-, study-visa or permit to join my spouse has
been approved?
| For inquiries please go to the webpage:
www.eda.admin.ch/london - visa left side, link “inquiries”, fill in the
form and send it off. Please note that NO information will be given by phone. |
|
|
| 19. |
My work-,
resident-permit, permit to join my spouse or study-visa has been approved. Do I
have to make an appointment to pick up my visa?
| If you’ve received the approval (please check with the Embassy –
www.eda.admin.ch/london visa - link “inquiries”), you may come between
11.00 h – 12.00 h without an appointment and submit the visa-application with
the passport. Please note that processing time is 48 hours (two working days).
If you haven’t already made a personal application at the Embassy please hand
in your visa application-form together with your passport, copy of your
passport, two recent passport photos and £ 55.00 in cash for the visa-fee. The
visa-application-form can be downloaded from the following webpage:
www.eda.admin/london. NO information is given over the phone.
|
|
|
| 20 |
I’ve a work-,
resident-permit, student-visa. What do is the next step to be taken?
| Unless otherwise stated, the visa is valid for the initial entry
only. You will then have to declare your arrival at the Police for
Foreigners/Town’s Registrar (German:Fremdenpolizei/Einwohnerkontrolle, French:
Police des étrangers/Contrôle deshabitants; Italian: Ufficio degli
stranieri/Controllo degli abitanti) of your place ofresidence in Switzerland
within 14 days of your arrival in Switzerland, but before taking up employment
in the case of a work permit. The permit to stay, study or work in
Switzerland will be issued upon your notification of arrival.
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