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General Schengen Visa Information
Switzerland joined the Schengen visa scheme on 12 December 2008.
How to apply for a visa:
In order to find out whether you need a visa or not and the requirements, please click here
Where to apply:
If you are spending more time in Switzerland than in any other Schengen country(ies)
OR
if you are spending the same amount of time in Switzerland as in the other Schengen country(ies) and are entering Switzerland first, you may obtain a visa from one of the following:
- In person by appointment only, or by post; at the Swiss Visa Application Centre,1-8 Bateman's Building, South Soho Square, London W1D 3EN.
To book an appointment please go online to: http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk/Dropbox.aspx
For additional information please call 0871 3760023 (free of charge) 8:30 - 17:30 (Mon – Fri).
- In person only; at the Swiss Visa Application Centre, The Edinburgh Office, 18 Forth Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LH (for people living in Scotland only)
Office timings 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (Mon – Fri)
For additional information please go online to: http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk/Dropbox.aspx
or call 0871 3760023 (free of charge) 8:30 - 17:30 (Mon – Fri).
- In person or by post; Accredited Agents: See list of approved visa/travel agencies: www.swissembassy.org.uk – visa – downloads.
There will be a charge for these services; please enquire with the agencies.
- In person by appointment only; at the Swiss Embassy, 16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H2BQ.
To book an appointment please call the premium rate number 0906 5771 222 (£1.50 per minute)
Please note that applications sent directly to the Swiss Embassy will be returned to the sender
Where to apply for a Work, Student, Residence or Spouse’s Permit, or EU Spouse Visa:
At the Swiss Embassy, 16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ.
Opening hours are: Monday to Friday 10.00 am – 11.30 am (except British and Swiss public
holidays) without prior appointment. For requirements see http://ch.vfsglobal.co.uk
For inquiries you can contact the Embassy by email via the following webpage:
www.swissembassy.org.uk – visa - link: “inquiries” - fill in the form and submit it.
General requirements for Tourist, Business and Visitor’s Visa applications:
► 1 completed application form duly signed by the applicant
► Passport + copy
► UK residence permit + copy
► 2 recent photographs
► Transport documentation: airline or e-ticket or rail ticket + copy
The following additional documents have to be submitted for:
Business Visa
► Proof of health insurance (travel insurance) - minimum medical coverage £25,000.00 to
cover the whole period of the visa. Please make sure that the document includes the
following information: Name of applicant, duration of the insurance, cover details, provide
the policy if necessary. A policy number only is not sufficient.
► Signed invitation letter from the Swiss-based company on company letterhead paper sent
to the customer or faxed directly to the Embassy (fax no. 0044 20 7723 9581)
► Confirmation of employment and position held in local firm on original company letterhead
paper
Tourist Visa
► Travel itinerary
► Proof of health insurance (travel insurance) - minimum medical coverage £25,000.00 to
cover the whole period of the visa. Please make sure that the document includes the
following information: Name of applicant, duration of the insurance, cover details, provide
the policy if necessary. A policy number only is not sufficient.
► Letter of employment or student enrolment confirmation on original letterhead paper
► Proof of funds in the form of bank statements for the last three months
► Written confirmation of hotel reservations. Reservation confirmation issued directly by the
hotel clearly stating the visa applicant's full name, dates of check-in and check-out, the
hotel address and contact details. Bookings made via a reservation centre will no longer
be accepted. To ensure that visa applicants comply with legislation regarding the
authenticity of their trip, controls will be made before and after the visa has been granted
Visitor's Visa
► Proof of health insurance (travel insurance) - minimum medical coverage £25,000.00 to
cover the whole period of the visa. Please make sure that the document includes the
following information: Name of applicant, duration of the insurance, cover details, provide
the policy if necessary. A policy number only is not sufficient.
► Letter of employment or student enrolment confirmation on original letterhead paper
► Proof of funds in the form of bank statements for the last three months
► An invitation and a copy of the Swiss passport from the host in Switzerland and copy of
the residence permit (if the host is not Swiss) sent directly to the Embassy by fax
(0044 20 7723 9581) or a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) from your host in
Switzerland.
EU/EEA/EFTA Spouse Visa
► Passport of spouse
► Marriage certificate; if the certificate is not in English, French, German or Italian a
translation is required. Spouses of EU nationals may lodge their applications at the Swiss
Embassy without prior appointment between 10.00 am - 11.30 am.
IMPORTANT:
► For applicants who are minors, a full birth certificate, the written consent of both parents
as well as copies of the signed parents' passports are required.
► Passport and UK residence permit have to be valid for at least three months beyond the
requested stay in Switzerland
► If you wish your passport to be returned by post please bring a pre-paid special delivery envelope from the Post Office with you
► If you wish your passport to be returned by post please bring a pre-paid special delivery
envelope from the Post Office with you.
► Your UK permit must be valid for at least three months after your departure from the
Schengen area
► All supporting documents have to be submitted together and in duplicate (original and
photocopy).
► Diplomatic Missions in the UK may lodge their applications without prior appointment
between 10.00 am - 11.30 am.
► It is suggested that you apply at least one month prior to departure, but not more than
three months before the planned entry.
► Processing may take up to 7 working days from the date of appointment/receipt of
documents. Please note that visas cannot be issued on the same day.
► For the following nationals the visa processing takes up to 14 working days:
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt (except diplomatic passport holders), Indonesia,
Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Kazakhstan (diplomatic passport only), Dem. Rep. of Congo,
Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Vietnam, Palestine.
Transit Visa
Airport Transit Visas for Switzerland are required by nationals of the following countries, unless they hold a valid visa for the UK, USA, Canada or the Schengen States, in which case no Airport Transit Visa will be required (requirements as other nationalities):
Afghanistan |
Bangladesh |
Eritrea |
Ghana |
Iraq |
Iran |
Dem. Rep. of Congo |
Nigeria |
Pakistan |
Somalia |
Sri Lanka |
Ethiopia |
Other nationalities can travel without an Airport Transit Visa if they:
a) hold a valid and recognised travel document
b) will remain in the transit area of the airport
c) will continue the journey within 48 hours
d) hold a visa or documents to enter the country of destination
e) hold a confirmed flight ticket for the onward journey.
Cost of visa
The fee is payable on submission of the visa application and non-refundable. Payment should be made in cash or by postal order.
£54.00, adults
£32.00, children aged 6-12
£32.00, nationals of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
There is no visa fee for the following applicants;
● children under 6 years of age
● school pupils, students and accompanying teachers on study or educational trips
● researchers
● EU/EEA spouses and their children (under 21). The original marriage certificate or a full
birth certificate with parents' names must be submitted together with spouse's/parents'
original passport. If the certificate is not in English, French, German or Italian a translation
is required.
Should your stay exceed 3 months within one year, a permit has to be applied for.
These applications take between 8 and 12 weeks
Requirements for permits:
Student Permit
► Passport and 3 copies
► Visa application forms in triplicate
► 4 passport-size photographs
► Curriculum vitae including an explanation of the objectives of the applicant
► Diplomas/school report
► Letter of acceptance from the Institution in Switzerland (original)
► Proof of any payment of school fees
► Proof of financial resources
Please submit 3 copies of all documents
Work Permit
► Passport and 3 copies
► Visa application forms in triplicate
► 4 passport-size photographs
► Work contract in triplicate
Residence Permit for Dependant
► Passport and 3 copies
► Visa application forms in triplicate
► 4 passport-size photographs
► 3 sets of good quality photocopies of the following documents:
- passport (first & last page) of the husband/sponsor
- L or B permit of the husband/sponsor
- contract of employment of the husband/sponsor
- original marriage certificate
- original birth certificate of the dependant child
If the spouse is a Swiss citizen the visa request can only be processed once the marriage has been registered in Switzerland.
Applications for student, work and residence permits may be lodged at the Swiss Embassy without prior appointment between 10.00 am – 11.30 am. For further inquiries you can also contact the Embassy by email via the following webpage: www.swissembassy.org.uk – visa - link: “inquiries” – fill in the form and submit it.
Please note that NO information is given by phone.
IMPORTANT:
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If necessary, you may be requested to bring some additional documentation. Photocopies of all relevant documents must be provided for the Embassy. Please bring along all original documents. They will be checked and returned to you provided that you specifically request their return. Once submitted without such a request, they will not be returned.
For general telephone enquiries please call 0871 376 0023 or check the webpage www.swissembassy.org.uk
Visa Application Form
Visa Application Form
Please Note:
The forms are in PDF format.
You will need an Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and download this form
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
To download the Application Form:
1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.
OR
1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.
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