World Country Guide

Passports
Passport valid for three months after intended period of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden holding a valid national identity card;
(b) foreigners holding national Identity Cards issued by the governments of Belgium, France or Luxembourg, provided they are resident in one of these countries.

Visas
Required by all except the following for stays of up to three months:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals of countries in South and North/Central America, including nationals of Caribbean island states (except nationals of Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti and Peru who do need a visa);
(c) nationals of Andorra, Brunei, Bulgaria, Croatia, Fiji, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tuvalu and Vatican City;
(d) nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (China, PR), Thailand and United Arab Emirates, if in possession of a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa (valid for all Schengen states);
(e) holders of a travel document issued to refugees by the EU with a blue cover and two golden stripes in the top left hand corner and mentioning the agreement of 28 July 1951;
(f) nationals in direct transit travelling within 48 hours providing they hold all valid documents.
Note: If staying for longer than three months, or if total length of time spent in Switzerland exceeds six months within a 12-month period, a residence permit is required. Visitors holding visas or residence permits must register with the police within eight days of arrival in Switzerland.

Types of visa and cost
Tourist; Visitor; Business; Transit. All visas cost 25 for passengers over 18 years of age (children aged under 18 included in a parent’s passport are not required to pay a separate visa fee); 12.50 for unmarried passengers aged under 18 with separate passports. Fees can vary due to exchange rates.

Validity
Three months. Transit visas are issued to nationals wishing to pass through Switzerland or continuing on a connecting flight to another country. Holders of transit visas must continue their journey within 48 hours.

Note
Stateless persons require a transit visa at all times. Nationals of Iraq and Somalia do not require a transit visa if they hold a residence permit for an EU country, Canada, Iceland, Norway or the USA. Nationals of Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem Rep), Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Turkey do not require a transit visa if they hold a visa or residence permit for an EU country, Canada, Iceland, Norway or the USA.

Application to
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy responsible for place of residence; see Contact Addresses section). UK applicants should note that residents of Northern Ireland, Scotland, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, Greater Manchester, Humberside, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Merseyside, Northumberland, Nottinghamshire, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire must obtain their visas from the Swiss Consulate General in Manchester (see Contact Addresses section).
Visa applications must be made in person; postal applications are not accepted.

Application requirements
Tourist: (a) Passport or travel document valid for at least three months after intended visit accompanied by valid travel documents. (b) One completed application form (available to download and complete prior to arrival from the Embassy of Switzerland website www.swissembassy.org.uk). (c) One recent, passport-size photo. (d) Fee, payable in cash only. (e) Return/onward ticket. (f) Proof of sufficient funds in the form of a recent bank statement/travellers’ cheques (approximately equivalent to 50 per day). (g) Hotel reservation and/or package tour confirmation. Transit: (a)-(g) and, (h) proof of flight with an airline licensed in Switzerland. (i) Visa(s) for ongoing destination(s). Visitor: (a)-(f) and, (g) Invitation letter from Swiss residents sent directly to the Embassy, accompanied by a copy of the Swiss resident’s Swiss Passport/ID card or Swiss Resident Permit. In special cases a declaration of guarantee completed by the applicant and the resident may be required, which must then be endorsed by the Aliens Police of the resident’s canton. Business: (a)-(g) and, (h) Proof of existing business connections or an invitation from Swiss company or business partner sent directly to the relevant Embassy.

Working days required
Visas may be issued immediately, but travellers are advised to apply at least one week prior to departure and no earlier than three months before proposed travel. Some applications may need to be referred to the Swiss authorities, which can take six to eight weeks for approval.

Temporary residence
Nationals of most European and some other countries do not require a visa if they intend to take up employment or residence in Switzerland; however, before entry they must obtain an Assurance of a Residence Permit from their employer in Switzerland. Students who wish to attend school, college or university for more than three months must apply for a Residence Permit well in advance through their local Embassy or Consulate.