Schengen short-stay visa (C)

Please check visa requirements by nationality under the following link:

A Schengen visa is valid for Switzerland and all other Schengen member states unless stated otherwise on the visa.

Holders of residence permits from a Schengen member state are permitted to enter Switzerland without a visa.

Stays for the following purposes require a category C visa: tourism visiting family or friends participating in a sports or cultural event business attending school or to study

People intending to enter Switzerland in order to pursue gainful employment are required to hold both a valid Schengen visa and a work permit.

category C visa is issued for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Schengen visas may be single-entry, dual-entry or multiple-entry and may be issued for a period of validity of up to five years. The period of validity and the number of permissible entries are decided by the consular mission on a case-by-case basis, depending on the purpose of travel and the documents submitted in the visa application. Schengen visas valid for up to five years may be issued to individuals who: can prove they travel to the Schengen area frequently and/or on a regular basis for business or personal reasons; and have complied with the terms of previously issued visas, thereby demonstrating trustworthiness.

all stays within the Schengen area may not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period. This 90-day allowance may be used for a single uninterrupted stay or for multiple short stays;

Visas with a shorter duration of stay are also issued for third-country nationals requiring a visa. The duration of the stay is noted on the visa in these cases.

The days of entry and departure are included in the total duration of the stay.

be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area; and have been issued within the last 10 years.

You must explain the purpose and conditions of your stay in Switzerland and/or in the state(s) you intend to visit; You must have sufficient financial resources to cover the entire duration of your intended stay and for the return trip to your country of origin or for transit to a third country, or you must be able to obtain the necessary financial resources by some other lawful means; You have medical insurance ;

Third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate their financial resources amounting to at least CHF 100 per day of their stay. Students with a valid student permit are required to demonstrate funds of CHF 30 per day.

If you are applying for a Schengen visa, you must prove that you have medical insurance for the entire length of your stay with a coverage of up to EUR 30,000 for costs arising as a result of:

The authorities may ask third-country nationals travelling to Switzerland to visit family/friends or for business reasons to present a letter of invitation during the visa procedure or upon entry. The invitation letter must be issued by the host in Switzerland.

By signing a declaration of sponsorship, a person resident in Switzerland agrees to cover all costs that may arise during the stay of a third-country national in the Schengen area, as the third-country national does not have sufficient financial means to afford their stay in Switzerland. The amount guaranteed is CHF 30,000 for a single person or for a family group of up to 10 people and covers costs incurred through illness, accidents or return travel as well as living expenses.

If only one Member State is the destination, the consulate of that Member State is responsible for the visa application. If the journey includes several destinations, the consulate of the main destination (usually the longest stay) is responsible.

Applications for a category C visa must be submitted online using the application form provided or directly to the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence. The application can be submitted six months before the intended trip. Ideally, it should be submitted at least two months before travelling.

The cost of submitting an application is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children between 6 and 12 years old. This is a fixed charge for a Schengen visa. Some applicants may not be required to pay for their visa. At most Swiss representations abroad, visa applicants submit their visa applications to an external service provider rather than directly to the Swiss representations abroad. If the visa application is submitted to an external service provider, a service fee must be paid to the provider in addition to the visa fee.

(i.e. when you have submitted the visa application, travel document, photograph and other relevant documents, your fingerprints have been taken and the visa fee paid) the application is processed and a decision is generally taken within 15 days. In exceptional circumstances, the period for processing an application may take longer, for example up to 30 or 60 days.

To extend your visa, please contact the immigration authorities of your local canton:

Please note that, generally, you are only permitted to stay in Switzerland for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.