How long swiss visa

Schengen Visas may allow for a single-entry or multiple entries. This is indicated on the visa sticker by "01". With a visa allowing for two or multiple entries you may enter twice or several times during the validity of the Schengen Visa.

The short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. At the border or during other controls you may have to show the visa but also provide additional documentation, for example; sufficient evidence that you have sufficient means to cover the stay and the return trip.

It is therefore recommended that you carry with you copies of the documents which you presented when applying for the Schengen visa e. Yes, applications by mail will not be accepted. The Schengen visa application should be presented in person because biometrical data must be recorded. As from 2nd November following the introduction of the Visa Information System VIS , all Schengen visa applicants in India have to appear in person in order to provide biometric data fingerprints and digital photography.

The photograph can be digitally taken at the time of the application or scanned from an existing one. For subsequent applications within the 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. In case of reasonable doubt regarding the identity of the applicant, the consulate will again collect fingerprints within the 5 year period specified above. Furthermore, the applicant may request that they be collected if, at the time when the application is lodged, it cannot be immediately confirmed that the fingerprints were collected within this 5 years period.

The role of VFS is to accept visa applications and to dispatch passports and documents back to clients, on behalf of the Embassy of Switzerland. VFS does not play any part in or influence the outcome of your visa application. The minimum coverage must be EUR Your travel insurance offers protection against unexpected emergencies on international travel such as coverage of medical expenses, flight delay and cancellations, passport and baggage loss or personal accident.

For financial safety and security on your international trip we highly recommend you to purchase travel insurance and avail our special offer. The easiest way to apply for a Switzerland Visa is to contact us. We are experts in the travel and tourism sector with over 40 years of experience. Through our expertise, in-depth knowledge and integrity, we commit to delivering an exceptional experience to our customers each and every time you use our service.

In order to help us understand your unique visa needs, please drop in your query and our Expert will get in touch with you. Akbar Travels has been a part of more than one million travel dreams. We offer a superior, quick and hassle-free Visa Facilitation service.

With a highly professional and dedicated team of Visa Experts, we are here to cater to all your Switzerland visa application requirements. Read more. Step 1: Provide your travel details to our Visa Expert and get all your queries answered.

Step 2: Pay the visa fee and upload your documents online through our secured online document locker to ensure its confidentiality. Step 3: Our Visa Expert will verify the documents, complete your visa application and schedule your appointment. Switzerland is a land of intense natural beauty, dominated by mountain peaks, Rolling Meadows, and impressive lakes. Most travelers come here to experience the scenery and are also pleasantly surprised by the cultural treasures found in the cities and tourist centers.

The main attraction for most visitors is the Swiss Alps. The full impact of the mountains is hard to appreciate without immersing yourself in the landscape, but fortunately there are many ways this can be achieved. Numerous scenic driving tours lead through the mountains and along the lakes, or for the more adventurous there are all kinds of walking trails.

In winter skiing is a favorite pastime for locals and visitors. Many travelers begin their trip in Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland and an important transportation hub. Zurich is also well known for its shopping, with many upper end shops found along Bahnhofstrasse. The picturesque city of Geneva sits on the shores of Lake Geneva, surrounded by mountains. The Old Town rises above the city on the left bank, overshadowed by the Cathedral. Basel and Lausanne, two other popular destinations, have also maintained lovely old towns and warrant a visit.

Lucerne, too, has a well preserved medieval city center and can serve as a good base for exploring some of the nearby mountain terrain, including Mount Pilatus. Visitors can choose to ascend the mountain on the cableway and return on the cog-railroad. For great mountain views also head to the Rigi, one of the most famous lookout points around. From the top of the cableway are a number of walking trails. These mountains are also frequented by climbers, and in summer most of the ski resorts cater to hikers or walkers.

Near Zermatt is the famous Matterhorn, which regularly challenges experienced climbers. Switzerland's climate varies considerably because of geography and altitude. Temperatures generally drops about degrees F for every feet you move upwards in elevation. The summers are beautiful, and offer spectacular views of the Alps - be be warned: summer also brings the heaviest rainfall. The winters are mild in most cities and villages, and get very extreme at high altitudes.

But there's always a healthy amount of snow for anyone interested in hitting the ski or sledding slopes. There are three international airports in Switzerland, as well as numerous smaller regional hubs.

Most visitors fly in via Basel, Geneva or Zurich. It is possible to drive from any of the four bordering countries.

Exploring the picturesque countryside and the Alps is easily done by car and a very appealing road trip. Switzerland is also well-connected to the European rail network, making the train travel a good option for those in the EU or to get around domestically. Zurich lies on the picturesque shores of Lake Zurich as well as at the base of the Alps, ensuring that wherever you look, you are sure to find beautiful vistas and stunning scenery. Popular activities in Zurich include boating on the lake, or simply strolling along its pristine edges, or you can go for a light hike at Utliberg Mountain.

Not just a one hit wonder, Zurich is also a city of culture and there are a plethora of museums to visit such as the Swiss National Museum housed within an alpine style castle. The old part of the medieval town features a towering Gothic cathedral that is said to be the finest example of its kind in all of Switzerland, and Lausanne also has a quaint city centre for visitors to explore on foot, and as such a vibrant cafe culture where you can relax and watch the world go by. The surrounding area of Lausanne is also simply breathtaking, from Lake Geneva that rests at the base of the town, to the vineyards that grow rampant and provide excellent and ever-flowing wines if you fancy trying some of the local tipple.

For those who want to stroll around the city at their leisure, there are chic boutiques, galleries, winding streets, and quaint quays. Also not to be missed on a trip to Geneva is the iconic fountain that erupts from Lake Geneva and launches jets of water up to feet in the air. Interlaken, in the Bernese Oberland Region, used to be famous as the centre for watch making in Switzerland, although nowadays it is best known as a nature resort, or a kind of theme park that takes place in the natural world.

If you are feeling hungry after a day of exploring outside, then you can try the local delicacy of raclette, which features lots of melted cheese. Come to Appenzell in the Alpstein Region, if you want to learn all about the culture and folk traditions of Switzerland.

Please check the visa requirements for your nationality as well as the special provisions irrespective of nationality under the following links: List: Overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality List: ID and visa provisions: particularities regardless of nationality PDF, kB, A Schengen visa is valid for Switzerland and all other Schengen member states unless stated otherwise on the visa. For any further information please contact the Swiss embassy responsible for your place of residence: Swiss representations.

A Type C visa is required for short-term stays of up to 90 days in any day period and destined for tourist purposes, such as visiting relatives or friends, participating in sports or cultural events, for business, or schooling and study.

Type C visas are valid for the entire Schengen area, which is why they are commonly referred to as Schengen visas. To apply for a Schengen visa, please complete the visa form found at www. Please note that people intending to enter Switzerland in order to pursue gainful employment are required to hold both a valid Schengen visa and a work permit.

For a stay of more than 90 days a Type D visa is required. This is a national visa, issued to people who wish to stay in Switzerland for a longer period; This type of stay — for work or studies in Switzerland, family reunification or lengthy medical treatment — needs to be authorised by the appropriate authorities in advance.

To apply for a Type D visa, please complete the visa form found at Type D visa application. Once a Swiss representation accepts a Schengen visa application — the visa application, travel document, photograph and other relevant documents are submitted, fingerprints taken and the visa fee paid — the application is processed and a decision is generally taken within fifteen days. In exceptional circumstances, the period for processing an application may be extended up to 30 or 60 days.

Applications for a national visa Type D visa are dealt with by the cantons. The time the responsible authorities need to process such applications may vary according to canton and purpose of stay.

For detailed information, please contact the competent immigration authorities: Cantonal immigration and labour market authorities. This is a fixed charge for a Schengen visa. Some applicants may not be required to pay for their visa. Under Swiss law, a humanitarian visa may be issued to a person who is under threat of bodily harm in their own country.

People who are already staying in a third country are generally not considered at risk. After receiving a visa application, the diplomatic representation first examines whether there are grounds for issuing a humanitarian visa.

If the information provided by applicants proves the circumstances they face in their home countries are such that they cannot reasonably be expected to stay there any longer, an entry visa allowing entry to Switzerland will be granted.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are under serious and immediate threat. They therefore need to go in person to a Swiss representation to apply for a visa. For organisational reasons, an appointment must be made. Swiss representations. For more information on the Swiss asylum procedure, please visit: Swiss Asylum procedure.

For information on airport transit, please check the following link, point 2. You may also try sending an email: Swiss representations. If you still fail in reaching the embassy, you may contact the Consular Directorate at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA in Bern directly, which is responsible for dealing with any complaints made about an embassy: email.

You can find the visa application form under the following links: www. If you are having trouble downloading the form from the internet, try again later.

Restarting the computer or closing all other programs may help as well. If it still does not work, send us an email or contact the Swiss Embassy responsible for your area: Swiss representations. After this period of time, they must leave the Schengen area and reapply for another visa.

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.

Please note that all Schengen visas, including multiple-entry visas with a longer period of validity, are subject to the same conditions:. You can submit your application up to 6 months before the planned journey. Ideally, the submission should take place at least 2 months before the start of the journey. If your travel date is less than two months away and you still require a visa, please contact the nearest Swiss embassy: Swiss representations. They may be turned away if they do not have sufficient financial means and are unable to provide details of where they will be staying and the purpose of their visit.

Having sufficient financial means to cover the costs of the stay about CHF per day is one of the conditions for staying in Switzerland. It may therefore be useful to present a personal invitation from a host in Switzerland. However, this is not mandatory. For detailed information on entry provisions for stateless persons, please visit page 7, point 2. For further questions please contact the Swiss Embassy responsible for the area in which you live: Swiss representations.

In certain cases, however, a visa can be issued at the external borders. Third-country nationals must satisfy the stipulated entry requirements and provide proof that time constraints prevented them from applying for a visa in advance and that they were required to travel owing to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances.

The period of validity of a visa issued at the border is limited to a maximum of 15 days, and the visa is valid, in principle, for single-entry only. Note: More detailed explanations on the subject can be found on the website Entry.

Unless otherwise noted, Schengen visas are generally valid for all member states of the Schengen Agreement, including Switzerland. A Schengen visa is accepted for entry in conjunction with a valid and recognised travel document. The authority responsible for issuing the visa is the embassy of the country in which the applicant plans their main stay i. If you are planning a round trip and intend to spend the same amount of time in several member states, the authority responsible for issuing the visa is the embassy of the country you will enter first.

It does not matter which airport you arrive at or depart from, provided you stay no longer than 90 days in any day period within the Schengen area. The number of entries applies to the whole of the Schengen area and not just to individual member countries if not otherwise noted on the visa. Therefore, you may travel throughout the whole of the Schengen area on the same visa for the duration of its validity.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Swiss embassy responsible for the area in which you reside: Swiss representations. You will find a list of the residence permits allowing visa-free entry into Switzerland for a maximum stay of 90 days in any day period here: List of residence permits issued by member states PDF, 1 MB, Please note that holders of valid residence permits from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or of a US green card wishing to enter Switzerland may be subject to visa requirements.

If you have any further questions, please contact the nearest Swiss embassy: Swiss representations. As far as travel within the Schengen area is concerned, Type C and Type D visas are given parity of treatment for a duration of up to 90 days in any day period. For further information please contact the Swiss embassy responsible for the area in which you live: Swiss representations.

Yes, third-country nationals subject to visa requirements for the Schengen area who hold a residence permit for United Kingdom, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia or Cyprus and whose spouse is a national of an EU or EFTA member state require a visa to enter Switzerland.

They can obtain the visa free of charge. List: Overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality. For travel to other Schengen countries, the State Secretariat for Migration SEM recommends you check with the diplomatic representation consulate of the country in question to find out if a visa is required.

The issue of visas without charge is regulated in Art. Please note that only persons directly affected by an entry ban within the Schengen Information System SIS may file a request for information. This right does not apply to public or other authorities.

Requests for information, deletion, or rectification of personal data stored in the SIS must be submitted in writing either in German, French, Italian, or English and should be accompanied by a high-quality photocopy of an official identification document. For further information please visit: Information about SIS data. People seeking information about the reason they are subject to an entry ban may contact the following federal office:. At the border, border control officials check whether third-country nationals with or without a visa requirement have sufficient financial means to meet their daily cost of living for the duration of their stay and for their return journey.

The adequacy of these financial resources shall be determined on the basis of the duration and purpose of the stay.

Third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate their financial resources amounting to at least CHF per day of their stay.

Students with a valid student permit are required to demonstrate funds of CHF 30 per day. The Swiss authorities cannot give any binding information on the practice in other Schengen area countries. Third-country nationals should therefore contact the representations of all countries they intend to visit before starting their journey.

Neither a valid residence permit nor a work permit issued by another Schengen member state gives the holder a right to work in Switzerland. The Swiss statutory provisions on labour apply. For details, please see chapter 7, «I would like to work in Switzerland». While the expulsion order remains in force, you are not permitted to enter or stay in Switzerland.

In principle, anyone who wishes to enter Switzerland is required to hold a valid travel document in their name a passport, emergency passport, temporary passport, ID card, or a special travel document issued to children. Depending on nationality, certain expired travel documents are accepted by Switzerland for crossing the Swiss border: List: Overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality.

EU or EFTA citizens wishing to enter Switzerland without a valid travel document will be admitted if they manage to prove or make credible their citizenship. The burden of proof lies with the person concerned and in case of children with their parents or accompanying adults. Proof of citizenship may be furnished by any appropriate means. Please note that certain airline companies may not transport passengers without valid travel documents. Please check with your airline what transport conditions apply.

Swiss citizens who can prove or plausibly demonstrate their Swiss citizenship may be allowed to enter a neighbouring country even if they do not hold a valid travel document. SEM suggests carrying along the following documents:.

A number of European countries, such as Germany, require foreigners staying on their territory to carry a valid travel document passport, emergency passport, ID card at all times. While it may be possible for people to enter and remain in such countries without a travel document, they may become liable to criminal prosecution. Anyone can come to Switzerland on a Schengen visa for a maximum of 90 days within a six month period without working. A long-term D visa must be requested before entering the country at the Swiss consulate for a longer period.

A long-term six month visa can be requested for three main purposes: a marriage procedure, a family reunification procedure or when a skilled migrant obtains the approval for a work permit, a D visa is delivered allowing to enter Switzerland and work lawfully until the permit is received.

The procedure to prepare a marriage in Switzerland can take a few months as some documents such as the birth certificate must be legalized or authenticated, depending on the country of origin. The marriage preparation form must be lodged at the civil registry of the commune of residency of the couple or of the person who lives in Switzerland. The civil registry will examine whether the identity of the applicants has been verified and if the mariage conditions are valid. During the procedure, the foreign spouse must be holding a valid visa or permit allowing him to celebrate the marriage legally in Switzerland art.

The foreign spouse must apply for a family reunification procedure to obtain a B permit allowing him to live and work in Switzerland after the marriage. After 5 years of residency in Switzerland holding a B permit, the spouse of a Swiss citizen or of a C permit holder can request a C permit if the integration requirements are met art.