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Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland

Under the COVID-19 Ordinance, persons who are married to, in a registered partnership with, or have underage children with a person living in Switzerland are deemed to fall in the category of personal hardship and are therefore exempt from coronavirus-related entry restrictions. From 3 August, this provision will be expanded to include persons in a romantic relationship or other close partnership with someone living in Switzerland, even if the couple is not married or in a registered partnership and they have no underage children.

In countries requiring a visa for travel to Switzerland, these may be issued by the local Swiss representation if all entry requirements are met. Applications for a visitor visa for unmarried couples can be lodged at the offices of the external service provider VFS Global, but only with a prior appointment. Moreover it must be possible for the visiting partner to leave Switzerland and/or the Schengen Member States before the expiry of the visa, if granted.

Checklist for Visitor Visa for unmarried couples (PDF, 321.8 kB)

All persons entering Switzerland from countries and areas with an increased risk of infection are subject to quarantine even if they have been granted entry. Health related measures are issued by the Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH). For information on such measures, please consult the homepage of the FOPH directly.

The Republic of the Philippines has put into place very strict exit restrictions on Philippine citizens. Essential travel of Filipinos leaving for abroad for business and work, medical, emergency, and other humanitarian reasons, and which cannot be postponed, may also be allowed subject to presentation of sufficient supporting documents including the execution of Declaration acknowledging the risks involved in travelling, including risk of delay in their return trip, to be provided for in the check-in counters by the airlines.

Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of emerging infectious diseases

For concerns and inquiries on outbound travel for Philippine citizens, please contact the Bureau of Immigration:
Tel.:             (+632) 8524-3769
                   (+632) 8465-2400
Email:          xinfo@immigration.gov.ph

Neither the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines nor its external service provider VFS Global (VFS Services Philippines Private Inc.) assume any responsibility in case an applicant with a granted visa were denied to exit or enter any country.

Various regulations apply for entering Switzerland. A basic distinction is made between citizens of the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and those of other countries. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is the responsible authority in Switzerland.

SEM

Since Switzerland’s adherence to the Schengen and Dublin agreements came into force (12 December 2008), Swiss representations abroad are able to issue certain categories of visa, depending on the length of stay and purpose of the journey in Switzerland. Please select one of the following options.

Personal appearance and fingerprint

Starting from November 2013, all diplomatic representations of the Schengen member states in the Philippines have to capture the biometric data (finger scans and facial image) of  persons applying for a Schengen visa. The data will be kept in the Visa Information System (VIS) for 5 years.

If your finger scans have not been collected yet, personal appearances when applying for Schengen visa mandatory.

If your finger scnas were collected within the last 59 months, then you won't have to give new fingerprints for your next visa application(s) and personal appearance is not necessary. However, you have to provide  a copy of your visa sticker issued after March 2014. If you are not sure or do not remember whether your fingerprints have been captured for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, you have to appaear in person.

You will still have to appear in person to give your fingerprings in the case the previously collected fingerprints prove to be of insufficient quality

Personal appearances and fingerprint scan is not necessary for children und the age of 12

The Swiss representation still reserves the right to ask the applicant to appear for a personal interview after checking his application

Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days

For persons wishing to enter Switzerland for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period: for example, in a context of tourism, a visit to relatives or friends, short-term language studies, participating in a conference or in sporting/cultural events, etc.

National visa for a stay of more than 90 days

For persons wishing to enter Switzerland for a stay of more than 90 days within a 180-day period. It is subject to the authorisation of the cantonal migration authority competent for the intended place of residence. For example: long-term student, family reunification, marriage in Switzerland, etc.

Airport transit visa

For citizens of certain countries who need a transit visa even if they are staying in the international transit area of the airport and do not enter the Schengen territory.

Labour / Work permits

Admission of foreign workers to an employer in Switzerland is subject to the authorisation of the competent cantonal authority. The entry visa is granted only when the requested authorisations have been delivered.

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Last update 20.08.2020