Application for Schengen visa and procedure
Participation in scientific activities: see Business Visa
Participation in scientific activities and/or research at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva: see Official Visit Visa
Participation in artistic events: see Cultural Visa (only for artists, not spectators at these events).
Tourist visa (PDF, 3 Pages, 129.1 kB, English)
For people travelling with the purpose of tourism, staying at a hotel or in a rented flat. Also for owners of real estate in Switzerland
Visitor visa (PDF, 3 Pages, 168.3 kB, English)
For people who wish to visit relatives or friends, staying in their homes
Business visa (PDF, 3 Pages, 155.4 kB, English)
For people invited for business reasons by a company based in Switzerland
Cultural visa (PDF, 3 Pages, 133.2 kB, English)
For artists and other people who are participating actively in cultural events in Switzerland (not for spectators at cultural events!)
Sport visa (PDF, 3 Pages, 132.4 kB, English)
For people (athletes, coaches, trainers, support staff, etc.) participating actively in sport events or trainings in Switzerland (not for spectators at such events or tourists on a skiing holiday!)
Official visit visa (PDF, 2 Pages, 124.1 kB, English)
For people who are invited to congresses, seminars, workshops and meetings organized by an International Organization (like UNO and their sub-organizations)
Medical treatment visa (PDF, 3 Pages, 134.1 kB, English)
For people undergoing medical treatment or getting medical advice
Student visa (PDF, 2 Pages, 125.9 kB, English) (up to 90 days)
For people who intend to study in Switzerland
Transit visa (PDF, 4 Pages, 247.4 kB, English) (type C)
For people transiting through Switzerland/the Schengen zone or having an flight within the Schengen zone on their way to a final destination outside the Schengen area (e.g. Moscow - Zurich - Madrid - Rio de Janeiro)
Other travel purposes (without proper visa category):
As a general rule, a decision is taken by the Consulate within 15 days. This period may, in individual cases, be extended.
Some Schengen States require that they be consulted on visa applications submitted to other Schengen States by citizens of certain countries. The consultation process may take up to 14 calendar days. Such consultation is currently required for nationals of the countries listed here:
It is therefore recommended to submit the visa application early, at the earliest 6 months before the planned journey.
The reasons for refusal are notified to the applicant using a standard form.
You have the right to appeal within 30 days of receipt of the refusal. For information on appeal procedures, please refer to the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration.
Biometric data (fingerprints) are generally collected every 59 months from the age of 12 years from the first recording.
If you are a family member of a Swiss, European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) citizen, you are entitled to submit your application directly at the responsible Embassy or Consulate of Switzerland. An appointment is mandatory and must be booked in advance.
If you wish to complain about the behavior of the consular staff and, if applicable, about the external service provider or about the process, please contact the competent representation in writing.
- Seien Sie äußerst vorsichtig bei Geldforderungen von Personen, die ein Visum beantragen möchten und Sie in dieser Hinsicht um finanzielle Hilfe angehen. Schicken oder überweisen Sie kein Geld.
- Die Kosten für ein Visum betragen EUR 90.00. Diese Gebühr muss nur einmal bezahlt werden!
- Die schweizerische Botschaft oder das schweizerische Generalkonsulat verlangt nie eine Kaution oder das Vorzeigen von Bargeldbeträgen.
- Ausführliche Informationen zum Visumsprozess und die benötigten Unterlagen und Dokumente finden Sie auf dieser Webseite.
- Für weiterführende Auskünfte rufen Sie uns an oder senden Sie uns eine E-Mail.
- Be very careful when receiving claims for money from people you've met on the internet, who intend to apply for a visa and ask for you financial support in this regard. Don't send or transfer money!
- The consular fee for the consideration of a visa application amounts to EUR 90.00. This fee is charged only once.
- When applying through our outsourcing-partner TLScontact an additional service fee of max. EUR 23.00 amounts.
- The visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland never requires applicants and/or hosts to pay or leave deposits of any kind.
- The visa requirement of the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland includes only air ticket reservations. It is strongly recommended not to buy any air tickets without having a valid visa issued in the passport.
- Detailed information in regards to the visa process and the required documents can be found on this website
- For additional information please send us an email.
In der heutigen Zeit erfolgt das Kennenlernen oftmals über Bekanntschaftswebseiten im Internet.
Bitte seien Sie vorsichtig, wenn Sie Personen, die Sie über das Internet kennen gelernt haben, in die Schweiz einladen oder diese Sie mit einem Touristenvisum besuchen möchten und Sie dazu um substanzielle finanzielle Unterstützung bitten.
Nicht alle Internetnutzerinnen und -nutzer sind ehrlich, einige haben in Wirklichkeit kriminelle oder unlautere Absichten. Die Anonymität des Internets macht Täuschungen ziemlich einfach. Betrugsfälle kommen regelmäßig vor und sind professionell organisiert. Es wird viel Aufwand betrieben, um Geldforderungen glaubwürdiger erscheinen zu lassen.
Falsche Rechnungen oder Emails von fiktiven Reisebüros und/oder deren Webseiten, gefälschte Briefe und Dokumente von russischen und/oder schweizerischen Behörden und gefälschte, respektive verfälschte Passkopien, Kopien von angeblich schon ausgestellten Schengen Visa und mehr werden zwecks Missbrauchs produziert. So wird beispielsweise geltend gemacht, dass vor der Abreise noch Bussen oder Steuern beglichen werden müssen. Auch wird behauptet, dass bei der Ausreise die Hinterlage eines Gelddepots geleistet werden müsse oder eine Kontrolle des „Reisegeldes“ erfolge und vieles mehr.
Folgende Tatsachen und Ratschläge sollten deshalb besonders im Zusammenhang mit neuen Bekanntschaften immer beachtet werden:
Betrug und Betrugsversuche sind Strafdelikte und können in der Schweiz zur Anzeige gebracht werden (Art. 146, Schweizerisches Strafgesetzbuch). Mehr Informationen zum Thema finden Sie auf der Webseite der Koordinationsstelle zur Bekämpfung der Internetkriminalität (KOBIK).
Nowadays getting acquainted often happens on specialized websites on the internet.
Please use extreme caution when inviting an internet-acquaintance to visit you in Switzerland or if this person intends to travel to Switzerland with a tourist visa and asks you for substantial financial support.
Not all internet-users are honest; some have criminal or dishonest intentions. The anonymity of the internet makes delusion and deception fairly easy. Cases of fraud are happening regularly and are organized in a professional way. Much time and effort are invested to make the fraud claims for money more credible.
Fake invoices or emails from virtual travel agencies and/or their websites, forged letters and documents from Swiss or Russian authorities, falsified or forged copies of passports, copies of allegedly already issued Schengen visa are produced with the sole purpose of malpractice. Sometimes it is claimed that fines or taxes need to be settled before departure and it is often also alleged that the deposit of a larger sum is required or the "vacation money" is checked at the airport.
The following facts and advice should always be remembered in the connection with new acquaintances:
Fraud and attempts to defraud are criminal offences and can be notified to the police in Switzerland (Article 146, the Swiss Criminal Code). For more information on the subject see the website of the Cybercrime Coordination Unit Switzerland (CYCO).
Attention
The border authorities are obliged to examine whether the conditions for the traveller's entry still apply. If the prerequisites for entry no longer apply or if you are unable to provide the relevant evidence, you may be refused entry although you are in possession of a valid visa.
It is therefore strongly recommended that you carry copies of the documents (e.g. letters of invitation, travel confirmations) which you supplied with your visa application.
Please make sure before applying for an appointment or submitting the application that your file contains all the necessary documents. Applications with missing documents may not be accepted at the counter and you lose valuable time.
- Avoid contact with people who offer “services” outside the premises of the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland or outside the application center of TLScontact.
- Reject any offers for services.
- Prepare your visa application according to the information on the website of the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland before you visit the application center of TLScontact or the Visa section.
- Refuse to pay any money to someone offering to help you access the counters of the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland or of the application center of TLScontact. (Appointment bookings are free of charge).
Visa applicants may be addressed in the surrounding areas of the visa application center of TLScontact or the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland by questionable individuals (often young men between 25 and 40) who offer various "services" for excessive fees such as sale of travel medical insurances, translations, money exchange, organization of taxis or accommodations. Some of these individuals won’t hesitate to pretend to be employees of the Embassy.
Beware: These individuals are in no way working for the Embassy or TLScontact. They do not act on behalf of or in accordance with the Embassy or TLScontact. The visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland advises to the visitors the following:
