Officially known as the Swiss confederation, Switzerland is one of the most popular countries in Europe, and in fact the entire world. The Alpine country is famous for its chocolates, cheese, watches, banks, and of course, the Swiss Alps. The Switzerland visa lets you visit the country to engage in various activities.
The Swiss visa is an endorsement required to enter the country for whatever purpose it may be. Issued as single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry, this permit is only required if you are not a national of other Schengen countries or the visa-exempt nations. Since India does not come under this, to enter Switzerland, you would need a Switzerland visa from India.
The applications for the short term visa for Switzerland from India is done through VACs (Visa Application Center). However, the long term categories must be applied directly to the embassy. The application, however, is done offline as there is no online visa application for Switzerland from India. Before starting the application, ensure that you check if you are eligible for the particular category you are applying for. After that, you may proceed with the application as follows -
Keep in mind that if you have submitted your biometrics for a Schengen visa in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. In this case, you may send your application through a third party, provided that they carry a letter of authorization signed by you.
Also, note that you must submit only original and genuine documents. Providing fake documents or incorrect information can lead to a Schengen visa rejection.
Based on the purpose of the visit and the permitted duration of stay, the Swiss permit can be classified into the following -
The following are the list of general documents you must have along with your visa application. However, note that based on the exact type of your visa, there are specific documents required.
The processing time for the Swiss permit is dependent on the exact type of the permit, the validity of the visa, the volume of applications at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. In normal conditions, it takes around 7-10 working days from the date of the application to process the application. However, this can even take longer in certain extreme cases. As a result, it is strongly recommended that you must apply for it well in advance.
The Switzerland Schengen visa fees for Indian citizens depends on factors such as the exact type of the permit, the embassy decision, as well as the currency exchange rates. Apart from the application fees, you will also have to pay the biometric charges, service charges by the VAC, as well as any delivery charges. As a result, you must confirm the exact amount before starting the application.
Entry | Purpose | Stay Duration | Validity | Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|
Multiple entry Normal | Religious | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Religious | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Business | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Tourist | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Study | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Study | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Work | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Scientist | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Work | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Scientist | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Dependant | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Dependant | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Semen | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Seamen | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Transit | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Semen | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Seamen | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Sports | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Sports | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Business | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Transit | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
Multiple entry Normal | Tourist | 90 days | 3 months | 6690.0 |
You can do the Switzerland visa status check online by clicking here an entering your reference number and date of birth. You may also check your Switzerland visa application status by contacting your travel agency and have the track it for you.
The application for the short term permits has to be made at a VAC. Which will then be sent to the Embassy of Switzerland for processing. However, applications for the long term permit can only be accepted by the embassy directly.
To extend your Swiss visa, you must apply for an extension at the respective authority in Switzerland before the date of expiry of your current permit. However, note that the short term categories cannot be extended under normal circumstances. They may be granted only in cases of extreme conditions such as a Force Majeure or other humanitarian reasons. If you are unable to extend, you must leave Switzerland immediately.
There are no mandatory medical test requirements for the Swiss short term permits. However, the Switzerland National visa and residence permits may require certain tests depending on the individual type. Either way, it is advised that you get a medical checkup done before travelling to a foreign country.
As per the regulations, there is no exact amount of funds you must possess in order to get a Swiss permit. As per the requirements, you must show that you have a steady and stable bank account and that you have enough money to cover your expenses in Switzerland. Depending on the applied stay duration, you must have enough funds for the entire duration. These include expenses such as food, accommodation, travel, etc.
The normal processing time for the Swiss visa is around 7-10 working days excluding the transit time taken for the applications to reach the Embassy. As a result, it is suggested that you apply well in advance. You must apply before a sufficient number of days in advance. However, the Swiss embassy strictly will not accept applications that are more than 3 months before the expected day of travel.