Switzerland Visa and Passport Requirements
| Passport required | Return ticket required | Visa Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other EU | 1 | No | No |
| USA | Yes | No | No |
| Canadian | Yes | No | No |
| Australian | Yes | No | No |
| British | Yes | No | No |
Passports
A passport valid for three months beyond the length of stay (or for the duration of stay for EU/EEA nationals) and issued within the past 10 years is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, except (1) EU nationals holding a valid national identity card.
Passport Note
Regulations also apply to Liechtenstein (no border control between the two countries).
Passengers arriving at Basel or Geneva airports can enter either France or Switzerland, provided their documents for the country of entry are in order; both airports have two different exits, one to France and one to Switzerland. Therefore passengers can exit to the French part of the airport with a valid French or Schengen visa, if required.
The airport of Basel/Mulhouse is located on French territory.
Part of Geneva airport is located by convention in France and some flights between France and Geneva are considered as domestic flights while others are considered international flights. In this case, passengers must hold proper entry documents for either of the destination countries.
Visas
Visas are not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays in Switzerland of up to three months.
Visa Note
Nationals not referred to in the chart are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements for Switzerland.
Types and Cost
Schengen visa: €60/£51.72. Reductions are available for some nationalities and for children.
Validity
Schengen visa: 90 days within a six-month period.
Application to
Consulate (or consular section at embassy). UK residents requiring a Schengen visa should apply to the Swiss Visa Application Centre (www.vfsglobal.ch/switzerland/uk); a service charge of £22.10 applies. All visa applicants aged 12 and over must submit biometric data at their visa appointment.
Schengen Visas
Switzerland is part of the Schengen area.
Temporary residence
EU/EEA residents planning on staying in Switzerland for more than three months to work must register with the local authorities and apply for a residence permit. The length of the permit depends on the duration of the work. Slightly different rules apply to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania. Contact the State Secretariat for Migration (www.sem.admin.ch) for details.
Working days
Allow at least seven days for visa processing. For some nationalities, it may take at least 14 days.
Sufficient Funds
Schengen visa applicants must provide bank statements from the previous three months with their application.
Extension of stay
Schengen visa holders can only extend their stay in exceptional circumstances, such as force majeure, or for humanitarian reasons.
This page reflects our understanding of current rules for the most common types of travel to the said country. However, please note that each authority sets and forces entry rules, hence we strongly recommend that you verify critical information with the relevant embassy before travel.
Embassies and tourist offices
Embassy of Switzerland in the USA
Telephone: (202) 745 7900.
Website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/washington
Address: NW, 2900 Cathedral Avenue N.W., Washington, 20008-3499,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1200.
Embassy of Switzerland in the UK
Telephone: (020) 7616 6000.
Website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/london
Address: , 16-18 Montagu Place, London, W1H 2BQ,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1200.
British Embassy in Switzerland
Telephone: (31) 359 7700
Website: http://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-berne
Address: , Thunstrasse 50, Berne, 3005,
Opening times:
Mon-Fri: 0900-1230 and 1330-1630; 0900-1200 (consular).
