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iVisa Switzerland

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Find the right Switzerland visa for your trip. Apply online with iVisa and skip the hassle.

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Our Switzerland visa application process

How to apply for your Switzerland visa with iVisa

1

Complete your online application

Answer a few simple questions, and find out whether you need a Swiss Schengen visa or another document to visit Switzerland. Then, upload your documents, and pay securely. You can save your progress and come back anytime. Most people finish in less than 10 minutes.

We’ll guide you through any unclear steps during the application process.

2

We review your application

The Swiss visa system is known for being tricky – your photo must be the right size, and your passport scan must be clear. Don’t worry; we will review your application to see if anything might cause delays.

3

We submit it for government processing

We’re not the Swiss government, but we submit your application to them and are here to support you along the way if any issues arise.

4

Get your Switzerland visa

We’ll email you when your visa is approved, and let you know how to use it for your trip.

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Visa types needed for Switzerland

  • Switzerland Schengen Visa (Type C)
  • Switzerland National Visa (Type D)*
  • ETIAS for Switzerland (coming soon)*

Switzerland Schengen Visa (Type C)

Purpose: The Switzerland Schengen Visa (Short-Stay Visa – Type C) is for travelers visiting Switzerland and other Schengen Area countries for tourism, sightseeing, holidays, visiting family or friends, short business trips, attending cultural or sporting events, or other short-term purposes.

When to apply: It is recommended to apply at least 3–4 weeks before travel. Applications can be submitted no earlier than 6 months before the planned trip (9 months for seafarers) and no later than 15 calendar days before departure.

Duration and extensions The visa allows a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen Area. Extensions are granted only in exceptional cases, such as force majeure, humanitarian reasons, or serious personal reasons, and must be approved by the competent cantonal migration authority in Switzerland.

Entries: The visa may be issued as single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry, depending on the applicant’s travel needs.

Ports of entry: Switzerland Schengen Visa holders may enter through any official border crossing point in Switzerland or another Schengen member state, including international airports (such as Zurich Airport, Geneva Airport, and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg), as well as land borders within the Schengen Area.

Delivery format: The approved visa is issued as a visa sticker affixed to the applicant’s passport. Travelers must carry a passport containing the valid visa sticker when entering the Schengen Area.

Switzerland National Visa (Type D)*

The Switzerland National Visa is a long-stay visa required for stays exceeding 90 days. This is the primary choice for university students, workers (with a Swiss work permit), or family reunification.

*We currently don't offer this visa.

ETIAS for Switzerland (coming soon)*

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is not a visa. It is a mandatory electronic pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers entering Switzerland and the broader Schengen Area. It is designed to enhance security by pre-screening travelers before they arrive at the border.

Allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

*Please note: ETIAS is not yet implemented. Until its official launch, visa-exempt travelers can continue to enter Switzerland using only a valid passport.

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Switzerland visa policy

Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area and allows citizens of many countries — including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and others — to enter visa-free for tourism, business, or family visits for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Switzerland does not offer a Visa on Arrival. Citizens of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland do not require a visa to enter, reside, or work in Switzerland.

Travelers who require a visa must obtain a Schengen Visa (short-stay, Type C) for visits up to 90 days or a Swiss national long-stay visa (Type D) for stays exceeding 90 days before departure.

General Switzerland visa requirements are:

  • Passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure date from the Schengen Area and issued within the last 10 years
  • Completed and signed visa application form
  • Recent passport-size photo meeting Schengen requirements
  • Travel details (such as flight reservation and accommodation address)
  • Proof of sufficient financial means for the duration of stay
  • Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 within the Schengen Area
  • Proof of purpose of travel

Switzerland visa prices

Switzerland Schengen Visa (Type C)

Prices starting from $399.99

Valid for 3 months after issued
Single entry
Stay up to 90 days per entry

Fast facts

Appointment required?

Yes, to provide biometrics

Main reason for denials?

Weak ties to home country

Average time to apply?

15-45 days

Why choose iVisa?

Applying for a visa on your own can be confusing and time-consuming. iVisa simplifies the process, reduces errors, and gives you peace of mind.

Applying by yourself
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Simple, easy forms
24x7 support from visa experts
Error detection to prevent rejections
World's easiest passport scan
Multiple payment methods

1.4M happy customers

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67,000+ reviews

10 years of experience

98%  visa approval rate

Certified customer reviews

Travelers to Switzerland rated this product a 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 reviews.
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Leila U.
January 23, 2025
"I love how fast and efficient this service is. There was no unnecessary waiting, and my visa was approved without any complications"

FAQs

Visa-exempt travelers can stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

This is calculated using a "rolling window" method, meaning that on any given day of your stay, you must not have spent more than 90 of the previous 180 days within the Schengen Area.

The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is scheduled to become mandatory for travelers entering Switzerland in the last quarter of 2026.

Until then, visa-exempt travelers (such as those from the US, UK, and Canada) do not yet need to apply for ETIAS and can continue to enter with just a valid passport.

Once implemented in late 2026, the ETIAS will be a digital travel authorization linked to your passport and valid for 3 years or until your passport expires.

Whether travel insurance is mandatory depends on your visa status:

  • For visa-required nationals: Yes, you must provide proof of travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 (approx. 28,000 CHF) that is valid for the entire Schengen Area.

  • For visa-exempt nationals: No, it is not legally required for entry, but it is highly recommended. Swiss healthcare costs are among the highest in the world, and emergency services.

To enter Switzerland, you must be able to prove you have at least 100 CHF (approx. €105) available for each day of your stay. For students with a valid student ID card, this requirement is reduced to 30 CHF per day.

You may be asked to show proof of these funds at the border via recent bank statements, cash, or a credit card with a sufficient limit. If you are staying with a host who covers your costs, a formal declaration of sponsorship may be required instead.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area. Additionally, the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years at the time of entry.

Many travelers confuse this with "3 months from the date of entry." If you plan a two-week trip, your passport must still be valid for at least 3 months and 14 days from the day you arrive to satisfy Swiss border requirements.

Our team works with a legal partner specializing in Schengen Visas. They will review your application to ensure its accuracy and completeness. Once the authorities approve it, you’ll receive an email with the next steps.

The “90/180-rule” means you can stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days total within any continuous 180-day window. The 180-day period is not fixed, it is counted backward from each day you are in the Schengen Area.

Example:

  • You enter the Schengen Area on January 1
  • You stay for 30 days and leave on January 30
  • In the last 180 days, you’ve used 30 days
  • You still have 60 days left to use

If you later return:

  • You stay 40 more days
  • Now you’ve used 70 days total
  • You only have 20 days left until older days “drop off” the 180-day window
  • Leaving the Schengen Area “resets” nothing - only time does

Ready to apply?

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