Visa Information

Overview

Every applicant, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the applicant.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out.

Applicants, who intend to travel to Switzerland for business purposes has to be confirmed by an invitation letter from a business/company based in Switzerland, if not, applicant will need to apply for a Tourist visa.

In regards to conference/congress/fair/seminar/workshop the following applicants can also apply for a Business visa:

1. Applicants-employees going to attend a conference/congress/fair/seminar/workshop organised by their company or another company directly related to their company
2. Applicants-employees going to be actively involved in a conference/congress/fair/seminar/workshop

Employer letter needs to confirm clearly the purpose of attending the conference/congress/fair/seminar/workshop, if not, applicant will need to apply as Tourist.

Eligibility

Applicant must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a C type visa (see example here), then applicant needs to apply for a Schengen visa from his/her residence country.
3. applying for a short stay visa (Tourist: including Minors, Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit)

UK travel documents

Are you a holder of a refugee travel document (1951 Convention travel document) or a travel document for stateless person (1954 Convention travel document) and a national of a country that is required to have a visa when traveling to the Schengen area? If so, then you must apply for a visa before traveling to Switzerland. Please see HERE where, and how you can apply

Visa Fees

• Applicable visa fee, in Euros (€) and may be subject to change without notice.
• VFS service fee GBP 20 (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.
• All fees can be paid by cash or Credit/Debit card.
• Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

In order to ensure quick and efficient visa processing you must prepare all necessary documentation before you submit the application package to VFS Global. Failing to submit all relevant documentation will result in unnecessary delays or might lead to a refusal of your application. Therefore, please do not approach the visa reception before you have collected all supporting documentation. Personal appearance is requested for applicants applying for a Schengen visa to Switzerland for the first time.

Information about the application will be shared with the other Schengen countries and applying under false circumstances may affect future applications for the Schengen area.

English translations must accompany the documents not originally in English. The application supporting documents should be handed in on A4 size papers.

Please see here for the requirements: Click here

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a plain light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)

Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every applicant can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Mission to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the Mission’s requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Applicants also need to be aware that, especially during busy season around Easter, Summer holidays (July and August) and Christmas, the appointments (see Schedule an Appointment) are being booked very quickly as the Mission only processes a fixed amount of visa applications on a daily basis.

Furthermore applicants need to consider that VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore VFS recommends all applicants:

to book their appointment as soon as they know they’ll be travelling

1. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Mission’s requirements
2. to leave enough processing time for the Mission

Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh and Manchester need to calculate 2 extra days to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.

The Mission may always request for additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which applicants accept responsibility for.

Download Form

Applicants who wish to obtain a Switzerland visa application form, can download the requisite form here.

Please note the instructions mentioned below while taking the printout.

Download Visa Applications Forms

New Visa Application Form Visa C

Please Note:

1. Number of pages:6
2. You can also obtain this form from the visa application centre.
3. Old Visa Application Form will not be accepted effective March 2nd 2020

To download a form:

1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.

OR

1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.

Overview

Every applicant, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the applicant.

Regarding school pupils

Please be aware that children traveling to Switzerland as part of a school trip, and are nationals of a country whose citizens fall under Schengen visa requirements, are required to obtain a visa before traveling to Switzerland.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out.

Applicants, who intend to travel to Switzerland purely for tourist purposes, i.e. visiting for leisure, recreation or sightseeing, and provide for their own accommodation (hotel, hostel, B&B, camping, …) need to apply as Tourist.

Eligibility

Applicant must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case applicant holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then applicant needs to apply for a Schengen visa from his/her residence country.
3. applying for a short stay visa (Tourist: including Minors, Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit)

UK travel documents

Are you a holder of a refugee travel document (1951 Convention travel document) or a travel document for stateless person (1954 Convention travel document) and a national of a country that is required to have a visa when traveling to the Schengen area? If so, then you must apply for a visa before traveling to Switzerland. Please see HERE where, and how you can apply

Visa Fees

• Applicable visa fee, in Euros (€) and may be subject to change without notice.
• VFS service fee GBP 20 (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.
• All fees can be paid by cash or Credit/Debit card.
• Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

In order to ensure quick and efficient visa processing you must prepare all necessary documentation before you submit the application package to VFS Global. Failing to submit all relevant documentation will result in unnecessary delays or might lead to a refusal of your application. Therefore, please do not approach the visa reception before you have collected all supporting documentation. Personal appearance is requested for applicants applying for a Schengen visa to Switzerland for the first time.

Information about the application will be shared with the other Schengen countries and applying under false circumstances may affect future applications for the Schengen area.

English translations must accompany the documents not originally in English. The application supporting documents should be handed in on A4 size papers.

Please see here for the requirements: Click here

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a plain light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)

Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every applicant can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Mission to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the Mission’s requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Applicants also need to be aware that, especially during busy season around Easter, Summer holidays (July and August) and Christmas, the appointments (see Schedule an Appointment) are being booked very quickly as the Mission only processes a fixed amount of visa applications on a daily basis.

Furthermore applicants need to consider that VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore VFS recommends all applicants:

to book their appointment as soon as they know they’ll be travelling

1. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Mission’s requirements
2. to leave enough processing time for the Mission

Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh and Manchester need to calculate 2 extra days to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.

The Mission may always request for additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which applicants accept responsibility for.

Download Form

Applicants who wish to obtain a Switzerland visa application form, can download the requisite form here.

Please note the instructions mentioned below while taking the printout.

Download Visa Applications Forms

New Visa Application Form Visa C

Please Note:

1. Number of pages:6
2. You can also obtain this form from the visa application centre.
3. Old Visa Application Form will not be accepted effective March 2nd 2020

To download a form:

1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.

OR

1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.

Overview

Application is applicable in case you are travelling for visiting Family and Friends.

Regarding school pupils

Please be aware that children traveling to Switzerland as part of a school trip, and are nationals of a country whose citizens fall under Schengen visa requirements, are required to obtain a visa before traveling to Switzerland.

Please see HERE where, and how you can apply.

A visa normally grants you the right to stay in the entire Schengen region. The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

A visa allows you to stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in Switzerland and is normally valid for the entire Schengen region.

Decisions about visa applications must normally be made within 15 days (from the day Embassy receives it, excluding submission time at VFS). In some cases applications will require further enquiry or documentation. So processing time in these cases might prolong. Applicants might also be asked to appear for an Interview at the Embassy.

A visa does not allow you to work in Switzerland unless the Immigration Service has explicitly granted you this right.

UK travel documents

Are you a holder of a refugee travel document (1951 Convention travel document) or a travel document for stateless person (1954 Convention travel document) and a national of a country that is required to have a visa when traveling to the Schengen area? If so, then you must apply for a visa before traveling to Switzerland. Please see HERE where, and how you can apply

Visa Fees

• Applicable visa fee, in Euros (€) and may be subject to change without notice.
• VFS service fee GBP 20 (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.
• All fees can be paid by cash or Credit/Debit card.
• Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

In order to ensure quick and efficient visa processing you must prepare all necessary documentation before you submit the application package to VFS Global. Failing to submit all relevant documentation will result in unnecessary delays or might lead to a refusal of your application. Therefore, please do not approach the visa reception before you have collected all supporting documentation. Personal appearance is requested for applicants applying for a Schengen visa to Switzerland for the first time.

Information about the application will be shared with the other Schengen countries and applying under false circumstances may affect future applications for the Schengen area.

English translations must accompany the documents not originally in English. The application supporting documents should be handed in on A4 size papers.

Please see here for the requirements: Click here

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a plain light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)

Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every applicant can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Mission to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the Mission’s requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Applicants also need to be aware that, especially during busy season around Easter, Summer holidays (July and August) and Christmas, the appointments (see Schedule an Appointment) are being booked very quickly as the Mission only processes a fixed amount of visa applications on a daily basis.

Furthermore applicants need to consider that VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore VFS recommends all applicants:

to book their appointment as soon as they know they’ll be travelling

1. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Mission’s requirements
2. to leave enough processing time for the Mission

Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh and Manchester need to calculate 2 extra days to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.

The Mission may always request for additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which applicants accept responsibility for.

Download Form

Applicants who wish to obtain a Switzerland visa application form, can download the requisite form here.

Please note the instructions mentioned below while taking the printout.

Download Visa Applications Forms

New Visa Application Form Visa C

Please Note:

1. Number of pages:6
2. You can also obtain this form from the visa application centre.
3. Old Visa Application Form will not be accepted effective March 2nd 2020

To download a form:

1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.

OR

1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.

Overview

Every applicant, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the applicant.

Regarding school pupils

Please be aware that children traveling to Switzerland as part of a school trip, and are nationals of a country whose citizens fall under Schengen visa requirements, are required to obtain a visa before traveling to Switzerland.

Please see HERE where, and how you can apply.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out.

Eligibility

Applicant must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

1. holding a valid passport/travel document
2. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case applicant holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then applicant needs to apply for a Schengen visa from his/her residence country
3. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

UK travel documents

Are you a holder of a refugee travel document (1951 Convention travel document) or a travel document for stateless person (1954 Convention travel document) and a national of a country that is required to have a visa when traveling to the Schengen area? If so, then you must apply for a visa before traveling to Switzerland. Please see HERE where, and how you can apply

Visa Fees

• Applicable visa fee, in Euros (€) and may be subject to change without notice.
• VFS service fee GBP 20 (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.
• All fees can be paid by cash or Credit/Debit card.
• Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

In order to ensure quick and efficient visa processing you must prepare all necessary documentation before you submit the application package to VFS Global. Failing to submit all relevant documentation will result in unnecessary delays or might lead to a refusal of your application. Therefore, please do not approach the visa reception before you have collected all supporting documentation. Personal appearance is requested for applicants applying for a Schengen visa to Switzerland for the first time.

Information about the application will be shared with the other Schengen countries and applying under false circumstances may affect future applications for the Schengen area.

English translations must accompany the documents not originally in English. The application supporting documents should be handed in on A4 size papers.

Please see here for the requirements: Click here

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a plain light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)

Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every applicant can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Mission to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the Mission’s requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Applicants also need to be aware that, especially during busy season around Easter, Summer holidays (July and August) and Christmas, the appointments (see Schedule an Appointment) are being booked very quickly as the Mission only processes a fixed amount of visa applications on a daily basis.

Furthermore applicants need to consider that VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore VFS recommends all applicants:

to book their appointment as soon as they know they’ll be travelling

1. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Mission’s requirements
2. to leave enough processing time for the Mission

Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh and Manchester need to calculate 2 extra days to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.

The Mission may always request for additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which applicants accept responsibility for.

Download Form

Applicants who wish to obtain a Switzerland visa application form, can download the requisite form here.

Please note the instructions mentioned below while taking the printout.

Download Visa Applications Forms

New Visa Application Form Visa C

Please Note:

1. Number of pages:6
2. You can also obtain this form from the visa application centre.
3. Old Visa Application Form will not be accepted effective March 2nd 2020

To download a form:

1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.

OR

1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.

Overview

Every applicant, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the applicant.

Regarding school pupils

Please be aware that children traveling to Switzerland as part of a school trip, and are nationals of a country whose citizens fall under Schengen visa requirements, are required to obtain a visa before traveling to Iceland.

Please see HERE where, and how you can apply.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out.

Minors are applicants who haven’t reached the age of 18 years when submitting a Schengen visa application (Tourist, Visitor Family/Friends, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit).

Therefore each minor MUST provide the following additional documents:

1. Child’s unabridged/full birth certificate showing both biological parents their names
2. Written consent (signed and dated) of mother and father mentioned on the child’s birth certificate
3. Copy of both parents their passport’s Bio page and signature page, if signature is not on Bio page
4. In case the parents are divorced or one of the parents has deceased, then respectively the court order confirming one parent’s sole custody or the deceased parent’s death certificate.
5. In case a guardian has been appointed by the parents, then the guardianship letter and the guardian’s passport’s Bio page and signature page, if signature is not on Bio page

Due to European legislation regarding protection of children/minors, it has to be emphasised that Minors, who are not providing all the required documents, may not be granted a Schengen visa.

Applicable visa fee for minors varies in 3 age groups:

6. Minors under 6 years old: Gratis
7. Minors 6 years old but just not 12 years old: Reduced visa fee
8. Minors 12 years old and more: Full visa fee

Eligibility

Applicant must at least meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to submit a Schengen visa application:

9. holding a valid passport/travel document
10. holding a valid UK residence permit. In case applicant holds a short stay visa for the UK, a C type visa (see example here), then applicant needs to apply for a Schengen visa from his/her residence country
11. applying for a short stay visa: Tourist (including Minors), Visitor Family/Friends, Business, EEA/EU and Swiss national family member or Airport Transit

UK travel documents

Are you a holder of a refugee travel document (1951 Convention travel document) or a travel document for stateless person (1954 Convention travel document) and a national of a country that is required to have a visa when traveling to the Schengen area? If so, then you must apply for a visa before traveling to Iceland. Please see HERE where, and how you can apply

Visa Fees

• Applicable visa fee, in Euros (€) and may be subject to change without notice.
• VFS service fee GBP 20 (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.
• All fees can be paid by cash or Credit/Debit card.
• Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant can always be asked to provide additional information/documents, if desired by the Mission.

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and need to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Applicants always have to bring and present their original documents, but they only need to submit photocopies of the same; unless the requirements specify that an original document has to be submitted.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview (see here) in order to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

1. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
   1. Visa application form (original) (see here): signed by both parents
   2. Passport (original)
      Signed passport, at least 2 blank pages for visa purposes, must be valid for at least 90 days beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area and has to be issued within the last 10 years on the day of leaving the Schengen Area.
      Extended passport may still be valid, but when older than 10 years the passport is no longer acceptable; in that case applicant first needs to apply for a new passport.
      Photocopies of previous Schengen visas endorsed in an old passport and issued in the last 3 years, if applicable.
   3. UK Residence permit
      UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card and/or digital proof of immigration status issued by UK Home Office (share code), must be valid for at least 1 month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is not acceptable.
   4. Photograph (original) (see here)
      Every minor, irrespective of the visa category applying for, has also to provide the following documents as part of the Standard Documentation:
   5. Birth certificate
      Unabridged birth certificate showing biological parents their names; if not in English or German, then translation by a certified translator in the UK is also required
   6. Consent of both parents
      Both biological parents need to give their written consent (signed & dated) for the minor to travel
   7. Parents passports (copy)
   8. Proof of sole custody (in case of a single parent): in case parents have divorced or one of the parents has deceased, then the same has to be demonstrated by court/residence order (original to be seen) or death certificate (original to be seen)
2. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
   In case the minor is applying for TOURIST/VISITOR FAMILY & FRIENDS/AIRPORT TRANSIT
   1. Proof of current occupation
      1. Student letter (original): recent (less than 1 month old) signed UK university/college/school letter (addressed to the Mission and confirming applicant’s enrolment)
   2. Proof of funds (from 1 parent)
      Latest 3 months UK current account bank statements showing at least 1 name of the applicant’s parents, address and a positive end balance dated within 1 month on the visa application submission date. Bank balance needs to show a sufficient amount to cover the expenses during the intended stay in the Schengen Area and for the return back to the uk or the country of origin/residence; alternatively online bank account printouts are also accepted.
   3. Proof of travel (airplane, train, boat, coach, (hired) car)
      1. Confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning applicant’s name and travel dates
      2. When travelling by car: car registration, car insurance, return travel tickets (ferry or Eurotunnel) mentioning the car’s registration number and driver’s driving licence. If applicant is not the driver, then driver’s cover letter (signed & dated) confirming joint travel with applicant and travel dates need to be provided too.
         When travel tickets have been paid through travel agency, then a receipt, an invoice or a payment confirmation is also required.
   4. Proof of accommodation
      confirmed accommodation (hotel, hostel, camping,…) booking mentioning applicant’s name, travel dates and accommodation address details.
      If the applicant’s name is not mentioned on the accommodation reservation, then a joint travel confirmation letter, signed and dated by the person whose name is on the reservation, must also be provided along with a photocopy of that same person’s passport/ID card + passport signature page, if signature is not on passport’s bio page.
      When accommodation is reserved for a group, then a list with the names of the group members will also be required; alternatively the group members their names may also be mentioned on the travel ticket
   5. Travel insurance (all-risk medical travel insurance)
      The travel insurance – clearly showing the applicant’s name - has to be valid throughout the complete territory of the Schengen Area and must cover the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay in the Schengen Area; the minimum coverage for medical emergency and repatriation must be 30.000 €.
      In case the minor is applying for EEA/EU and Swiss national family member
   6. EEA/EU and Swiss national’s passport or ID card (original to be seen)
   7. Proof of relation to EEA/EU and Swiss national: marriage/birth certificate (original to be seen), if not in English or German, then translation by a certified translator in Ireland of the same is required
   8. Proof of joint travel

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a plain light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)

Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every applicant can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Mission to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the Mission’s requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Applicants also need to be aware that, especially during busy season around Easter, Summer holidays (July and August) and Christmas, the appointments (see Schedule an Appointment) are being booked very quickly as the Mission only processes a fixed amount of visa applications on a daily basis.

Furthermore applicants need to consider that VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore VFS recommends all applicants:

to book their appointment as soon as they know they’ll be travelling

1. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Mission’s requirements
2. to leave enough processing time for the Mission

Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh and Manchester need to calculate 2 extra days to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.

The Mission may always request for additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which applicants accept responsibility for.

Download Form

Applicants who wish to obtain a Switzerland visa application form, can download the requisite form here.

Please note the instructions mentioned below while taking the printout.

Download Visa Applications Forms

New Visa Application Form Visa C

Please Note:

1. Number of pages:6
2. You can also obtain this form from the visa application centre.
3. Old Visa Application Form will not be accepted effective March 2nd 2020

To download a form:

1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.

OR

1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.

Overview

Every applicant, including children/infants, has to submit his/her Schengen visa application in person and by appointment only on their appointment date, which needs to be booked online (see Schedule an Appointment) by the applicant.

For Non EU citizens who are not sure whether a Schengen visa is required to travel to the Schengen Area, please click Do I need a visa? to find out.

Following family members of EEA/EU and Swiss nationals are entitled to apply for a Schengen visa as EEA/EU Family member, i.e. submitting fewer documents required than regular Tourists and exempt from paying the applicable visa fee, when travelling together with their EEA/EU or Swiss Family member:

1. Spouse
2. Child(ren)
3. Registered partner

UK travel documents

Are you a holder of a refugee travel document (1951 Convention travel document) or a travel document for stateless person (1954 Convention travel document) and a national of a country that is required to have a visa when traveling to the Schengen area? If so, then you must apply for a visa before traveling to Switzerland. Please see HERE where, and how you can apply

Visa Fees

• Applicable visa fee, in Euros (€) and may be subject to change without notice.
• VFS service fee GBP 20 (inclusive of VAT) is charged per visa application, in addition to the applicable visa fee.
• All fees can be paid by cash or Credit/Debit card.
• Cheque payments and direct bank transfers are not accepted.
• All fees are non-refundable.

Documents Required

The list of documents below is not an exhaustive list of documents and the applicant can always be asked to provide additional information/documents, if desired by the Mission.

Both the standard and the supporting documentation have to be recent, i.e. not older than 1 month, and need to be provided for every Schengen visa application.

Applicants always have to bring and present their original documents, but they only need to submit photocopies of the same; unless the requirements specify that an original document has to be submitted.

Before gathering the required documents mentioned below, applicants are advised to read the requirements under Overview (see here) in order to ensure they are entitled to apply for the chosen visa category.

Please see here for the requirements: Click here

For Minors, please click here.

1. STANDARD DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
   • Travel document
     Your passport or travel document must be valid for minimum three months after the intended departure from the Schengen area,
     • It shall contain at least two blank pages,
     • It shall have been issued within the past 10 years,
     • It should not have any observation regarding the front data page.
   • Application form
     Fully completed application form and signed by the applicant. Please note that any incomplete information or false statements could result in delay in the processing of the application. The application form can be downloaded in English.
   • Photograph
     One recent original passport-size color photograph with white background. Photograph should not be older than six months.
   • Proof of Legal Residence in the United Kingdom
     UK Residence permit, endorsed in the passport or issued as a Biometrics card and/or digital proof of immigration status issued by UK Home Office (share code), must be valid for at least 1 month beyond the return date of the trip to the Schengen Area; C type visitor visa (see here) is not acceptable.
2. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR SCHENGEN VISA APPLICATION
   1. EEA/EU and Swiss national’s passport or ID card (original to be seen)
   2. Proof of relation to EEA/EU and Swiss national: marriage/birth certificate (original to be seen), if not in English then translation by a certified translator in the UK of the same is required
   3. Proof of joint travel : confirmed return travel tickets: mentioning both applicant’s and EEA/EU national family member’s names and travel dates to & from the Schengen Area
   4. COVID-19 related certificates (of full vaccination or of previous infection) shall be submitted with Schengen-visa applications
      - Requirements for vaccination certificate: COVID-19
      - Requirements for Certificates of a previous COVID-19 infection: COVID-19

General Information

- All documents should be provided in A4 size.

- Please submit only photocopies of all documents, as we do not guarantee the return of any original documents but do carry original documents at the time of submission. The Embassy reserves the right to request the original of any document provided at any point during visa processing.

- English translations must accompany the documents not originally in English.

- The applicants should allow for a processing time of minimum 15 days, excluding the VFS handling time back and forth to the Switzerland Embassy.

Photo Specifications

Please provide one recent (not older than 6 months) colour photograph of yourself, meeting the following requirements:

• Taken against a plain light (white or off-white) background so that features are distinguishable and contrast against the background
• Clear quality and with the face in focus
• Full face: non-smiling, no sunglasses, no hat/cap or any head covering, unless the applicant wears such items because of his/her religious belief or ethnic background
• Printed on normal photographic paper (camera print)

Photograph attached (glued) to the Visa Application Form

If the photographs presented do not meet these requirements (see examples here), then the visa application will be considered incomplete and applicant will be asked to take new photographs in the photo booth in the visa application centre.

Processing Time

Every applicant can submit his/her Schengen visa application up to 6 months before the intended travel date to the Schengen Area.

The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time - between the appointment date and travel date - for the Mission to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s actual return date as delays may occur.

For certain nationalities (see list here) the visa application needs consultation from the other Schengen countries and therefore the processing time can take longer.

In order to avoid any delays in the visa application process, it is paramount that the visa application is complete and its documents submitted are as per the Mission’s requirements (see Documents Required for the different visa categories).

Applicants also need to be aware that, especially during busy season around Easter, Summer holidays (July and August) and Christmas, the appointments (see Schedule an Appointment) are being booked very quickly as the Mission only processes a fixed amount of visa applications on a daily basis.

Furthermore applicants need to consider that VFS/Mission’s closures and holidays (see Public Holidays/Closures) may extend the visa application processing time.

Therefore VFS recommends all applicants:

to book their appointment as soon as they know they’ll be travelling

1. to ensure that their visa application’s documentation meets the Mission’s requirements
2. to leave enough processing time for the Mission

Applicants submitting their visa application in our satellite centre in Edinburgh and Manchester need to calculate 2 extra days to their minimum processing time as their visa application will first be dispatched to the VFS London office, from where it is forwarded to the Mission in London the following day.

The Mission may always request for additional information/documents or invite applicants for an interview during the visa application process and this may cause delays in the visa process, which applicants accept responsibility for.

Download Form

Applicants who wish to obtain a Switzerland visa application form, can download the requisite form here.

Please note the instructions mentioned below while taking the printout.

Download Visa Applications Forms

New Visa Application Form Visa C

Please Note:

1. Number of pages:6
2. You can also obtain this form from the visa application centre.
3. Old Visa Application Form will not be accepted effective March 2nd 2020

To download a form:

1. Click on the form link
2. When the form opens, save the form on your computer.

OR

1. Press the right button on your mouse on the required link.
2. Select Save Target As from the list
3. Save the form on your computer.