To travel to
Switzerland you need to get a Switzerland visa. Getting a Switzerland visa is
an easy process,all you need to do is to provide all the necessary requirement
needed for the visa processing. So in this post you will get to know the necessary Switzerland visa
requirements and the application process.
This post is to
answer frequently asked questions such as
How to apply for a Switzerland visa
Requirements to apply for Switzerland
visa
Cost of a Switzerland visa
Duration to process a Switzerland visa
Switzerland visa interview tips
Processing time for a
Switzerland visa
Under certain circumstances, the period for processing an application may be extended by 30 to 60 days. The procedure usually takes between 6–8 weeks, sometimes longer, depending on the season. We therefore recommend you submit your application as early as possible.
Under certain circumstances, the period for processing an application may be extended by 30 to 60 days. The procedure usually takes between 6–8 weeks, sometimes longer, depending on the season. We therefore recommend you submit your application as early as possible.
Cost of a
Switzerland visa
The cost of submitting an application is EUR 60. An additional EUR 60 is charged for a renewed application following a rejection. This amount does not include processing fees.
The cost of submitting an application is EUR 60. An additional EUR 60 is charged for a renewed application following a rejection. This amount does not include processing fees.
Validity of a
Switzerland visa
A student permit is valid for the length of the study period.
Visitor visa is valid for up to 3 months.
Transit and airport transit visas are issued to nationals wishing to pass through Switzerland or continuing on a connecting flight to another country.Holders of transit visas must leave Switzerland within 24 hours of arrival and holders of airport transit visas must continue their journey within 48 hours.
A student permit is valid for the length of the study period.
Visitor visa is valid for up to 3 months.
Transit and airport transit visas are issued to nationals wishing to pass through Switzerland or continuing on a connecting flight to another country.Holders of transit visas must leave Switzerland within 24 hours of arrival and holders of airport transit visas must continue their journey within 48 hours.
1) When planning your trip, do not make the mistake of thinking your
travel agent or the airline will be able to tell you if you need a visa. Make
sure you find out for yourself. You can find out if you need a visa by going to
the U.S. State Department website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html,
there is a lot of terrific information to be found here including notes for
Americans on safety and security overseas.
2) Make sure your passport has at least 4-6 blank pages, your visa won't
need that many but many of the consulates require at least two blank pages;
this is an easy excuse for them to give you a hard time. If you need more pages
they're easy to get through the National passport processing office. You can
find information the process on the State Department's website.
3) Make sure your passport isn't going to expire for a while. The
passport's expiration date must be greater than six months from the date of
entry for the visa you are applying for. If your passport does not meet the
requirements, you must renew your passport.
4) Your visa application. This is where you really need the assistance of
a good travel visa service. You'll find that many of the visa applications are
quite confusing. There are language usage differences that may have you
scratching your head. If you are not sure, ask, do not guess, errors on forms
can be costly.
5) Passport photographs. This is one I had a particularly difficult time
getting my boss to do. Go to your post office or perhaps you have a drug store
or photo processing store that takes passport photographs, get them, and if you
are traveling a lot get a lot of extra photos. Most often you are required to
submit two passport photographs with your visa application. You may get away
with only providing one, you may get away with submitting a digital you took
and printed on photo paper. It's not worth the risk. Get the extra photos.
6) Include your travel itinerary. Most applications require you include
your travel plans as proof of entrance and exit dates. This would be the
itinerary you get with your tickets or from the airline/travel agent.
7) Make sure you make copies of everything you send the consulate or visa
travel service. This doesn't include your passport of course, but it's a good
idea to make a copy of the first page in your passport just for your records.
You will be sending your passport with your visa application and other
paperwork.
8) Include a copy of your driver's license. This isn't a hard and fast
rule, but just good policy. A lot of times a country may require this but
neglect to mention or they may decide they want more identification
information. This is a "Just in Case" preventative measure.
9) Do not forget the fee. If you are using a visa travel service, most
likely you can simply provide your credit card number. If you are not, you will
most likely have to provide a check for their fee as most of the consulates do
not take credit cards.
10) A key challenge is the decision to appear at the embassy or consulate
or simply overnight your application and materials to the appropriate place. In
many cases, there won't be an option as the embassy or consulate is too far to
travel to. If you are doing this on your own and are able, it may be prudent to
go to the embassy or consulate yourself. Base your decision dependent on your
time and patience level.
11) Finally, hire a travel visa service. These services are reasonable,
quick and experienced. You do not save money doing it yourself and you
certainly don't save hassle. Your travel visa service is there to help you with
everything from completing forms to emergency turn-around times. Don't just go
with any service. Investigate. I recommend Visa HQ www.visahq.com, for their
experience and customer service.
Documents required to
apply for a Switzerland visa
An expired
travel document,
An official
document showing the person’s identity and/or citizenship (e.g. driver’s
licence).
EU or EEA citizens must satisfy the following entry requirements:
They must
present a valid ID card or passport;
They must not
pose a threat to public order and security.
Types of visa:
A Type C visa
is required for short-term stays of up to three months and destined for tourist
purposes, such as visiting relatives or friends, participating in sports or
cultural events, for business, and schooling or study programs.
Type C visas are valid for the entire Schengen
area, which is why they are commonly referred to a Schengen visas.
Please note that people intending to come to Switzerland for the
purpose of pursuing gainful employment, are required to hold both a valid
Schengen visa and work permit.
A Type D visa
is required for stays of more than three months' duration. This visa is a
national visa, issued to people who wish to stay in Switzerland legally and for
a prolonged period of time.
Stays subject
to type D visa requirements need to be previously authorised by the appropriate
authorities Type D visas are typically issued to people wishing to work or
study in Switzerland, and for purposes of family reunification or lengthy
medical treatment.
The following
nationalities do not require a visa to enter Switzerland
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Switzerland visa interview tips
1. Prepare a “grab bag” of documents frequently requested
Get a clearbook to hold all the documents that embassies
usually require and make at least five copies of each of these documents.
Usually, the embassy will need to look at the original copy for verification
purposes and then just keep a photocopy. Make sure that your photocopies are
clear. It will save you the trouble of having to photocopy another clearer copy
while at the embassy
Documents to include in this clear book are:
·
Birth certificate (must be certified by the
National Statistics Office)
·
Marriage certificate* (if annulled, you will
probably need a copy of your Marriage Certificate annotated by the NSO
certifying that the marriage was declared null and void.
·
Latest Income Tax Return
·
For business owners, include business permits,
business license and (audited) financial statements
·
Photocopies of previous visas you have been
issued
·
ID pictures: Different embassies will have
different size requirements, so when you have your picture taken, have the
picture reproduced in different size dimensions. I suggest you get one picture
taken in the standard 2x2 white background and one in the US visa size and
Schengen size. (Note that for all visa requirements, both ears must be shown
and women should not be wearing earrings.)
·
Proof of income and ownership such as land
titles and or car registration documents
Keep all your old passports with other visa stamps as
reference. It may not fit in the clear book, but it should be made part of your
visa app “grab bag.
2. Keep a list of the countries you’ve visited
Update the list of countries you've visited the way you would
update your CV. Many embassies require you to list the countries you have
visited within a certain number of years. Some embassies will specify a time
frame, some will not, so it is best to start from countries you have visited
from 5 years back. Keep a soft copy of this list in your computer and update it
each time you travel.
3. Make a checklist of the visa application requirements –
and triple check that!
When applying for a Schengen visa via the Italian embassy,
for example, a checklist of requirements (which you can download along with the
visa application form) is mandatory in the list of documents to be presented to
the visa processing center. It is not a standard requirement for all countries,
but a checklist is definitely a good thing to have on hand. Make one of your
own if your destination country does not require it.
Double and triple check each requirement, line by line if you
have to. It will be worth the trouble because there are varying specifications
for each country.
Look out for fine print like required payment mode: Is a
manager’s check required? Can you pay in Philippine pesos, US dollars or Euros?
Tip is to pay in US dollars so you will not be subject to currency fluctuations.
Remember to check for exact amount, e.g. if it says $58, bring $58 as some
embassies will not offer change.
Double check the location of the visa processing centers as
their addresses on the application forms may not be updated.
4. Have a standard template for letters of introduction to
consuls
Embassies may require you to prepare a letter to the consul
to introduce yourself and state your reason for travel. Make a standard
template for this letter of introduction, save on your “Travel Docs” folder and
just fill in whenever you need to apply for a visa.
This cover letter should have:
·
Header with your name, contact details and if
available, your visa application reference number
·
Reason for travel
·
Duration of stay
·
Mention of other countries you have visited
·
How you will fund your trip
·
Day by day travel itinerary as an attachment
5. Make your travel agent your travel buddy
Find a travel agent you
can trust and make him or her your travel buddy. She can act as a semi-one-stop
shop and help you book tickets and hotels that you won't have to pay for yet
(you will want to wait till you get the visa before paying for a ticket or
hotel), and facilitate travel insurance.
Hope this post was
helpful
Question tags
How to apply for a
Switzerland visa
Requirements to apply
for Switzerland visa
Cost of a Switzerland
visa
Duration to process a
Switzerland visa
Switzerland visa interview tips
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