Applying for student and tourism visa to Switzerland

To obtain a tourist Schengen visa of category C for Switzerland, please comply with these requirements:

For each applicant and their children, provide a complete package of standard documents and their copies, including insurance, reservations, financial guarantees, and other necessary documents.

Tourists staying in hotels, rented apartments, or private accommodations should provide the following documents:

• Completed application form in one of the official languages of Switzerland (English, Italian, German, or French), signed personally by the applicant is required. For minor children, one of the parents must sign the application.
• The foreign passport with a minimum validity of three months beyond the departure date from the Schengen area, and with at least two free pages is allowed to provide..
• Copies of all completed pages of the passport, including information about previously issued international passports are necessary to provid.
• Two color photos (taken within the last 6 months) according to the Schengen standards, with one photo attached to the application and the second one as an additional copy.
• Copy of medical insurance covering the entire period of the stay in the Schengen area, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for medical transportation, emergency medical care, hospitalization, or repatriation in case of death.
• Confirmation of hotel bookings, or for property owners in Switzerland, a copy of property rights are provided. For family members of property owners, a document proving the relationship with the owner is required.
• Employment certificate and proof of income are required. Students should provide their student ID and a copy of it to the embassy.
• Bank statement or proof of financial solvency is provided, with each applicant required to have an amount equivalent to 100 CHF per day of their stay in the country.
• Detailed itinerary of the trip, including the dates of stay in the Schengen area, and confirmation of round-trip ticket reservations are required..

Additional requirements for minor children

• A copy of the child's birth certificate.
• If the child is traveling independently, a certified consent letter from both parents (a copy and an original) translated into a foreign language is required. If the child is traveling with one parent/guardian, a certified letter from the second parent/guardian (a copy and an original), translated into one of the official languages, is required.
• If the accompanying parent already has a Schengen visa, its copy of it should be provided.

Additional requirements for children listed in the passport of the tourist

• Filling in a separate application form by the parent whose child is listed in the passport, with their personal signature.
• Two recent photos according to the Schengen standards, with one photo attached to the application and the second one as an additional copy.
• Copy of medical insurance covering the entire period of the child's stay in the Schengen area, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for medical transportation, emergency medical care, hospitalization, or repatriation in case of death is provided..
• If the child is traveling with one parent/guardian, a certified letter from the second parent/guardian (a copy and an original), translated into one of the official languages, is required. If the second parent/guardian holds a valid visa, a copy of the visa should also be provided.

Recommendation:

If previous Schengen visas were issued in an expired passport, it is advisable to submit the previous passport (an original or a copy) along with copies of the two Schengen visas issued in that passport.

Please note that the Swiss Consulate will consider the submitted documents only if they are provided within three or more days after confirming payment of the visa fee and submitting the application.

Applicants planning short-term studies in Switzerland for up to 3 months generally do not require a student visa for Switzerland, of category D (permission B). However, certain documents are still necessary and are applicable to all embassies of the Schengen countries. These documents include:

• Schengen Visa Application form, filled out in one of the official European languages (English, Italian, German, or French) and personally signed by the applicant is required. For minors, one of the parents must sign the application.
• The foreign passport with a validity of more than 90 days beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area, and with at least two blank pages is allowed to provide.
• National passport. Copies of all completed pages, including information about all previously issued international passports.
• Two color photos in the Schengen format, with one photo attached to the application form and the second photo as an optional extra.
• Copy of medical insurance, covering the entire period of stay in the Schengen area, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 to ensure medical transportation, emergency medical care, hospitalization, or repatriation in case of death is required.
• Copy and original letter from the Swiss educational institution or official confirmation of enrollment in the courses is provided.
• If not specified in the confirmation, provide proof of payment for all expenses related to the course. If there is a sponsor, documents confirming sponsorship or other evidence of sufficient financial resources must be provided.
• Additional documents for applicants under the age of 18 include:
  • Copy of the birth certificate.
  • If the child is traveling independently, a certified consent letter from both parents (a copy and an original), translated into a foreign language is necessary to provide. If the child is traveling with one parent/guardian, a certified letter from the second parent/guardian (a copy and an original), translated into one of the above languages, is required.

Recommendation:

If a valid foreign passport does not contain any previous Schengen visas, but there were visas in the old passport, it is advisable to submit the previous passport (an original or a copy), along with copies of the two Schengen visas issued in the old passport.

The Swiss Consulate will consider the submitted documents within 3 working days or more, only after the visa fee has been paid and all necessary documents have been provided.

To obtain a study visa for a stay for less than 90 days in Switzerland, the foreign students must apply in person. They can do so either directly or through a travel agency. If applying through a next of kin, relevant kinship documents and identification must be provided.

The Consulate General reserves the right to:

• Interviewing the applicant at any time during the process of applying for a student and educational visa in Switzerland.
• Forwarding the received documents to local authorities for further consideration.
• Requesting additional documents for the visa application.

The National Permit B visa, also known as the "Visa for study in Switzerland of category D (permit B)," is valid for more than 90 days.

To apply for a student visa for Switzerland, valid for more than 3 months, the following documents are required:

1. Three completed questionnaires for the "Application for a visa for long-term stay (Permit B)" in the official language of the country, personally signed by the applicant.

2. A passport with a validity period of at least 90 days beyond the departure from the EU states, with at least two blank pages. If the passport has a shorter validity period, a new passport will be required to attach the visa after a positive decision is made.

3. Two copies of all completed pages of the national passport, including pages with a photo, name, and signature.

4. Copies of the last Schengen visas, if applicable.

5. Four color photos in the standard Schengen format, with three photos attached to the pre-filled questionnaires and one additional photo.

6. Two copies and the original of an official letter from the educational institution confirming enrollment. The student visa will only be issued with the appropriate invitation.

7. Two copies and the original of a confirmation, in a foreign language, documenting payment for all expenses for the entire period of study for which the student requires a study visa to Switzerland category D (permit B).

8. If applicable, a sponsorship letter (a copy and an original) written in one of the official languages of the country, along with official proof of the sponsor's financial status, such as a bank account statement for the last three months or a certificate from the bank are necessary to provide. Two copies and the original of the sponsor's passport (pages with a photo, name, and signature) are also required.

9. Two copies and the original of certificates, diplomas, and an education plan translated into a foreign language and notarized with an apostille.

10. Personal characteristics report and motivation letter, both written in a foreign language are required. The motivation letter should explain the reasons for choosing Switzerland for education and the advantages it offers for the applicant's future.

11. Two original statements in a foreign language, confirming the applicant's commitment to leave the country after completing the education.

For applicants under the age of 18 years old:

    13. Two copies and the original of the birth certificate, translated into a foreign language and notarized with an apostille.

14. If a minor student is traveling independently and requires a study visa for Switzerland, a notarized consent letter from both parents (two copies and the original), translated into a foreign language and notarized with an apostille, is required.

15. If a child is traveling with only one parent/guardian, a certified consent letter from the second parent/guardian (two copies and the original), translated into one of the above languages, is required.

16. If the parent/guardian traveling with the child already has a valid Schengen visa, two copies of it are required.

17. The Embassy may conduct a language proficiency test to verify the applicant's language knowledge. An additional fee of 5 CHF may be charged for document forwarding to Swiss migration authorities.

Important: The document consideration process takes 6 to 12 weeks. Applications for a long-term visa, including the study visa in Switzerland category D (permit B), must be submitted in person. The migration service may request additional documents from the applicant.

Visa Application: The request for a national visa (category D, stay more than 90 days) should be submitted to the visa department of the Embassy by appointment. Appointments can be made on the TLScontact website or by phone after online registration and completion of the electronic form on the TLScontact website. The visa department can also assist with appointment of the meeting. However, in case of lack of availability,  there may be a significant waiting period.

The request for a study visa in Switzerland category D (permit B) is sent to the competent cantonal migration authority for consideration. A fee of CHF 5 is charged for document forwarding. The student visa will be issued by the visa department only after receiving the necessary permission from the cantonal authority. Due to the 6 to 12-week processing time, it is recommended to apply for a visa in advance. The visa department does not have control over the speed of decision-making.

The application for a national visa D must be submitted in person by the applicant, and the visa fee must be paid in cash at the visa department of the Embassy.

Payment of Visa Fees in the Consular Jurisdiction of the Embassy

When submitting documents at the visa center, the visa and service fees are paid in cash at the visa center according to the exchange rate for consular services.

When submitting documents at the visa department of the Embassy, you will receive a payment notice for the visa fee.

The payment notice contains all the necessary information for payment. The visa department will process your request only after the visa fee has been paid, confirmed by the bank.

The bank will return the second part of the payment notice ("B") to you as proof of payment. Please keep it and present it when you collect your passport.

The visa fees are as follows:

Schengen Visa (stay up to 90 days within a 6-month period, no right to work)

For citizens of Moldova, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina*:

• 35 euros for visa applicants over 6 years with their own passport.
• Children under 6 years old, as well as applicants under 16 years old if they are included in their parents' passport, are exempt from visa fees.

There are also certain categories of applicants who are exempt from paying the visa fee. Information on other fee exemptions will be provided during the document submission process.

• Citizens of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with a biometric passport do not require a visa for travel to the Schengen area (up to 90 days within a 6-month period, no right to work).

For citizens of other states:

• 60 euros for visa applicants over 12 years old.
• 35 euros for visa applicants from 6 to 12 years old with their own passport.
• Children under 6 years old, as well as applicants under 16 years old if they are included in their parents' passport, are exempt from visa fees.

Certain categories of applicants are exempt from paying the visa fee (the list is not exhaustive).

Spouses, children and stepchildren (up to the age of 21), parents, parents of the spouse, grandparents, siblings of Swiss, EU, or EEA citizens (EEA - European Economic Area, includes all EU countries, as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein, Norway, and Iceland). Relationship proof is required by submitting copies of relevant civil status documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.). Information on other fee exemptions will be provided during the document submitting process.

Please note that the visa fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether a visa is issued or not.

When submitting documents at the visa center, a service fee of 23 euros per applicant is also paid in cash at the exchange rate for consular services. Persons with disabilities (and one accompanying person), children under 6 years old, as well as applicants included in their parents' passports, are exempt from the service fee.

National Visa of Type D (stay in the country for more than 90 days within a 6-month period or employment, study visa to Switzerland of category D (permit B)):

• 60 euros for visa applicants over 12 years old.
• 35 euros for visa applicants from 6 to 12 years old with their own passport.
• Children under 6 years old, as well as applicants under 16 years old if they are included in their parents' passports, are exempt from visa fees.

Please note that the visa fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether you are granted a visa (including a student visa to Switzerland) or not.

The visa fee and postal fee for sending documents to Switzerland are paid in cash at the visa section of the Embassy upon request.