Buy Switzerland Visa

Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Area, having signed the Schengen Agreement and subscribed to the one visa policy of the Union. This policy is shared by 27 European countries which grants visa-free access to their citizens. Subsequently, Schengen citizens are free to live in any Schengen country indefinitely without visas, and they can enter member states with only their ID cards if they do not have passports.

The second visitor category is those from somewhere other than visa-exempt nations. Nin visa-exempt visitors will need visas before being allowed into the South West EU country. Visas can either be Schengen visas or national long-stay visas. Schengen visas are short-term visas for 90 days visits. They are primarily issued to persons coming for business or tourism, but transit travelers can equally use them.

Long-term visas are issued for longer stays that exceed 6 months and tend to remain valid for one year and above.

The other visitor category is those from visa-exempt countries who don’t need visas to enter Switzerland. The Swiss government maintains a list of visa-exempt countries like other Schengen countries. If you are a citizen of any of these countries, you can stay in Switzerland or other Schengen nations for 90 days, but you will need ETIAS approval. This list is determined by several factors and regulations by the European Commission and all the other member nations in the Schengen zone. This is why they all seem to have the same visa-free list.

Switzerland Visa ETIAS

Visitors from visa-exempt countries must apply for the European Travel Information and Authorization System permit before being granted entry into Switzerland. The program is currently in the pilot stage, and visitors from these countries can visit Schengen countries with it or with their valid passports. By the start of 2024, it will be mandatory for all visa-exempt visitors to get their ETIAS; otherwise, they will not be allowed into any Schengen country, including Switzerland.

The European Commission launched the ETIAS program, which will be implemented by member states to combat illegal immigration and to track terrorist and health risks. The ETIAS approval is a visa waiver program mandatory for visa-exempt passport holders for eligible visitors coming to Switzerland for business, tourism, transit, and medical treatment. This visa waiver permit is valid for 3 years, and a holder can stay in Switzerland or any other country in the Union for 90 days within 6 months. Furthermore, it is digitally linked to the visitor’s passport, and it takes only a few minutes to complete the application form.

Applicants must go online and complete an online application form; this form contains sections for passport, travel, and personal information and there is also a set of security questions that must be answered truthfully.  After completing and submitting the form, the ETIAS system will kick into gear to screen their data across several security databases for potential risks.

Applications that trigger no alerts will be approved while those classified as high risks will be rejected.  The European Commission has also mandated member states including Switzerland to have local review units to manually vet suspicious applications in line with their independent policies. This process may take some time but the affected applicant will be informed of the situation and kept informed.

Note: If you are not from a visa-exempt country, you can still visit Switzerland if you obtain a visa. Visit the nearest Swiss foreign mission to apply for a visa. Switzerland doesn’t have an entry ban at the moment.

Key Information About Switzerland Visa ETIAS

Interested applicants should bear the following in mind as they prepare to submit their applications.

It is not a visa: The first thing to note is that this document is merely an online authorization that permits the holder to enter Switzerland. It is not a visa nor does it grant the holder the privilege to apply for a resident permit or work visa during their stay. This permit is solely for short visits.

Limitations: Despite allowing the holder to enter Switzerland without a visa there are limits to what you can do with it. For starters, you cannot work in the country with this visa nor can you study in any of the academic institutions in the country. To work or study you will need a work or study visa issued by a Swiss embassy or consulate abroad. Secondly, you cannot stay in Switzerland or any other Schengen country for more than 90 days within 6 months. Staying much longer will be treated as a violation and you will be fined on your way out.

Primary Destination:  If you apply for Switzerland ETIAS that means you intend to visit only Switzerland or it will be your first destination before traveling to another country in the Schengen zone. If Switzerland will not be your first port of call, please apply to the appropriate country