Lots of Schengen visa rules apply to Switzerland as it is part of the Schengen Area. This is the case when the question of “Who Needs a Switzerland Visa?” comes up. In case you are considering traveling to Switzerland but don’t know if you need a visa or not, this is your ultimate guide. In this blog, we will cover the question of news Switzerland’s short and long-stay visas.
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ToggleWho Needs and Doesn’t Need a Switzerland Visa?
The answer depends on the purpose of your trip and your nationality. First, determine if you need to stay in Switzerland for less than 90 days or not. If yes, then you need to look at the list of the countries that need a Switzerland short-stay visa. The following countries do not need a Switzerland short-stay visa:
Asia
Brunei Darussalam | Hong Kong | Malaysia |
Georgia | Israel | Singapore |
The United Arab Emirates | Japan | South Korea |
North America
Antigua And Barbuda | Grenada |
Bahamas | Guatemala |
Barbados | Honduras |
Canada | Mexico |
Costa Rica | Nicaragua |
Dominica | Panama |
El Salvador | United States Of America |
South America
Argentina | Paraguay |
Brazil | Peru |
Chile | Uruguay |
Colombia | Venezuela |
Africa
Mauritius | Seychelles |
Oceania
Australia | Palau |
Kiribati | Samoa |
Marshall Islands | Solomon Islands |
Micronesia | Tuvalu |
New Zealand | Vanuatu |
Europe
Albania | Monaco |
Andorra | Montenegro |
Bosnia And Herzegovina | San Marino |
EEA countries | Serbia |
North Macedonia | Ukraine |
Vatican City State | United Kingdom |
Moldova | EU |
If you are a national of the above countries, then you do not need a Switzerland short-stay visa. The EU and EEA members are also free of Switzerland short-stay visas. To stay longer than 90 days, they need a visa. The vis must suit the purpose of the visit.
When your nationality is not part of the above list, you need a Switzerland short-stay visa. The duration of your stay does not matter
Do You Need a Switzerland Visa with More Than One Nationality?
The answer depends on which nationality you travel to Switzerland. If you are going to travel with a passport issued from a country that needs this visa, then you have to apply for a visa. But, if you travel with a passport issued from a visa-free country to Switzerland, then you don’t need a visa.
Move to Switzerland as a software engineer by reading our article.
Who Needs a Switzerland Transit Visa?
A Switzerland transit visa lets you enter the transit area of a Swiss airport to catch another flight to your destination. When you have this visa, you may not leave the Swiss transit area or apply for another type of visa.
Please remember that you need a Switzerland transit visa if your destination IS NOT one of the Schengen countries. Yet, the nationals of a few countries need a Switzerland transit visa. The list is as follows:
Asia
Afghanistan | Iran | Pakistan |
Bangladesh | Iraq | Sri Lanka |
India | Lebanon | Turkey |
Africa
Angola | Ghana |
Cameroon | Guinea |
Congo | Nigeria |
Eritrea | Sierra Leone |
Ethiopia | Somalia |
What Conditions Should You Have to Change Flights at a Swiss Airport?
You have to meet a few conditions so you can change your flight at a Swiss airport:
- A valid travel document/ passport issued in the past ten years.
- You may not leave the transit area of a Swiss airport.
- You have to provide the visa or travel document of your destination.
- You must provide the airline ticket for your destination.
- You have to prove that you are not a threat to the Swiss people.
Who Needs a Switzerland Long-Stay Visa?
In case you need to stay in Switzerland for longer than 90 days, you have to apply for a Switzerland long-stay visa. It is also called a national visa. Your reason for your long staying in Switzerland could be:
- Work
- Study
- Visiting family
The rules for each field depending on your residence country. You can learn more about them at the left sidebar of the site.
Although Switzerland is not part of the EU, lots of EU rules apply to it. So, EU members can enter Switzerland visa-free. However, after 90 days, they have to apply for a residence permit and authorization to work.
The nationals of other countries all have to have to apply for a long-stay visa to work or study in Switzerland. Anyone who wants to stay longer than 90 days in Switzerland has to apply for a residence permit. Their nationality does not matter.
Let’s sum up…
In this blog, we answered the question, “Who Needs a Switzerland Visa?”
The countries whose nationals need a visa to Switzerland, the visa-free countries, and the countries that need a transit visa details got explained.
To find out more about the visa that suits you, go through the menu on the site. You can find all the Switzerland types of visas at the left sidebar.
You can check the Visa Library to find more information about other countries’ visas.
In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.
- Published by
- Max-B.
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