Eligibility for the Switzerland visa

• You need to hold a valid Passport of 3 months from your intended date of exit from Switzerland.
• 2 Blank pages in Passport.
• You need to prove the purpose of your visit to Switzerland.
• You need to prove you hold sufficient funds to cover your stay in Switzerland.
• You need to prove economic & social ties in your home country.
• You will return to your home country before the visa expires.

How to apply for a Switzerland tourist visa?

• The tourist visa for Switzerland which allows you to visit as a tourist and to meet your family & friends is an offline process. The applicant is required to visit the center for submission of the documents and biometrics and the visa received will be stamped on the passport.
• On the scheduled appointment day you have to visit the VFS center submit the documents as per the checklist, biometrics, and make the payment for visa processing. VFS Fees are to be paid while taking an online appointment and Consulate charges are to be paid at the center.
• Children below 12 years are not required to give biometrics. Applicants who have visited Schengen Areas in the last 59 months do not require to give biometrics.

Process for a Switzerland Tourist Visa

• Switzerland tourist visa offers offline services by submitting the passport and the required documents at the VFS center.
• While preparing for the application it is always advisable to take the guidance and support of the travel agent to avoid delays or rejections.
• Once you have decided on the itinerary and travel dates you need to start collecting the documents. If you have an invite you need to collect those documents in advance as it will be required for filling up the online form & to prepare a cover letter.
• The visa form for a tourist visa is filled online. All the details in the form must be filled true & correct.
• The cover letter must have all the details regards to the purpose of your travel, employment details, and who will bear the expenses of the trip. Inviter’s details if you have an invite. If you are traveling with the family then the Name of all the travelers and relation with Passport Number is mandatory.
• The invitation letter must have inviter’s Name, Passport Number, Contact Number, Mail Id, and place of residence in Switzerland. Inviter must mention the Name, Passport Number, and relation to the invitee in the letter.
• Once all the documents are arranged you need to schedule an appointment at the nearby VFS center.
• On the day of the appointment, you must reach at least 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment time.
• At the center, the VFS representative will be collecting the documents, guiding you for biometrics, and payment.
• At the counter, you need to submit the documents to make payment and then proceed for the biometrics process. Once this process gets over you will be handed over a payment receipt with reference number, your name & passport number which is to be preserved for further communication.
• Payment has to be made in cash or by card at the counter. Payment made at the center will be Consulate Fees. VFS charges are to be online while taking the appointment.
• The processing time for the visa is 15 – 17 days. You can track your application online by visiting the VFS website with the help of the reference number or call them and check it.
• Once the passport is ready for collection you need to carry the original receipt given by the center and one Xerox of government ID proof of the applicant.
• You can opt for courier service by paying the charges if you do not wish to revisit the center.

Visa if approved will be valid for 90 days or as per the conditions mentioned on the visa.

Documents required for the Switzerland visa

Mandatory documents

• Original Passport
• Visa Form
• Document Checklist
• Appointment letter
• Photo
• Cover Letter
• Travel itinerary
• Hotel Accommodation
• Bank Statement
• Income Tax Returns
• Travel Insurance

Employed

• Appointment letter/ Offer letter
• Leave letter
• Last 3 months salary slips & Salary Bank Statement

Self Employed

• Company Registration Papers
• GST Certificate
• Company Bank Statement
• Company Income Tax Returns

Student

• School/College ID card
• Current Academic Year fee receipt or,
• Bonafide Certificate

Retired

• Pension Bank Statement
• Proof of regular income.

Sponsored Trip

• Sponsorship Letter
• Sponsor’s Passport Copy
• Sponsor’s Bank Statement
• Sponsor’s Income Tax Returns

Inviter’s Documents

• Invitation letter
• Inviter’s Passport copy
• Inviter’s Visa copy
• Inviter’s Residence proof
• Inviter’s Employment proof

Additional documents may be asked by the Switzerland consulate apart from listed in the checklist.

Processing Time

• Turnaround time of the application processing is consulate’s discretion. Processing time for the application is 15 – 17 days however it may differ based on the application. It is advisable to submit documents are per the checklist to avoid delays & rejection.
• Consulate accepts application 90 days before your intended travel date. It is advisable to submit documents in a proper order to avoid delays or rejection.