Unlocking Switzerland: Checking Your Tourist Visa Eligibility

Applying for a visa is the first step toward your international journey. It can also be the most frustrating part - lengthy paperwork, unclear instructions, and the complexities that come with it all. So, with this blog, we aim to simplify Switzerland tourist visas for Indians.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining a Switzerland tourist visa, including eligibility criteria, step-by-step application process, documentation requirements, visa validity, etc.

Have questions? Feel free to call us on +91 73148 52914 or message us on WhatsApp.

Let’s begin!

A Switzerland tourist visa is a Schengen type ‘C’ visa that allows the holder to travel to Switzerland and 28 other European countries for tourism, leisure, sightseeing, short business activities like attending a conference, etc. Switzerland, being part of the Schengen Area, follows the common visa policy along with other Schengen countries.

A Schengen visa allows you entry into 29 Schengen Region countries. It can become confusing for applicants to know which country’s Embassy they should apply for their visa. 

The points below tell you all the times when you should be applying for your Schengen visa at the Swiss Embassy -

Apply at the Swiss Embassy if you plan to visit only Switzerland in the entire Schengen Region.

If you intend to visit multiple Schengen countries with similar lengths of stay, such as touring Switzerland, France, and Lithuania, you should begin your visa application process at the consulate of your initial entry country, which in this scenario is Switzerland. 

The embassy or consulate where you should apply for your visa depends on the main purpose of your trip. If there's uncertainty, especially when visiting multiple countries, it's advisable to submit your application to the embassy or consulate of your first entry point into the Schengen Region. For instance, if your trip involves attending a conference in Switzerland while exploring other Schengen countries, you should apply for your visa at the Switzerland Consulate.

Teleport collaborates with the embassy to ensure timely and hassle-free visa processing. To initiate your Switzerland visa application, follow these steps:

Step 1: Begin Your Switzerland Tourist Visa Application Initiate your Switzerland tourist visa application on Teleport. The platform is super easy and intuitive to use.

Step 2: Complete Details and Make Payment Provide us with essential details like travel dates, and a digital copy of your passport. Make an upfront payment, selecting either a full or partial payment option.

Step 3: Get Your Documents in Order Teleport will assign a dedicated Relationship Manager to you who will help you organise all the necessary documents for your Switzerland tourist visa application.

Step 4: Have Your Appointment Scheduled Your Relationship Manager will arrange an appointment with the VFS Visa Application Centre on your behalf.

Step 5: Visit VFS Centre and Submit Biometrics Attend your scheduled appointment at the VFS Application Centre. They will collect your biometric information and you will have to submit the documents with them as well.

Step 1: Identify Your Visa Type and its Requirements

The first step is to determine the right visa for your trip. Tourists need a short-term, Schengen-type ‘C’ or ‘tourist visa’ to visit Switzerland. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, and know your documentation requirements, the fee, etc. If your documents are not in English, consider translating them before submission.

Step 2: Get Your Visa Application Form Ready

Download and fill out the Visa Application Form. Print it and take it to the Visa Application Centre for submission. You have the flexibility to submit your application in person, via a representative, or through an authorised travel agent.

Step 3: Schedule Your Appointment for Application Submission

Schedule your appointment at the Lithuania Swiss Visa Application Centre. If you’re travelling in a group, you need to book an individual appointment for each member of the group. You’ll receive an email confirming your appointment upon successfully scheduling your appointment.

Step 4: Pay Your Visa Fees

If online payment of service fees isn't feasible, you'll be required to pay the fees at the Visa Application Centre. 

Step 5: Visit the Visa Application Centre

You must personally submit your fully completed visa application form and documents at one of the designated Visa Application Centers across India. Here is the list of VFS Visa Application Centres for Switzerland in India-

Step 6: Check the Status of  Your Switzerland Visa Application

If you submitted your application at a VFS visa application centre, use the VFS online application tracking tool to monitor your application's progress. Simply input the following details:

Step 7: Collect Your Documents and Visa

Once a decision is made on your visa application, collect your documents from the Visa Application Centre.  You can collect the documents in person or avail of their courier services at an additional price. 

The standard processing time for a Switzerland tourist visa is usually around 15 working days from the date the Swiss Embassy receives your visa application. This period may vary depending on the specific circumstances of your application and the workload of the embassy or consulate. In some cases, an applicant may be called for a physical interview at the Embassy or submit additional documentation in which case, it will take even longer to process the visa application.

We recommend you submit your visa application at least 2 weeks before your travel date and even earlier in case of peak holiday season. Note that a Schengen visa can be applied as early as 6 months from the intended travel date.

Travel insurance is a mandatory visa requirement for all Schengen countries and Switzerland is a part of the Schengen Region. So, take note of the below pointers for Schengen travel medical insurance-

Teleport recommends that you consider buying your Travel Medical Insurance from reputed brands such as Digit Insurance, HDFC Ergo, Tata AIG, etc.

For a Switzerland tourist visa (Schengen visa), as with any Schengen visa application, you'll need to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial means to cover your expenses during your stay in Switzerland. The specific financial requirements can vary slightly depending on the embassy or consulate where you apply, but typically include the following:

While there is no fixed amount specified as a minimum balance, you should have a substantial amount of money available in your bank account to support your stay in Switzerland. 

You'll need to provide evidence of adequate financial resources to cover your travel costs, including accommodation, transportation, meals, and other expenses. This can be demonstrated through bank statements, salary slips, and past Income-tax return forms.

While not strictly a financial requirement, having adequate travel insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation is mandatory for obtaining a Schengen visa. Your travel medical insurance should be valid for the entire Schengen territory, not just Switzerland and the minimum coverage should be € 30,000 per person.

A Switzerland tourist visa (Schengen visa) is generally valid for 90 days within a 180-day timeframe (6 months timeframe). This means that once you enter Switzerland or any other Schengen country, you can stay for up to 90 days within a period of 180 consecutive days. You may be allowed single or multiple entries, depending on the visa you hold.

The visa's validity period usually begins on the date of your intended entry into the Schengen area, as indicated on your visa sticker. It's essential to note that the validity period does not necessarily correspond to the duration of your stay. Instead, it dictates the timeframe within which you can enter and exit the Schengen area.

With this comprehensive Switzerland tourist visa guide, you should have a clear understanding of the visa eligibility criteria, application process, and essential documents required for your Switzerland adventure. 

Whether you choose to apply through Teleport or VFS Global, ensure you play by the rulebook to strengthen your visa application and increase the chances of approval.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to contact us at Teleport. Call us on +91 73148 52914 or message us on WhatsApp.

Safe travels!