Switzerland Visa FAQs for Indians: 25 Questions Answered

Below are 25 questions Indian applicants ask most, answered from the Embassy, VFS Global, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the European Commission. All facts are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. For the step-by-step process, read our Switzerland visa guide for Indians.

Do Indians need a Swiss visa, and which type?

1. Do Indian citizens need a visa for Switzerland?

Yes. SEM lists Indian nationals as needing a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Only Indian diplomatic passport holders are exempt, under an agreement in force since 7 December 2016. Special and service passport holders still need a visa.

2. Is there a Swiss eVisa or visa on arrival?

No. Switzerland has no eVisa and no visa on arrival for Indians. You must hold a Schengen visa before you fly, obtained through VFS Global or the Embassy.

3. Which visa covers tourism, family visits or business?

The Schengen short-stay visa. VFS lists six short-stay categories: Tourist, Visitor, Business, Incentive Tour, Students for up to 90 days, and Work permit for up to 120 days in 12 months.

4. What if I want to stay longer than 90 days?

You need a national D visa. The long-stay categories are family reunification, students for more than 90 days and work permits for more than 120 days. A cantonal authority in Switzerland decides these.

Where and how do you apply from India?

5. Who decides Swiss visa applications in India?

The Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi processes every visa application lodged anywhere in India. The Consulates General in Mumbai and Bengaluru provide no visa services.

6. Which cities have Swiss visa centres?

VFS Global lists 14 centres: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune.

7. Can I apply directly at the Embassy?

Only with a prior appointment requested by e-mail at least one month before travel. Family members of Swiss, EU or EFTA citizens may also apply directly at the Embassy, but an appointment is mandatory.

8. Must I go to the centre in person?

Yes, if your fingerprints have not been collected before. You can skip personal appearance if fingerprints were taken within the last 59 months and you were granted a visa marked 'VIS'. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints.

9. When should I apply?

At the earliest 6 months before travel and at least 15 calendar days before it. The Embassy also advises submitting at least two weeks ahead.

What does a Swiss visa cost?

10. What is the visa fee in rupees?

Under the Embassy price list valid from 1 April 2026, adults pay INR 9,600 (EUR 90, CHF 82) and children aged 6 to 12 pay INR 4,800 (EUR 45). Children under 6 are exempt. The rupee amount changes with the exchange rate.

11. What does VFS Global charge?

INR 3,100 per applicant, including GST. Optional extras are courier INR 930, SMS INR 450, Premium Lounge INR 4,600 (not at Jaipur, Kolkata or Jalandhar) and a combined SMS and courier return at INR 1,250.

12. Is the fee refunded if I am refused?

No. The Embassy states the fee is due when you submit and is not refunded if the application is withdrawn or refused.

13. Do students pay the visa fee?

The Embassy's student checklists say the visa is free of charge, both for study of up to 90 days and for long-stay study. Special cases such as post-doc applications pay EUR 90. VFS still charges its INR 3,100 service fee at its centres.

Which documents do you need?

14. What financial proof is expected?

Employees submit 3 months' salary slips, 3 months' personal bank statements and ITR-V for the last 2 assessment years. The self-employed add business or GST registration. Retired applicants give 3 months' pension bank statements and proof of regular income. Statements must be originals on A4 with the bank's stamp and signature.

15. What travel insurance is accepted?

Only policies from the list of approved Indian insurance companies, a rule in place since 1 February 2018. Cover must be at least EUR 30,000 for the whole Schengen stay. For 6-month or 1-year multiple visas, a policy covering the first journey is enough.

16. What are the photo rules?

One colour photo, 35–40 mm wide, on a white or off-white background, not older than 6 months, printed on photographic paper and pasted on the form. Scanned or copied photos are not accepted. Centres have a photo booth.

17. Do I need a confirmed flight ticket?

No. The checklist asks for a flight reservation showing the names of all travellers, plus intra-Schengen flights, train or car rental if relevant. A verifiable flight reservation meets this; do not buy non-refundable tickets before the decision.

18. What should the employer letter say?

It must be on company letterhead, signed and stamped by HR, and state your position, length of service, a no-objection statement, travel dates and the purpose of the trip.

How long does it take, and what if you are refused?

19. How long does processing take?

Usually 15 calendar days from receipt by the Embassy. Embassy pages also quote 7–10 calendar days and 10–15 working days after VFS submission. Consultation with other Schengen states can add up to 14 calendar days.

20. Can I get an urgent appointment?

Only for serious and urgent medical reasons, such as urgent treatment, a serious accident or a loss in the family. Contact the Embassy with the reason and your desired departure date.

21. How many Indian applications are refused?

According to European Commission statistics, the refusal rate for Schengen applications lodged at Swiss consulates in India was 13.6% in 2025 (30,630 visas not issued; 226,044 applications lodged) and 12.0% in 2024. These are past outcomes, not a prediction for your file.

22. How do I appeal a refusal?

Send a signed, dated letter in German, French or Italian to SEM within 30 days of the refusal. You pay an advance of CHF 200 (INR 23,400) per person or family, refunded if SEM decides in your favour. SEM takes approximately 8–12 weeks.

23. What changed at the Swiss border in 2026?

The EU Entry/Exit System became fully operational on 10 April 2026, including in Switzerland. Indian Schengen visa holders are registered at the external border and passport stamping is replaced.

What about working, studying or joining family?

24. How do Indians get a Swiss work visa?

Your Swiss employer applies to the cantonal authorities first. Indians, as non-EU/EFTA nationals, qualify only as highly qualified workers, and the employer must prove no suitable Swiss or EU/EFTA candidate is available. After a positive decision you apply for the D visa (INR 9,600 / EUR 90). The cantonal stage takes approximately 8–12 weeks.

25. How does the long-stay student visa work?

You apply in person at the Visa Section of the Embassy in New Delhi with an online appointment, not at VFS. You need an acceptance letter, a mandatory TOEFL or IELTS certificate, a cover letter and the sponsor's ITR-V for 2 years plus 3 months' bank statements. Expect approximately 8–12 weeks.

Need help with the travel paperwork? Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone else submit my Swiss visa application?

Yes, if your fingerprints are already on file or you are under 12. An application submitted by a third person needs the authorization letter (Appendix 8), and the authorization form is mandatory for all applicants along with the application form.

How do I contact the Swiss Embassy about a visa?

E-mail the Visa Section at newdelhi.visa@eda.admin.ch. The Embassy does not answer visa queries by phone.

What does a Swiss family reunification visa need?

You apply in person at the Embassy in New Delhi with the host's invitation and permit copies, a marriage certificate legalised by the State Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs, and a police clearance certificate. The fee is EUR 90 for adults, while spouses of Swiss and EU/EFTA nationals and children under 6 pay nothing.

How long does a short-term Swiss work permit of up to 120 days take?

The competent cantonal migration authority decides it in approximately 8–12 weeks, whether the employer files it in Switzerland or you submit it through the Swiss representation in India.