Which Switzerland Visa Should Indians Apply For?

The categories and fees below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Picking the wrong category is one of the easiest ways to lose a visa fee, because the fee is due on submission and is not refunded if an application is withdrawn or refused.

Which Swiss visa fits your purpose?

VFS charges INR 3,100 per applicant in every category it handles.

Holiday, family visit or business trip: which short-stay category?

All three are Schengen short-stay visas for up to 90 days, filed at VFS in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi or Pune. The category you tick should match the main reason for the trip, because each has its own checklist.

• Tourist: flight reservation, accommodation proof, an employer introduction letter with a no-objection statement, 3 months' salary slips, 3 months' bank statements and ITR-V for 2 assessment years.
• Visitor: for staying with family or friends. A separate checklist covers spouses, registered partners and dependent children of Swiss or Schengen nationals.
• Business: its own checklist, linked from VFS.
• Incentive Tour: only for groups of at least 50 travellers. Smaller groups apply individually with the Tourist checklist.

Every short-stay applicant needs travel medical insurance from an approved Indian insurer, minimum EUR 30,000, covering the whole Schengen stay. If Switzerland is only one stop on a longer European trip, read the Embassy's guidance on where to apply for a Schengen visa before you book anything.

Studying: is your course longer than 90 days?

The 90-day line decides everything. Up to 90 days, you use the Schengen student category at VFS with a TOEFL or IELTS certificate, an acceptance letter, a cover letter and a CV. Over 90 days, you need the national D visa, lodged personally at the Visa Section of the Embassy in Chanakyapuri with an online appointment. The cantonal migration office of your place of study decides, which takes approximately 8-12 weeks. The Embassy lists both student visas as free of charge.

Working: is the assignment 120 days or less?

For work, the line is 120 days in 12 months. Either way, a cantonal migration authority decides, and VFS gives approximately 8-12 weeks for that decision. For jobs over 120 days, the Swiss employer must start the procedure with the canton; a first request at VFS or the Embassy is inadmissible. SEM says Indians, as non-EU/EFTA nationals, can work in Switzerland only if highly qualified. A business visa does not replace a work permit when you are taking up employment.

Joining a spouse or parent in Switzerland

Family reunification is a national D visa, lodged personally at the Embassy in New Delhi with an online appointment. The fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6-12. Spouses of Swiss and EU/EFTA nationals and children under 6 pay nothing. Key documents include an original marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages and legalised by the State Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs (a marriage deed is not accepted), plus a Police Clearance Certificate. A short visit by a family member of an EU/EFTA citizen is a separate Schengen case: free of charge and lodged directly at the Embassy, with an appointment.

Is there an e-visa, visa on arrival or visa-free option?

No, not for ordinary passports. Switzerland has no eVisa for Indians and no visa on arrival. SEM lists Indian nationals as needing a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Only Indian diplomatic passport holders are visa-exempt, under an agreement in force since 7 December 2016; special and service passport holders still need a visa.

Three checks before you pick a category

• Count your days in Switzerland: 90 for study, 120 for work. They set the route.
• Check where you must lodge: VFS for short stays, the Embassy for long-stay study and family reunification.
• Apply within the window: Schengen files at least 15 calendar days before travel and at the earliest 6 months before.

Each category is broken down further in our Switzerland visa guide for Indians.

For a tourist, visitor or business file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Swiss visa at the VFS centre in my city?

Short-stay Schengen visas can be lodged at any of the 14 VFS centres, from Ahmedabad to Pune, and the Embassy in New Delhi processes them all. Long-stay student visas and family reunification visas are lodged in person at the Embassy in New Delhi.

Do children pay the Swiss visa fee?

Children under 6 are exempt. Children aged 6-12 pay INR 4,800 (EUR 45), and from 13 the adult fee of INR 9,600 (EUR 90) applies. The VFS service charge of INR 3,100 is per applicant.

How early can I apply for a Swiss tourist visa?

The Embassy says you can apply at the earliest 6 months before travel. VFS asks for short-stay applications at least 15 calendar days before the trip.

Do I need to give fingerprints for a Swiss visa?

Yes, unless your fingerprints were collected within the last 59 months for a visa marked VIS and were of good quality. Children under 12 do not give fingerprints or need to appear in person.