Switzerland visa requirements · checked 13 October 2026

Visa & Entry Requirements for Switzerland

Q: What documents do I need to enter Switzerland?

Passport validity: The Schengen Borders Code says a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (this may be waived in a justified case of emergency) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years. Travel insurance: The Visa Code says applicants for a uniform visa must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance (for a multiple-entry visa, covering the first intended visit); it must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States, cover the entire intended stay or transit, and the minimum coverage is EUR 30,000. Return or onward ticket: No official source we could read states that a return or onward ticket is required. Proof of funds: The State Secretariat for Migration says third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate financial resources of at least CHF 100 per day of their stay (CHF 30 per day for students with a valid student permit), which can be shown in cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards or other collateral such as a bank guarantee.

Q: How long can I stay in Switzerland without a visa?

Up to 90 days for every visa-free passport.

Most travellers need a visa for Switzerland: 105 of 198 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate, while 93 passports enter visa-free.

Switzerland is not in the EU but is a member of the Schengen area. Under the EU–Switzerland agreement on the free movement of persons, EU nationals enter simply upon production of a valid identity card or passport. Nationals of the countries listed in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and nationals of the countries listed in Annex I need a visa; the State Secretariat for Migration gives the Schengen visa fee as EUR 90 for adults. ETIAS is not yet in operation.

Check your passport

Your passport

Destination

Passports visa-free

105

Embassy visa required

Do I need a visa for Switzerland? Quick answers

Another passport? Use the checker or find it in the table below.

Visa for Switzerland — requirements summary

Visa-free: 93 (47%)
Visa required: 105 (53%)

All travellers must meet the entry rules set by Switzerland, and they depend on your nationality. Find your passport below — you may be able to enter visa-free, or need an eVisa, a visa on arrival or a visa from an embassy.

Passport	Requirement	Max stay	Details
Afghanistan	Visa required	—	Details →
Albania	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Algeria	Visa required	—	Details →
Andorra	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Angola	Visa required	—	Details →
Antigua and Barbuda	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Argentina	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Armenia	Visa required	—	Details →
Australia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Austria	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Azerbaijan	Visa required	—	Details →
Bahamas	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Bahrain	Visa required	—	Details →
Bangladesh	Visa required	—	Details →
Barbados	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Belarus	Visa required	—	Details →
Belgium	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Belize	Visa required	—	Details →
Benin	Visa required	—	Details →
Bhutan	Visa required	—	Details →
Bolivia	Visa required	—	Details →
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Botswana	Visa required	—	Details →
Brazil	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Brunei	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Bulgaria	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Burkina Faso	Visa required	—	Details →
Burundi	Visa required	—	Details →
Cambodia	Visa required	—	Details →
Cameroon	Visa required	—	Details →
Canada	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Cape Verde	Visa required	—	Details →
Central African Republic	Visa required	—	Details →
Chad	Visa required	—	Details →
Chile	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
China	Visa required	—	Details →
Colombia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Comoros	Visa required	—	Details →
Costa Rica	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Côte d'Ivoire	Visa required	—	Details →
Croatia	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Cuba	Visa required	—	Details →
Cyprus	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Czechia	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Denmark	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Djibouti	Visa required	—	Details →
Dominica	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Dominican Republic	Visa required	—	Details →
DR Congo	Visa required	—	Details →
Ecuador	Visa required	—	Details →
Egypt	Visa required	—	Details →
El Salvador	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Equatorial Guinea	Visa required	—	Details →
Eritrea	Visa required	—	Details →
Estonia	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Eswatini	Visa required	—	Details →
Ethiopia	Visa required	—	Details →
Fiji	Visa required	—	Details →
Finland	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
France	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Gabon	Visa required	—	Details →
Gambia	Visa required	—	Details →
Georgia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Germany	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Ghana	Visa required	—	Details →
Greece	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Grenada	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Guatemala	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Guinea	Visa required	—	Details →
Guinea-Bissau	Visa required	—	Details →
Guyana	Visa required	—	Details →
Haiti	Visa required	—	Details →
Honduras	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Hong Kong	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Hungary	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Iceland	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
India	Visa required	—	Details →
Indonesia	Visa required	—	Details →
Iran	Visa required	—	Details →
Iraq	Visa required	—	Details →
Ireland	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Israel	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Italy	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Jamaica	Visa required	—	Details →
Japan	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Jordan	Visa required	—	Details →
Kazakhstan	Visa required	—	Details →
Kenya	Visa required	—	Details →
Kiribati	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Kosovo	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Kuwait	Visa required	—	Details →
Kyrgyzstan	Visa required	—	Details →
Laos	Visa required	—	Details →
Latvia	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Lebanon	Visa required	—	Details →
Lesotho	Visa required	—	Details →
Liberia	Visa required	—	Details →
Libya	Visa required	—	Details →
Liechtenstein	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Lithuania	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Luxembourg	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Macau	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Madagascar	Visa required	—	Details →
Malawi	Visa required	—	Details →
Malaysia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Maldives	Visa required	—	Details →
Mali	Visa required	—	Details →
Malta	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Marshall Islands	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Mauritania	Visa required	—	Details →
Mauritius	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Mexico	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Micronesia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Moldova	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Monaco	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Mongolia	Visa required	—	Details →
Montenegro	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Morocco	Visa required	—	Details →
Mozambique	Visa required	—	Details →
Myanmar	Visa required	—	Details →
Namibia	Visa required	—	Details →
Nauru	Visa required	—	Details →
Nepal	Visa required	—	Details →
Netherlands	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
New Zealand	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Nicaragua	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Niger	Visa required	—	Details →
Nigeria	Visa required	—	Details →
North Korea	Visa required	—	Details →
North Macedonia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Norway	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Oman	Visa required	—	Details →
Pakistan	Visa required	—	Details →
Palau	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Palestine	Visa required	—	Details →
Panama	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Papua New Guinea	Visa required	—	Details →
Paraguay	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Peru	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Philippines	Visa required	—	Details →
Poland	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Portugal	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Qatar	Visa required	—	Details →
Republic of the Congo	Visa required	—	Details →
Romania	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Russia	Visa required	—	Details →
Rwanda	Visa required	—	Details →
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Saint Lucia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Samoa	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
San Marino	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Sao Tome and Principe	Visa required	—	Details →
Saudi Arabia	Visa required	—	Details →
Senegal	Visa required	—	Details →
Serbia	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Seychelles	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Sierra Leone	Visa required	—	Details →
Singapore	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Slovakia	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Slovenia	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Solomon Islands	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Somalia	Visa required	—	Details →
South Africa	Visa required	—	Details →
South Korea	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
South Sudan	Visa required	—	Details →
Spain	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Sri Lanka	Visa required	—	Details →
Sudan	Visa required	—	Details →
Suriname	Visa required	—	Details →
Sweden	Freedom of movement	—	Details →
Syria	Visa required	—	Details →
Taiwan	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Tajikistan	Visa required	—	Details →
Tanzania	Visa required	—	Details →
Thailand	Visa required	—	Details →
Timor-Leste	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Togo	Visa required	—	Details →
Tonga	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Trinidad and Tobago	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Tunisia	Visa required	—	Details →
Türkiye	Visa required	—	Details →
Turkmenistan	Visa required	—	Details →
Tuvalu	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Uganda	Visa required	—	Details →
Ukraine	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
United Arab Emirates	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
United Kingdom	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
United States	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Uruguay	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Uzbekistan	Visa required	—	Details →
Vanuatu	Visa required	—	Details →
Vatican City	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Venezuela	Visa-free	90 days	Details →
Vietnam	Visa required	—	Details →
Yemen	Visa required	—	Details →
Zambia	Visa required	—	Details →
Zimbabwe	Visa required	—	Details →

Switzerland visa types, fees and processing times

Schengen visa (category C)

Embassy

Fee: 90 EUR
Max stay: 90 days
Extension: Possible

Children 6–11: €45; under 6: free. The State Secretariat for Migration says that at most Swiss representations abroad applications are submitted to an external service provider, and that a service fee must then be paid to the provider in addition to the visa fee.

Official application site →

National visa (category D)

Embassy

Fee: 90 EUR

The Swiss-franc equivalent of EUR 90 (EUR 45 for children aged 6–12; free under 6), paid in advance abroad in the local currency. The State Secretariat for Migration says category D visas are issued for stays exceeding 90 days, and that the Swiss representation abroad forwards the application to the cantonal migration office for examination. It names gainful employment, education or vocational training and family reunification as the reasons.

Official application site →

Category D visa — education or vocational training

Embassy

Fee: 90 EUR

The Swiss-franc equivalent of EUR 90 (EUR 45 for children aged 6–12; free under 6), paid in advance abroad in the local currency. The State Secretariat for Migration says category D visas are issued for stays exceeding 90 days, and that the Swiss representation abroad forwards the application to the cantonal migration office for examination. Holders of scholarships from the federal institutes of technology, the Federal Scholarship Commission or the Swiss National Science Foundation get the visa free of charge.

Official application site →

Category D visa — gainful employment

Embassy

Fee: 90 EUR

The Swiss-franc equivalent of EUR 90 (EUR 45 for children aged 6–12; free under 6), paid in advance abroad in the local currency. The State Secretariat for Migration says a category D visa is required to stay in Switzerland for gainful employment, that you require a permit to stay in Switzerland for more than 90 days, and that the Swiss representation abroad will forward your visa application to the cantonal migration office for examination.

Official application site →

Entry requirements for Switzerland

Passport validity

10 years

The Schengen Borders Code says a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (this may be waived in a justified case of emergency) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years.

State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — FAQ Entry✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Blank passport pages

2 blank pages

Your passport needs at least 2 blank pages.

EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code), consolidated text✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Travel insurance

EUR 30,000.

The Visa Code says applicants for a uniform visa must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance (for a multiple-entry visa, covering the first intended visit); it must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States, cover the entire intended stay or transit, and the minimum coverage is EUR 30,000. The UK Foreign Office tells British travellers that at Swiss border control they may also need to show proof of insurance for their trip.

Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009), consolidated text — EUR-Lex✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Return or onward ticket

90 days

No official source we could read states that a return or onward ticket is required. The State Secretariat for Migration recommends that visitors also carry a return ticket valid for a maximum of 90 days or a ticket for continuing their journey to a country outside the Schengen area, and the UK Foreign Office tells British travellers that at Swiss border control they may also need to show a return or onward ticket.

State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — FAQ Entry✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Proof of funds

CHF 100

The State Secretariat for Migration says third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate financial resources of at least CHF 100 per day of their stay (CHF 30 per day for students with a valid student permit), which can be shown in cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards or other collateral such as a bank guarantee.

State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) — FAQ Entry✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: EES — Entry/Exit System (biometric registration)

The UK Foreign Office tells British travellers that when they travel into the Schengen area for short stays they may need to register biometric details such as fingerprints and a photo in the EU Entry/Exit System; on the first visit this may be at a special booth before the immigration desk. It says there is no cost for EES registration and nothing to do before you arrive at the border.

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Switzerland travel advice: entry requirements✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Arrival cards and declarations: ETIAS — European Travel Information and Authorization System

The EU's ETIAS website says 30 European countries, Switzerland among them, require visa-exempt travellers to have an ETIAS travel authorisation, but ETIAS is not yet in operation and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. The official ETIAS website is travel-europe.europa.eu.

ETIAS — Official EU website✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Registration after arrival

Foreigners without gainful activity staying up to three months within six months of entry need no permit and do not have to register. Anyone who accommodates foreigners commercially must report them to the competent cantonal authority. Anyone who accommodates a foreigner for payment must fill in a registration form from the identity document, have the guest sign it (the guest must show the document) and send it to the competent cantonal authority. Breaching the registration duties is punished with a fine.

Fedlex (Federal Chancellery) — Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Employment (VZAE), SR 142.201✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Overstay penalties

Anyone who stays in Switzerland unlawfully, in particular after the permit-free or permitted stay has expired, is liable to a custodial sentence of up to one year or a monetary penalty. If the offence is committed negligently, the penalty is a fine (Busse). An entry ban lasts at most five years, or longer if the person is a serious danger to public security and order. Foreigners without gainful activity need no permit for a stay of up to three months within six months of entry (VZAE Art. 9).

Fedlex (Federal Chancellery) — Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (AIG), SR 142.20✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Customs allowances

CHF 10,000

The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security says unrestricted amounts of cash may be carried into, through and out of Switzerland and you are not obliged to declare it. If questioned about cash during a check you must report truthful information; if you are, or are suspected of, carrying CHF 10,000 or more you will be asked to disclose your identity, the source, the intended use of the cash and the beneficial owner, and an amount of CHF 10,000 or more is registered in its information system. Refusing to provide information or giving false information is a customs offence.

FOCBS (Swiss customs) — cash, foreign currency, securities✓ Checked 13 Oct 2026

Switzerland visa requirements statistics

198

Passports covered

105

Most common: Visa required

Least common: Visa-free

47%

Visa-free access

Visa-free stays by length

90 days · 63 passports

Understanding Switzerland visa requirements

We track the entry rules of Switzerland for 198 passports. The most common situation is visa required, which applies to 105 passports (53%). 47% of passports can enter without a visa. The least common is visa-free (93 passports).

Entry categories for Switzerland

Visa-free entry: 93 passports can enter without a visa, for up to 90 days.
Visa required: 105 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate.

What else you need to enter Switzerland

Passport validity: The Schengen Borders Code says a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (this may be waived in a justified case of emergency) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years.
Travel insurance: The Visa Code says applicants for a uniform visa must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance (for a multiple-entry visa, covering the first intended visit); it must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States, cover the entire intended stay or transit, and the minimum coverage is EUR 30,000.
Return or onward ticket: No official source we could read states that a return or onward ticket is required.
Proof of funds: The State Secretariat for Migration says third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate financial resources of at least CHF 100 per day of their stay (CHF 30 per day for students with a valid student permit), which can be shown in cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards or other collateral such as a bank guarantee.

Open your passport in the table for the exact rules — maximum stay, fees, how to apply and the official source. Entry rules change at short notice: confirm with the embassy of Switzerland or its official immigration website before you travel.

Frequently asked questions about Switzerland visas

Do I need a visa for Switzerland?

Most travellers need a visa for Switzerland: 105 of 198 passports must apply at an embassy or consulate, while 93 passports enter visa-free. It depends on your passport — check yours.

Is Switzerland in the EU or the Schengen Area?

Switzerland is not an EU member, but it is a member of the Schengen area, and the UK Foreign Office says it follows Schengen area rules. The State Secretariat for Migration says a category C visa is valid for the entire Schengen area. For goods, the UK Foreign Office says there are strict rules about what you can take into and out of Switzerland, and you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Do US citizens need a visa for Switzerland?

No. The EU's ETIAS website lists the United States among the visa-exempt countries whose nationals will need an ETIAS travel authorisation, and Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 exempts nationals of the countries in its Annex II from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS is not yet in operation; the official ETIAS website lists a EUR 20 application fee.

How much does a Switzerland Schengen visa cost?

The State Secretariat for Migration says a Schengen visa application costs EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children between 6 and 12 years old; under the Visa Code the fee is waived for children under six. At most Swiss representations abroad, applications are submitted to an external service provider, and a service fee must then be paid to the provider in addition to the visa fee. A category C visa is issued for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period and is valid for the entire Schengen area.

Do I have to declare cash when entering Switzerland?

No. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security says you are not obliged to declare cash to it. However, if you are questioned about cash during a check you must report truthful information, and if you are, or are suspected of, carrying CHF 10,000 or more you will be asked to disclose your identity, the source, the intended use of the cash and the beneficial owner. Refusing to provide information or giving false information is a customs offence and may result in a penalty.

Do I need a vignette to drive in Switzerland?

Yes. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security says use of Swiss motorways is subject to a charge, paid by purchasing a vignette, either an adhesive sticker or a digital e-vignette; it costs CHF 40 and is valid from 1 December of the previous year until 31 January of the following year. Its directive R-15-01 sets a CHF 200 fine for using a motorway without a valid vignette, and a person not resident in Switzerland who does not pay the charge and any fine immediately at a check must deposit the amounts or provide other appropriate security.

Do UK citizens need a visa for Switzerland?

UK citizens can visit Switzerland visa-free for 90 days. Full rules for United Kingdom passport holders.

Do German citizens need a visa for Switzerland?

German citizens can live and travel in Switzerland freely. Full rules for Germany passport holders.

What documents do I need to enter Switzerland?

Passport validity: The Schengen Borders Code says a third-country national's travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States (this may be waived in a justified case of emergency) and must have been issued within the previous 10 years. Travel insurance: The Visa Code says applicants for a uniform visa must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance (for a multiple-entry visa, covering the first intended visit); it must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States, cover the entire intended stay or transit, and the minimum coverage is EUR 30,000. Return or onward ticket: No official source we could read states that a return or onward ticket is required. Proof of funds: The State Secretariat for Migration says third-country nationals who remain in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to demonstrate financial resources of at least CHF 100 per day of their stay (CHF 30 per day for students with a valid student permit), which can be shown in cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards or other collateral such as a bank guarantee.

How long can I stay in Switzerland without a visa?

Up to 90 days for every visa-free passport.

How many countries can visit Switzerland without a visa?

93 of 198 passports can enter Switzerland visa-free (47%). and 105 need a visa from an embassy.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0) — official sources are linked on each passport page. Gaps filled from the Passport Index dataset (MIT).

Check other requirements

Travelling from Switzerland?

Where can Switzerland citizens travel visa-free?

Switzerland passport holders can visit 122 countries without a visa. Open a country for the exact rules.

Map and full list →