Switzerland

Switzerland visa guide: all visa and residence types

13 visa types
checked 23 October 2026

How visas for Switzerland work

Switzerland is not in the EU but is a full Schengen member, so short stays of up to 90 days use the uniform Schengen visa, applied for with the SEM online form at the Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence or at the external service provider it uses. The standard fee is EUR 90.

For stays over 90 days a national (D) visa is issued only after the cantonal migration authority of the future place of residence has approved the stay; for work, the cantonal labour authority and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) must also approve. You apply at the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence, and processing usually takes at least 8 to 12 weeks.

Because Switzerland is outside the EU, there is no EU Blue Card. Non-EU workers are admitted only as managers, specialists or other qualified workers, within annual quotas (8,500 permits in 2026: 4,500 B and 4,000 L) and only if no suitable worker is available in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday, family visit, business, events or treatment up to 90 days: Schengen visa (type C), if your nationality needs one.

University or language studies: national D visa for studies, approved by the canton; free visa for students.

Qualified job offer: work permit requested by the employer from the canton, within quotas and with SEM approval.

Retirement with ties to Switzerland: residence for persons aged 55 or over with sufficient means.

Joining a spouse or parent who lives in Switzerland: family reunification visa; language skills are checked after arrival.

Visa types for Switzerland

Visits and short stays

Tourist visa Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Holidays in Switzerland of up to 90 days need a Schengen visa if your nationality is visa-required: fill in the SEM online form, apply at the Swiss representation responsible for your place of legal residence or its service provider, and show about CHF 100 per day.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Family and friends visit visa Schengen visa for visiting family or friends
To visit relatives or friends in Switzerland you apply for a Schengen visa with the visit checklist.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Medical treatment visa Schengen visa for medical treatment
Patients travelling to Switzerland for treatment of up to 90 days apply for a Schengen visa with the medical checklist, showing the Swiss clinic's confirmation and how the costs are paid.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Culture, sports and events visa Schengen visa for culture and sports events
Artists, athletes, conference participants and students on short courses in Switzerland of up to 90 days apply for a Schengen visa, if their nationality needs one, with the Swiss culture and sports checklist, including the organiser's invitation.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

Business and self-employment

Business visa Schengen visa for business
Business trips to Switzerland of up to 90 days need a Schengen visa if your nationality is visa-required, with the Swiss business checklist: an invitation from the Swiss company and proof of your employment or company.
Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

Study and training

Student visa National visa D for studies (and language studies)
Students admitted to a Swiss university or school apply for a national D visa at the Swiss representation responsible for their place of residence.
Processing time: At least 8–12 weeks, because the cantonal migration office must approve.
Au pair visa Au pair stay (third-country nationals)
Switzerland admits au pairs from outside the EU/EFTA as an exception to its strict work rules: they must be 18 to 25, stay at most 12 months and be placed through a recognised organisation.
Maximum stay: Up to 12 months

Work

Skilled worker visa Work permit for qualified non-EU/EFTA workers (B / L)
Non-EU/EFTA nationals can work in Switzerland only as managers, specialists or other qualified workers (usually a degree plus several years' experience), within annual quotas and only if no suitable worker is found in Switzerland or the EU/EFTA.
Processing time: Canton, then SEM approval, then visa; plan several months.
Intra-company transfer visa Intra-company transfer (managers and specialists)
Senior managers and essential specialists transferred within an international company are an exception to the Swiss rule that local workers have priority.

Family

Family reunification visa National visa D for family reunification
Spouses and children joining a family member in Switzerland apply for a national D visa at the Swiss representation responsible for their place of residence, which forwards the file to the cantonal migration office.
Processing time: At least 8–12 weeks.

Residence

Retirement visa Residence permit for retirees (Art. 28 FNIA)
Retired people from outside the EU/EFTA can be admitted under Article 28 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act if they have reached the minimum age set by the Federal Council (55), have special personal ties to Switzerland and have the necessary financial means.
Permanent residence Settlement permit C (permanent residence)
The settlement permit C is Switzerland's permanent residence status.
Validity: Unlimited residence status (the card is renewed periodically).

Asylum and international protection

Asylum and international protection Asylum procedure in Switzerland (SEM)
Asylum seekers in Switzerland stay in a federal asylum centre while the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) examines their application, at most 140 days in the accelerated procedure.
Processing time: Accelerated procedure: stay in a federal asylum centre of at most 140 days until the decision.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for a Swiss visa?

Schengen visas: at the Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or the external service provider it uses. National visas: at the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence, usually by appointment.

Does Switzerland have an EU Blue Card?

No. Switzerland is not in the EU; qualified non-EU workers receive cantonal work permits within quotas.

How much money do I need for a Swiss Schengen visa?

About CHF 100 per day if you pay your own costs, or a host's declaration of sponsorship.

How long does a national visa take?

At least 8–12 weeks, because the cantonal authority must approve first.