SwitzerlandVisits and short stays

Switzerland visa for medical treatment

Schengen visa for medical treatment

In short

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. Urgent medical cases can use a fast-track appointment procedure.

Apply on SEM – online visa application form checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Fee
€90Adults EUR 90, children 6–12 EUR 45, under 6 free; family of EU/EFTA citizens free. Not refundable; the mission sets the currency and payment method, and an external service provider charges its own service fee.
Processing time
Normally decided within 15 days, longer in individual cases.
Work
No.
Where to apply
The Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or the external service provider it uses.

Medical documents

Add the Swiss hospital or doctor's confirmation of the treatment and its duration, a cost estimate and proof that the costs are paid or guaranteed, and a medical report from your own doctor.

The letter of the receiving Swiss institution must be current, in German, French or Italian and signed by the doctor. It has to show that the specific treatment can be carried out and that you will be admitted, state the expected costs, confirm the illness and the appointment, and be accompanied by a medical report. Add proof that medical, hospital and hotel costs are covered and, where relevant, of full or partial prepayment.

Required documents

Identity

  • Visa application form generated on the SEM online form, printed and signed
  • Passport issued within 10 years, two blank pages, valid three months after leaving Schengen
  • ICAO-compliant photo (fingerprints taken every 59 months from age 12)

Travel

  • Travel and accommodation bookings
  • Copies of passport pages 2–3 and of earlier visas with entry and exit stamps

Money

  • Proof of means: bank statements and income documents (about CHF 100 per day) or a host's declaration of sponsorship
  • Cost estimate and proof of payment or guarantee

Insurance

  • Travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 valid in the Schengen area

Other

  • Confirmation from the Swiss hospital or doctor
  • Medical report from your treating doctor

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • Minors travelling alone or with one parent: current notarised parental consent, original and copy, plus divorce decree with custody or death certificate where relevant

Insurance and how to hand in the file

Travel medical insurance must cover at least EUR 30,000, be valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay and include medical repatriation, emergency treatment and hospitalisation; Swiss checklists ask for the signed policy, original and copy. Hand in the documents in the order of the checklist of the mission responsible for you; if your fingerprints are already stored in the Schengen system, an authorised person with a dated and signed letter may be able to lodge the file for you.

  1. Complete the visa application on the SEM online form and print it.
  2. Download the checklist for "medical treatment" of the Swiss representation responsible for your place of legal residence and prepare the documents.
  3. Book an appointment as that representation instructs, with the mission itself or its external service provider, up to six months before travel.
  4. Attend in person, give fingerprints and pay the EUR 90 visa fee plus any service fee.
  5. The Swiss representation decides, normally within 15 days, and returns your passport.

Urgent cases

For urgent medical travel, Swiss representations may offer a fast-track appointment; ask the mission responsible for you.

Treatment beyond 90 days

Under the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act, foreign nationals can be admitted for medical treatment if the financing and their departure afterwards are secured. Stays of more than 90 days need a national visa approved by the cantonal migration authority, which takes several weeks.

Companions

A companion applies separately with their own documents and a reference to the patient's treatment.

Refusal and appeal

A refusal can be appealed within 30 days of receipt; the procedure is described on the SEM website and in the refusal notice. The visa fee is not refunded.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a faster route for urgent treatment?

Swiss representations may offer a fast-track appointment for urgent medical travel; ask the mission responsible for you.

Do I still need travel insurance?

Yes, travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 is required.

What if treatment lasts longer than 90 days?

A national visa with cantonal approval is needed.

In which language must the clinic’s letter be?

German, French or Italian, signed by the treating doctor.

Do I need to prove that I have paid in advance?

You must prove that the medical, hospital and hotel costs are covered; proof of full or partial prepayment is added where relevant.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Switzerland

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period

Study and training

  • Student visa Processing time: At least 8–12 weeks, because the cantonal migration office must approve.
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months

Work

Family

Residence

Protection

Switzerland visa guide