Switzerland student visa

Each year Switzerland awards Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to foreign university graduates for PhD, postdoctoral and research stays; the call and its deadlines are published per country by the Swiss representation.

Under the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act the school must confirm that you can start the course, suitable accommodation must be available, you need the necessary funds and you must meet the personal and educational requirements; for minors, care must be ensured. The school also confirms that your language and educational level fits the programme, and the authority may require a language test. Studies are generally approved for at most eight years, with exceptions for a targeted course of study.

Bring the letter of acceptance or matriculation certificate, previous diplomas, a CV, a motivation letter with your future intentions and a signed declaration that you will leave Switzerland after your studies. All documents must be translated into a Swiss national language, and the applicant is tested in the language of study.

The student or a sponsor must prove sufficient funds according to the cantonal requirements. At least one of the following: a declaration of commitment by a solvent person resident in Switzerland with proof of income or assets; confirmation from a FINMA-licensed bank in Switzerland of sufficient assets; or a fixed scholarship or loan guarantee in Swiss francs. Proof of payment of the first year's school fees is also required.

National visa files go to the competent cantonal authority in Switzerland, and the representation can only issue the visa after that authority approves. The total processing time is about 8–12 weeks and varies considerably by canton; questions while the file is pending go to the cantonal migration authority for the future place of residence. Language studies use a separate checklist of the Swiss representation.

Register with the residence authority of your place of residence within 14 days of entering Switzerland; employees may only start work after registering. The canton then issues the residence permit card.

Staying after the studies end or are broken off follows the general admission rules. Graduates of a Swiss higher education institution have six months to look for a job matching their qualifications, and they can be admitted without the local-priority test if the work is of high scientific or economic interest.

Students at a university or university of applied sciences can be allowed to work alongside their studies at the earliest six months after the course starts, for at most 15 hours a week outside the holidays. The school must confirm that the job is compatible with the studies and will not delay graduation, the employer applies and customary pay and conditions must be respected. A compulsory internship may be approved if it takes up no more than half of the course.