Canada
Switzerland
Switzerland visa for Canadian citizens
Entry requirement
Switzerland admits Canadian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at eda.admin.ch
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Switzerland: visa decisions in Canada
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,619 | 4,425 | 160 | 3.5% | 68.3% |
| 2024 | 4,723 | 4,535 | 167 | 3.5% | 45.0% |
| 2025 | 4,558 | 4,301 | 236 | 5.2% | 48.1% |
In 2025, Switzerland’s embassy and consulates in Canada (Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa) received 4,558 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 4,301. The refusal rate was 5.2%. The refusal rate rose by 1.6 points from 3.5% in 2024. Applications fell by 3% compared with 2024 (4,723).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 9.0% of the applications lodged in Canada that year, from 1.6% at the consulates of Greece to 23.7% at those of Portugal. Switzerland’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Switzerland was the 3rd most applied-for Schengen state in Canada.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Canada, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Swiss citizens travelling to Canada
SwitzerlandCanada Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Canada visa for citizens of Switzerland
Travel advice for Switzerland
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from Canada to Switzerland, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Switzerland at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 13 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Switzerland (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Switzerland (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Canadian citizens can stay in Switzerland
Canadian citizens may stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days. Days in Switzerland count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Switzerland and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of Canadian citizens in Switzerland count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Switzerland’s neighbours for Canadian citizens
Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Austria admit Canadian citizens visa-free.
Swiss citizens travelling to Canada
Before flying to Canada, Swiss citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadian citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
Switzerland admits Canadian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can Canadian citizens stay in Switzerland?
Canadian citizens can stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Swiss citizens need a visa for Canada?
Before flying to Canada, Swiss citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Can Canadian citizens enter Switzerland visa-free?
Yes, Canadian citizens can enter Switzerland without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.