China
Switzerland
Switzerland visa for Chinese citizens
Entry requirement
Chinese citizens need a visa for Switzerland, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 4 missions
- Visa guide
- Switzerland visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at eda.admin.ch
Which Switzerland visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Normally decided within 15 days, longer in individual cases.
All visa types for Switzerland
For the tourist visa, Switzerland’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on sem.admin.ch. Processing time, as Switzerland states it: Normally decided within 15 days, longer in individual cases. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Swiss missions in China
- Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing
Sanlitun Dongwujie 3, Beijing 100600
- Consulate General of Switzerland in Shanghai
Xianxia Road 319, 200051 Shanghai
- Consulate General of Switzerland in Guangzhou
27th Floor, Kingold Century, No. 62, Jinsui Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
- Consulate General of Switzerland in Chengdu
(temporarily closed), 28/F Yanlord Landmark Tower 1, Section 2, Renmin South Road, Chengdu
All missions of Switzerland in China
Switzerland has 4 missions in China, with its embassy in Beijing. Consulates: Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
Switzerland: visa decisions in China
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 69,900 | 67,324 | 2,575 | 3.7% | 52.7% |
| 2024 | 95,003 | 90,343 | 4,650 | 4.9% | 58.9% |
| 2025 | 84,829 | 81,107 | 3,717 | 4.4% | 55.5% |
In 2025, Switzerland’s embassy and consulates in China (Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou) received 84,829 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 81,107. 4.4% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 4.9%. Applications fell by 11% compared with 2024 (95,003).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.0% of the applications lodged in China that year, from 1.3% at the consulates of Luxembourg to 19.3% at those of Malta. Switzerland’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Switzerland was the 5th most applied-for Schengen state in China.
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 China, 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 China
SwitzerlandChina Visa-free, 30 days China 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.
Chinese citizens planning a trip to Switzerland can compare how foreign ministries rate it: 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). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long Chinese citizens can stay in Switzerland
How long Chinese citizens may stay in Switzerland is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Chinese citizens apply
In China, applications go to the Swiss embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, or to a visa centre acting for Switzerland; fees, documents and processing times are published by Switzerland.
Switzerland and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Switzerland lets Chinese citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Switzerland when it is the main destination of the trip.
Switzerland’s neighbours for Chinese citizens
Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Austria require Chinese citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Swiss citizens travelling to China
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for China: stays of up to 30 days are visa-free.
Frequently asked questions
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
Chinese citizens need a visa for Switzerland, obtained before travel.
Where is the Swiss embassy in China?
The Swiss embassy in China is in Beijing; there are also consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.
How much does the Switzerland tourist visa cost?
Switzerland’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Normally decided within 15 days, longer in individual cases.
Do Swiss citizens need a visa for China?
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for China: stays of up to 30 days are visa-free.
Can Chinese citizens enter Switzerland visa-free?
No; Chinese citizens need a visa for Switzerland obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.