Switzerland visa for Ethiopian citizens

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.

Switzerland has 1 mission in Ethiopia, with its embassy in Addis Ababa.

In 2025, Switzerland’s embassy and consulates in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) received 1,210 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 805. 26.6% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 23.7%: the rate rose by 2.9 points. Applications fell by 21% compared with 2024 (1,526).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 34.0% of the applications lodged in Ethiopia that year, from 14.1% at the consulates of Greece to 44.6% at those of Austria. Switzerland’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Switzerland was the 9th most applied-for Schengen state in Ethiopia.

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 Ethiopia, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

Ethiopian 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).

How long Ethiopian citizens can stay in Switzerland

How long Ethiopian citizens may stay in Switzerland is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How Ethiopian citizens apply

In Ethiopia, applications go to the Swiss embassy in Addis Ababa, 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 Ethiopian citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Switzerland when it is the main destination of the trip.

Switzerland’s neighbours for Ethiopian citizens

Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Austria require Ethiopian citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Swiss citizens travelling to Ethiopia

Ethiopia issues Swiss citizens a visa on arrival for stays of up to 90 days, so nothing has to be arranged in advance.