Japan
Switzerland
Switzerland visa for Japanese citizens
Entry requirement
Japanese citizens do not need a visa for Switzerland: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at eda.admin.ch
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Switzerland: visa decisions in Japan
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 759 | 710 | 47 | 6.2% | 52.8% |
| 2024 | 766 | 721 | 39 | 5.1% | 57.3% |
| 2025 | 857 | 802 | 53 | 6.2% | 49.5% |
In 2025, Switzerland’s embassy and consulates in Japan (Tokyo) received 857 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 802. The refusal rate was 6.2%. That is barely different from 2024 (5.1%). Applications rose by 12% compared with 2024 (766).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.8% of the applications lodged in Japan that year, from 0.4% at the consulates of Austria to 11.7% at those of Germany. Switzerland’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Switzerland was the 6th most applied-for Schengen state in Japan.
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 Japan, 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 Japan
SwitzerlandJapan Visa-free, 90 days Japan 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.
Before travelling from Japan to Switzerland, it helps to know the official travel advice: 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 Japanese citizens can stay in Switzerland
Japanese 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 Japanese 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 Japanese citizens
Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Austria admit Japanese citizens visa-free.
Swiss citizens travelling to Japan
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for Japan: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free. The rule is the same in both directions between Japan and Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
Do Japanese citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
Japanese citizens do not need a visa for Switzerland: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can Japanese citizens stay in Switzerland?
Japanese 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 Japan?
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for Japan: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
Can Japanese citizens enter Switzerland visa-free?
Yes, Japanese citizens can enter Switzerland without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
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.