United Kingdom
Switzerland
Switzerland visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
British citizens can visit Switzerland without a visa for 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 the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10,268 | 9,306 | 890 | 8.7% | 99.2% |
| 2024 | 14,464 | 12,554 | 1,847 | 12.8% | 96.1% |
| 2025 | 16,123 | 14,362 | 1,709 | 10.6% | 89.6% |
In 2025, Switzerland’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London) received 16,123 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 14,362. 10.6% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 12.8%: the rate fell by 2.2 points. Applications rose by 11% compared with 2024 (14,464).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Switzerland’s consulates worldwide refused 12.5%. Switzerland was the 9th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
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 the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom
SwitzerlandUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom 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.
British 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). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in Switzerland
British 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 British 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 British citizens
Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, France and Austria admit British citizens visa-free.
Swiss citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Before flying to the United Kingdom, Swiss citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
British citizens can visit Switzerland without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in Switzerland?
British 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 the United Kingdom?
Before flying to the United Kingdom, Swiss citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Can British citizens enter Switzerland visa-free?
Yes, British 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.