Who Needs a Visa to Travel to Switzerland From the UK?

Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it is a full member of the Schengen area. Therefore, any UK citizen who holds either a full UK passport or a BOTC, BOC, BPP, or BS passport can travel to Switzerland visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, many non-EU nationals who reside in the UK are still required to get a Schengen visa to travel to Switzerland.

In recent years, following visa liberalization policies for non-EU countries, the number of countries whose nationals require visas to travel to Europe has slightly dropped. Here is the list of nationalities that are still required to get a Schengen Visa to visit Switzerland and other Schengen states. Below you can find more information on applying for a Switzerland visa from the UK.

Who Can Apply for a Switzerland Visa From Within the UK?

Citizens of these countries residing in the UK and planning to visit Switzerland are required to get a Swiss visa in order to be able to enter Switzerland. The main requirement is that you must have a UK residence permit valid for at least another three months beyond the date you plan to leave Switzerland / the Schengen Area. Use the Swiss Schengen visa eligibility checker tool to find out if you qualify to apply for a visa to Switzerland from the UK. If you have a 3-month UK visa, you can extend it for three more months in order to be eligible to apply for a Swiss Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK. Find out more on how to extend your UK visa. You should apply for a visa via the Swiss Embassy/Consulate or Swiss visa application centre in the UK if:

• Switzerland is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting.
• Switzerland is your main destination (the country you will be staying the longest in).
• Switzerland is the first Schengen country you are visiting since you will be spending an equal amount of days in each Schengen country you plan to visit.

If you plan on staying in Switzerland for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residency permit, not a Switzerland Schengen visa. Please, note that if you are not a resident in the United Kingdom, you should apply at the Swiss Embassy/Consulate or Swiss visa application centre in your country of residence.

Switzerland Visa Application Documents and Requirements for UK Residents

The following documents are required in order to obtain a Swiss visa in the UK:

• A valid passport or Travel document. Please make sure that:
  • Your passport has been issued within the previous 10 years,
  • Your passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page,
  • Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
• A valid UK residence permit or other forms of Identity Card. The UK residency permit must be endorsed in the actual passport (or on a new biometric ID card)
• One application form filled out completely and signed by the applicant (please read the explanations carefully).
• One passport format photo that has a light background, is brightly coloured and shows full face features. The photo must be less than six months old and be glued to the application form. Applications with stapled photographs will be rejected.
• Biometric data (Applies only if you haven’t provided biometric data within the last 59 months):
  • Fingerprints
  • A copy of the passport bio page where the photo is included.

Note: Children under the age of 12 are exempted from providing fingerprints.

Note: Photocopies of the original documents should also be submitted, and documents should not be more than one month old. The documents listed above are documents required in all cases, regardless of the purpose of your visit to Switzerland. Depending on your employment status, here is a list of additional documents that are required for your visa application:

For employees:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement for the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

For the self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement for the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

For foreign students in the UK:

For retirees:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:

• A recent (less than 3 months old) Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date,
• Spouse’s valid passport
• An officially translated marriage certificate. The translation must be in English, German, French or Italian and must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy of the country where the marriage took place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in the UK

Requirements for children under the age of 18

Parents or adult guardians are required to accompany their underage children to the application centre at the Switzerland Embassy in London. Also, minors who are granted a Switzerland visa are not allowed to travel to Switzerland by themselves. They should be accompanied by an adult during their stay in Switzerland.

Required documents for visa application for underage children

• Proof of parent’s regular income (work contract with specified monthly income or a bank statement or business license)
• Notarized travel permission from parent (parental travel consent)
• If one parent lives in another country – their notarized parental travel consent

How to Apply for a Switzerland Visa From the UK?

To apply for a Switzerland visa from the UK, you can do either of the following:

• Through TLScontact offices in London, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Switzerland Visa Application and Processing Time

You can apply for a Switzerland Schengen visa 6 months before your planned trip. Depending on the nationality of the applicant, the processing time may take between 4 and 15 days from the day of your application. However, you are advised to apply about 3 to 4 weeks before your planned trip. For the following persons, the processing time takes up to 14 working days:

• Nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus (applies only to holders of diplomatic and service passports), D.R. Congo, Egypt (does not apply to holders of diplomatic and service passports), Iran, Iraq, Jordan, North Korea, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russian Federation (applies only to holders of service passports), Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Uzbekistan (does not apply to holders of diplomatic passports or soldiers and police officers who travel for the purpose of exercising their duty), Vietnam, Yemen
• Palestinians
• Refugees
• Stateless Persons

Switzerland Visa Fees for UK Residents

Since Switzerland is a Schengen state, visa fees are the same as any other Schengen visa. These are the costs of a Switzerland Schengen Visa from the UK:

Swiss Schengen Visa Category	Fee in UK Pound	Fee in Euro
Adult	73 £	80 €
Children between 6-12 years of age	36.5 £	40 €
Children younger than 6 years of age	Free	Free

Keep in mind that these fees may change depending on currency fluctuations and can only be paid in UK Pounds and payments can be made in cash or through Credit/debit cards. Also, the visa application fee is not refundable and does not guarantee that you will be granted a visa.

Visa fee exemptions

The following persons are exempted from the Swiss visa fee:

• Children younger than 6 years of age
• Spouse/family member of an EU/EEA national
  • Documents required for exemption:
    • Original Marriage Certificate, or
    • Original Birth Certificate
    • Civil Partnership Certificate
    • EU/EAA national’s passport.

Frequently Asked Questions about Switzerland Visas

Can I work in Switzerland if I have a UK residence permit?

No, having a UK residence permit (and a UK work permit) does not guarantee you the right to work in Switzerland. For this, you must obtain a Swiss work permit.

Can I get my visa on the same day I apply?

Only in cases of extreme medical emergency or family loss, you are able to obtain a Switzerland visa on the same day you apply. You can send an email to [email protected] or by phone to inform the Swiss visa centre of your situation. You will be informed as soon as possible about the outcome.  (Source: eda.admin.ch)

Can someone else apply for a Switzerland visa on my behalf?

All applicants, including children, are required to be present during the scheduled time of the appointment.

Does a non-EU spouse of a UK national need a visa to Switzerland?

Yes, the non-EU spouse requires a visa to travel to Switzerland

What can I do if my Schengen visa application is refused?

If your visa has been refused, you can appeal against this decision within 30 days of the refusal You should send a letter to the Swiss Embassy or Consulate to justify your grounds of appeal. The letter has to be in one of the official languages of Switzerland: German, Italian or French. You are able to re-apply at any time. However, you should pay attention to the reasons mentioned in the refusal letter in order to make amends where needed. Keep in mind that all fees are non-refundable and do not serve as a guarantee of your application’s success. If you re-apply for a visa, you are required to make the same payments all over again. Tips:

Embassy & Consulates of Switzerland in the United Kingdom

Related visa information for UK Residents: