Whether you are planning a trip to Switzerland for business, tourism or for visiting your family or friends, you may be required to have a visa to be allowed to enter the country from Dubai.
Are you unsure if you need to obtain a Switzerland Visa? We have this guide for you with all the details about the Switzerland visa from Dubai. Through this guide, you will get to learn all about the Switzerland visa, know whether you need to apply for a visa or you are allowed to enter Switzerland visa-free, and so much more.
Switzerland visa is an authorization issued by the Swiss government to foreign nationals who want to visit Switzerland.
You have to meet all the set criteria before you are issued with the visa which is a stamp placed on your passport.
The requirement to obtain the Swiss visa depends on your nationality. There are nationals who are allowed to enter the country visa-free while others are required to apply for the visa in advance.
If you are a passport holder from the countries listed below, you are allowed to enter Switzerland without a visa. The stay duration is limited to 90 days.
If you are a national or a passport holder from the following countries, you are required to apply for a Switzerland visa before traveling to the country.
The following are the short-term visas you can apply for depending on your purpose of visiting Switzerland:
The Swiss Tourist/Visitor Visa
If your purpose for visiting Switzerland from Dubai is for tourism or to visit your family or friends, this is the visa type you should apply for.
After you are issued with this visa, you can enter Switzerland and stay there for up to 90 days within a six-month period.
Swiss Business visa
Whether you are going to attend a business conference, training, or any other business related activities in Switzerland, this is the visa type you need to obtain.
The maximum number of days you can stay in Switzerland using this visa is 90 days within a six-month period.
Swiss Transit visa
This is the visa to apply for if you are transiting through Switzerland to a destination outside the Schengen zone.
When you are submitting your visa application to the Swiss embassy, below are the documents that should accompany your visa application:
You are required to submit a filled and signed visa application form. If the applicant is below 18 years of age, the application form should be signed by both parents and have their passport copies attached.
If one of the parents is unable to sign the form, he/she must submit a letter of agreement together with a copy of his/her passport.
The photos should be:
The passport should:
To prove you have enough money to cover your expenses in Switzerland, you can submit your bank statement.
If you are employed in Dubai, you are required to submit a letter from the employer stating:
The letter should:
Please note that the applicant cannot sign his/her own letter. Also, the company has to guarantee the return of the applicant.
You are required to submit documents to show that you have obtained travel insurance to cover you during the entire time you will be staying in Switzerland.
The insurance should also cover you in case you visit another country in the Schengen area. The insurance you obtain should cover your expenses such as urgent medical needs, repatriation for medical reasons or in case of your unfortunate death during your stay in Switzerland. The minimum coverage must be EUR 30.000.
To prove you have arranged an accommodation where you will be staying once you arrive in Switzerland, you can submit documents like hotel reservation or a copy of a rental contract or of a residential property.
You are required to submit a copy of flight reservation, including a copy of your return flight’s ticket.
The residence permit should be valid for at least one month after the intended departure from Switzerland.
If the visa applicant is below 18 years of age and is travelling without a parent/legal guardian, you have to submit the original authorization document signed by their parents/legal guardian and a copy of passport(s) of parents/legal guardian.
Below is the process of the Switzerland visa application:
You will provide the relevant documents needed to process your visa and make the payment
You should thoroughly recheck all the necessary documents to ensure that your visa doesn't get rejected due to mismatch of details
Type your visa application and prepare other relevant documents
The visa consultant will verify all of your submitted documents
You will receive an appointment with the Switzerland Embassy in Dubai where you will submit the documents and your biometrics
The embassy will put your visa application in process
You will receive a SMS of Switzerland Visa Approval
Once your visa is approved and it has been stamped onto your passport, you can collect your passport
After submitting your application and attending the visa interview, you have to wait for the embassy to process the visa.
The Switzerland Visa application processing takes around 15 working days. However, the visa processing timing may fluctuate.
The processing time depends on the number of applications the embassy is processing at a given time and the applicant's nationality.
To know the actual processing time, you should ask the visa officer in charge of processing your application at the Switzerland embassy.
Are you visiting Switzerland from Dubai to tour the country and explore its exciting places? There are a lot of things that you can do here, no matter what your preferences are.
Below is a list of the best things to do in Switzerland for a memorable experience!
If you are a nature lover, then you should include visiting the Swiss Alps in your bucket list of best things to do in Switzerland.
The best time to visit this destination is during the winter season. It is the peak season and a lot of tourists come to this destination to indulge in various winter outdoor activities.
There are different experiences that you can try, including snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
You can also visit the Swiss Alps during the summer season and try out other adventurous experiences such as paragliding, mountain biking, and white-water rafting.
The Matterhorn Mountain is one of the famous tourist attractions in Switzerland. Indeed, it is one of the most scenic photographed mountains in the entire world.
You will enjoy the breathtaking view of this mountain, which is triangular shaped, from the village of Zermatt. Also, you can choose to get a closer view of this stunning spot by following the hiking trails to its base.
If you love thrilling activities then you should try paragliding in Switzerland. If you are afraid of heights, then it can be a challenging activity for you. However, this place will make you overcome your fear with its mesmerizing beauty that you can observe from the skies.
Paragliding in Switzerland offers a unique experience because of the elevation of its mountains. For the best paragliding experiences in Switzerland, you should try it in Interlaken.
Also known as the “Top of Europe”, Jungfraujoch is the highest train station in Europe. It is a famous tourist destination in Switzerland that you cannot miss.
You will get to enjoy stunning views at this station which is at an elevation of over 11,000 feet. Also, you will enjoy breathtaking views of various landmarks and attractions.
Other activities you can try here include going on guided tours of the glacier and trying snow tubing. There are also restaurants and cafes at the complex where you can try different cuisines as you enjoy an amazing view.
Boat cruising in a lake in Switzerland is one the best ways to enjoy scenic views in a relaxed manner. More so, you will enjoy the tranquility in the lake.
There are several lakes spread out in Switzerland where you can go cruising such as Lake Lucerne, Lake Brienz, Lake Thun, Lake Zurich, Lake Geneva, and more.
One of the best lakes to go for a cruising experience is in Lake Geneva. It is the largest alpine lake in Europe.
As you cruise along the lake, you will see picturesque views of villages, vineyards, lakeside towns, and historic landmarks such as the Chillon Castle.
You can also choose to go cruising on Lake Lucerne and enjoy spectacular views of surrounding mountains.
How many days will my visa processing take?
The Switzerland embassy takes up to 15 working days to process visa applications.
Do children below the age of 18 have to be accompanied by their parents/guardian?
Yes, children below the age of 18 years need to be accompanied by their parents or elders when submitting visa applications.
If they are not being accompanied, the parents or the legal guardian of the children must submit a NOC letter from both parents/guardian stating that they have no objections for the trip. Also, the passport copies of the parents/guardian should be included in the visa application documents.
What if my passport is older than 10 years, can I still apply for a visa?
No, you cannot apply for a Switzerland visa with a passport which is older than 10 years because the embassy will not be able to enter it in their systems.
Will I be able to take my passport back during the process?
Yes, you can take your passport back during the visa processing — only if you are a pilot, cabin crew, or a frequent business flier.
You will need to show your other travel itinerary and submit your passport when your visa is ready for stamping.
Does the visa fee get refunded in case of rejection?
No, the visa fee is non-refundable in case of rejection. Granting the visa is purely at the discretion of the embassy.
What if the visa processing gets delayed due to the embassy?
When your visa processing gets delayed, you should call the embassy. You can get the number to call the authorities from the receipt you received after submitting your visa application.
Is travel insurance mandatory to get a Switzerland visa from Dubai?
Yes, travel insurance is one of the mandatory documents you have to submit when applying for the visa.
Is hotel booking required?
Yes, you are required to submit documents to show you have arranged an accommodation where you will be staying while in Switzerland. Hotel booking is among those documents you can submit.
