Which VISA do you Need for Switzerland?

There is a lot of confusion around Visas for Switzerland at the moment.

Many people are concerned that new rules in Europe will prevent them from entering.

In this post, I break down the general requirements for visas for different groups in Switzerland so that you can quickly and easily figure out what you need.

General Visa Considerations

Switzerland’s visa requirements depend on

• your nationality
• the purpose of your visit
• how long you plan to stay

So, when figuring out what you need, first have a think about the above items and how they relate to your planned trip.

Visa-Exempt Countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia etc)

If you are a lucky member of a visa-exempt country, for now, your life is also pretty straightforward when it comes to visiting Switzerland.

Visa Deal: No visa is required for short stays!

If you’re from a country with a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area (which includes Switzerland), you can

• Visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
• Your passport needs to be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date and issued within the last 10 years.

👉👉 If you are unsure how long you have stayed (to be under the 90 days) you can use this calculator.

Countries: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela

Changes Coming Late 2025 (No set date yet)

Starting in late 2025, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) will track your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) at Schengen borders, and you might need an ETIAS authorization (a quick online pre-approval, not a visa) for about €7. For now, though, it’s just passport and go.

EU/EFTA Citizens (Most of Europe)

Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (which include Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) have an easy time entering Switzerland.

Visa Requirements: No visa needed!

Thanks to freedom of movement agreements, EU/EFTA nationals can enter, live, and work in Switzerland without a visa.

However, keep in mind that stays cannot not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.

Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Other Nationalities

There are quite a few countries that must apply for a visa with the local Swiss embassy. Here is a breakdown by area so you can quickly find your country.

Please contact your local Swiss Embassy to discuss visa requirements directly.

Africa:

• Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Republic of), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Asia:

• Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macao SARs require separate rules), India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Middle East:

• Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey (unless transiting without visa in specific cases), United Arab Emirates (UAE nationals need a visa unless holding diplomatic passports)

Americas:

• Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname

Europe (Non-EU/EFTA):

• Albania (unless holding a biometric passport), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina (unless biometric), Georgia (unless biometric), Kosovo, Moldova (unless biometric), Montenegro (unless biometric), North Macedonia (unless biometric), Serbia (unless biometric), Ukraine (unless biometric), Russia

Oceania:

• Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Other:

• Palestinian Authority, Stateless persons (unless holding specific travel documents recognized by Switzerland)

Plan Your Trip to Switzerland

Accommodation: I always book my hotels via Booking.com. They have some of the best rates, longterm deals, easy cancellation and more

Transport: Train travel is one of the best ways to explore Switzerland. Buying a Swiss Travel Pass is a great way to save money on travel and museums.

Car Rental: Having a car gives you flexibility on your travels. I use RentalCars.com and Discover Cars to get the best deals on car rentals in Switzerland.

Luggage Storage: Find out where you can store your store your luggage while you are visiting various places in Switzerland.

Trips & Tours:Viator and Get Your Guide are the best places to find local tours and trips for your adventures in Switzerland.

Packing: Here are my recommendations for what to pack for a trip to Switzerland. As someone who has lived half their life in Switzerland, I have a good idea of what you need to bring!