You can see classical Europe in Switzerland. The small mountainous country has all the necessary attributes for tourists to fully enjoy the color and atmosphere of an enlightened foreign country. Russians need a visa to Switzerland, but getting one in 2021 is no more difficult than any other Schengen visa.
Switzerland is a rich country, very attractive to tourists. Fans of various types of foreign holidays come here every year: from extreme tourists to boarding house patients.
Village in the mountains of Switzerland
Classic Europe, clean air, hot springs, pristine mountains - all this makes our compatriots choose this country out of all the Schengen participants.
A visa to Switzerland is issued under the same conditions as to other treaty states. And its favorable location allows you to visit several European powers in one trip. In addition to holidays, Switzerland attracts foreigners as a permanent place of residence. This requires a category D visa and compelling reasons: work, study, family reunification. Many even decide, after living in this Alpine country for several years, to obtain Swiss citizenship.
Entry ban to Switzerland and other European countries of the Schengen area and the EU from March 17, 2020
From March 17, 2021, a ban on entry into Switzerland and the countries of the Schengen zone and the EU was introduced for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and all other foreigners who are not citizens of these European countries.
European countries have closed their borders for 30 days. If necessary, the ban can be extended. French President E. Macron announced this after a meeting with all representatives of the European Union, the website rbc.ru reports.
The entry rules into various European countries in the Schengen area change every day due to the COVID-19 coronavirus from Russia in March 2021. The full list of countries where travel is prohibited due to the coronavirus is updated every day on our website (follow the link).
At the moment, the following European countries of the Schengen zone have completely banned the entry of foreigners into their country: Italy, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland, Austria, Greece, Sweden.
Germany and Finland have closed their land borders with neighboring countries.
Spain and Portugal have closed their common border.
Thus, those people who left for Europe before March 17 will not be able to move freely within the Schengen area and travel to these countries.
They are introducing border controls, so it will not be possible to enter them from another Schengen country in March 2021.
Also, from March 16, flights from Russia to all countries of the Schengen zone and the EU were limited and cancelled, except for flights from Moscow to the capitals of these states. Now only EU citizens can use them.
You can also follow all the news today in real time on the official website of Rostourism.
How much will it cost to obtain a visa to Switzerland (consular fee)
The availability of a Swiss visa is identical to the cost of obtaining one for entry into other Eurozone countries. As a consular fee, you must pay an amount equivalent to 35 euros, and this can be done by paying in Russian rubles.
At the same time, you will have to pay a service fee, the amount of which is from 15 euros to 20 euros. In total, all costs for obtaining a visa to Switzerland in 2021 add up to a total cost of up to 55 euros.
This amount may be higher if the registration procedure is carried out urgently.
When should you apply for a Swiss Schengen visa?
Switzerland is part of the Schengen agreement, so you can enter its territory with a Schengen visa from any country. However, given the new visa rules that will be in force in 2021, in some cases, in order to cross the border of Switzerland, a visa must be obtained from its embassy.
But people who cannot visit the embassy in person can contact Swiss visa service centers. But it is worth considering that when applying to the CC, you will have to wait several days longer for the permit to open due to the fact that documents from this organization are sent directly to the Swiss Embassy, which is located in Moscow. Documents to be filled out at the VC: Consent to the processing of personal data Consent to courier services.
Map of the location of the Swiss Embassy in Moscow
You need to apply for a visa in Switzerland if this country is the main one on the list of those you plan to visit during your trip. That is, it is on its ski slopes and in local, world-famous Swiss chalet houses that you are going to spend most of your vacation. How many and what countries you still plan to visit and in what order does not matter.
It is also worth contacting the visa department of this country if you plan to enter the Schengen zone through Switzerland and spend the same amount of time in all planned countries - the rule of first entry.
In all other cases, you can enter Switzerland with a Schengen visa from any other country.
If these requirements are met, the visa regime will not be violated, and all formalities will be observed. An impeccable visa history is very important for travelers who regularly leave their homeland. After all, with every Schengen visa closed without violations, a tourist has a greater chance of receiving a Schengen multiple visa for a period of 2, 3 and 5 years.
Entry with a visa from another country
You can also enter a European state using the Schengen visa of another state. But for this you need to fulfill 2 standard conditions:
- According to the first entry rule, the permit must be opened in the country that issued it.
- Of the entire validity period of the visa, most of the time must be spent in the country for which the permit was issued. In some situations, it is acceptable for an equal number of days to be spent in each state.
If you are planning to fly to another European country via Switzerland and the tourist has a Schengen visa for another country, you can only leave the airport on the way back. For a French entry permit, for example, when entering Switzerland, you should be prepared for problems or even refusal to obtain visas in the future. Sometimes customs authorities do not allow travelers to enter their final destination country.
Where to get a visa
There are several ways to obtain a visa to Switzerland. The applicant can personally come to the embassy and submit a package of documents. Or use the services of a travel company, which, for a fee, will take care of all the hassle of obtaining permits. You will only need to issue a power of attorney (). To save Russian tourists from the need to come to the capital cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow to obtain visas, the Swiss diplomatic mission organizes the work of full-fledged visa centers and Swiss windows in multicenters.
In 2021, the Swiss Embassy continues to work with its new partner, TLScontact. She is the intermediary and helps to obtain a tourist visa without a personal visit to the consular department. You can find out detailed information, as well as clarify the addresses and telephone numbers of the visa center or window in your city, on the website of this company.
visa center office
The visa center services are available to tourists or foreigners coming to Switzerland for short-term visits. That is, their trip cannot last longer than 90 days.
When applying for a D visa (you can download the application form for a D visa here), namely, it gives the right to stay in the country for a long time (for example, to study, work or live with your family), you need to submit the documents yourself, and contact the Swiss Embassy in Moscow: Serpov lane, building 6. Phone number for inquiries: 258-38-30, area code 495.
The St. Petersburg branch stopped issuing documents for the majority of ordinary citizens, maintaining service only for residents of the regional centers of the country. Detailed information and a complete list of cities can be found by calling: 336-57-77 and 327-08-17 (area code 812) - or by coming to the address: Chernyshevsky Avenue, building 17.
Applying for a visa to Switzerland yourself
Travelers often choose the most convenient and simplest option - contact a travel agency. Today, many travel agencies additionally provide visa services when purchasing a tour from them. They help collect the required documentation, check them and transfer it to the visa center or embassy. You just need to go through the fingerprinting procedure.
Some tourists obtain entry permits on their own. The undoubted advantage of this option is financial savings. However, it will take more time to study the issue, collect papers and submit them to the visa center/consulate.
Options for applying for a visa yourself
To avoid intermediary services, you need to clarify the list of documents needed in a specific individual situation. There are 2 ways to get a visa - submit the collected papers to the consulate or visa center.
Submitting documents to the Consulate at the embassy
If you have enough free time and want to save on visa center fees, you can sign up to apply directly to the Swiss Consulate in Moscow. Registration is made online on the visa center website (registration on the website is required) or by telephone.
The provision of papers is carried out in an electronic queue. Biometric data is submitted simultaneously with the submission of a set of papers. When applying through the Consular Section of the Embassy, payment is made through certain branches of Raiffeisenbank.
Receipt of completed documents occurs in person, but can also be carried out by a close relative on the basis of a document that confirms this relationship.
Tourist visa
The list of documents for a Swiss tourist visa is standard (). It fully complies with the Schengen requirements of any country.
Required documents
To obtain a type C permit, you need to collect the following package of documents:
- International passport. Must be valid for another 3 months after the end of the trip. If a visa is issued for a period longer than the duration of the trip, then the validity period of the visa should be used as the estimated dates. Also, your passport should have at least 2 blank pages, and preferably more if, in addition to Switzerland, you plan to visit other Schengen countries;
- Photos of the established sample – 2 pieces ();
- Photocopies of foreign pages containing personal data, including your photograph;
- Old foreign passport. If there is, then you can imagine it too. Any positive visa history when applying for Schengen is a significant plus to your chances of success;
- Copies of all previously received Schengen visas should be made separately; it doesn’t matter which country they were issued and how long ago;
- Visa application form (fill out and submit). You can arrange it yourself or entrust it to professionals. Although there is nothing complicated in this procedure, a significant number of refusals are associated precisely with incorrect data entry. The paper must be filled out in legible handwriting in blue or black ink in one of four languages: German, English, French, Italian (download instructions for filling out here);
- Confirmation of your social status. This could be a certificate from a university for students or from a place of work for working citizens (). Pensioners need to provide a copy of their pension certificate. Each document must contain your personal data and your status, as well as detailed information about the organization that issued the certificate;
- A document confirming your solvency or a letter of guarantee from the travel sponsor;
- Reservation at a hotel, hotel or agreement confirming the rental of real estate for the entire period of stay in the country. Sometimes it is possible to present a travel voucher that also contains this information;
- Confirmation of your timely arrival and departure from the country. These can be air tickets, their copies, reservations and other forms.
Also, a mandatory condition for issuing a Swiss visa is international medical insurance. The minimum allowable amount in the event of an insured event is 30 thousand euros. And the term of such a policy must completely cover the planned dates of visiting the country. Along with the original, you should add a copy of it to the package of documents.
Tourist visa to Switzerland for Russians - documents
It is recommended to entrust the procedure for collecting a set of documentation to professional lawyers from an accredited visa center. It is worth remembering that the Consulate General, located in St. Petersburg, has significantly limited the access of tourists to the government institution.
Visa and Immigration Department is open
on weekdays
no more than 2 hours
. Therefore, it is recommended to apply only through a broker to speed up the review procedure. The Swiss embassy located in Moscow allows you to apply for a tourist visa yourself, however, any error in the documents will lead to a refusal.
Specialists at an accredited visa center compile a register of necessary documents in advance, provide assistance in collecting official papers, or take over the entire procedure. Cooperation with the client is carried out on the basis of a power of attorney
. The main package includes:
- Applicant's questionnaire
. Filled out in one of the four official languages in Switzerland. It is not acceptable to enter data in Russian. You can write down the information in the questionnaire with the help of specialist translators, but the applicant must put a personal signature. - International passport
. In addition to the original valid document, all old foreign passports are attached, as well as copies of pages with visas and personal information. All information in Russian is translated into English, German, French or Spanish, the translation is certified by a notary. - The domestic passport
is attached in the form of copied sheets containing information. - 2 photos
. Color photographs with a format of 35 by 45 mm must meet all the requirements of the Schengen zone. Smiling is prohibited during filming. The applicant's appearance in the photograph must match reality. - The financial package
of documentation indicates a sufficient level of income to stay in Swiss territory and in the EU zone. Certificates about the amount of wages, the availability of funds from additional sources of income, information about the size of bank deposits are attached here. - Social package.
Authorized persons of the Swiss consulate must be sure that the tourist will not remain in their country illegally. The applicant is recommended to provide certificates of the presence of children, business or real estate within the borders of Russia or the CIS countries. - Medical insurance covers medical services in the amount of 30,000 euros, issued for a period exceeding the travel period by 2 weeks. The document is issued in accredited medical centers.
permissions for the processing of personal data, as well as are drawn up and signed .
Swiss consulate officers trust the service of only one logistics company - DHL.
Transit visa
To travel through Switzerland, you must obtain a transit visa. We are not talking about visiting other countries that are parties to the agreement: in this case, it will be enough to present a Schengen card and move freely within its territory. A transit visa is needed if you are traveling from Switzerland to a third country that is not a Schengen member state.
Sample transit visa
For connecting flights that are less than 24 hours apart, you can avoid issuing a transit visa. To do this, you need to issue all boarding passes in advance and not leave the transit zone itself.
If this option does not suit you, then you need to submit to the consulate:
- Your own foreign passport, which will be valid for the entire period of the trip and another 3 months. If a visa is issued for a longer period than the trip itself, then the validity period of the visa should be used as the estimated dates. Also, the passport must have 2 or more blank pages for entry and exit stamps;
- Photocopies of foreign pages containing personal data, including your photograph;
- Copies of all previously received Schengen visas should be made separately, no matter which country they were issued by or how old they are;
- Visa application form. Fill in strictly block letters in blue or black ink. This can be done in French, English, Italian or German;
Sample of filling out an application form for a visa to Switzerland
- Photos of the established sample – 2 pieces;
- Confirmation that you are aware of the visa regulations and you agree to comply with them;
- Copies of entry and exit documents from Russia to Switzerland and from Switzerland to a third country;
- If there is a visa regime for Russia and a third country - an appropriate visa;
- A copy of health insurance for 30 thousand euros and a validity period equal to the period of stay in Schengen, in particular Switzerland.
A transit visa is issued for a period of up to 5 days. And, therefore, at this time the tourist must live somewhere. Therefore, the embassy often asks to present a travel voucher or document that confirms a hotel or inn reservation.
How long does it take to get a visa to Switzerland?
The Consular Section of the Embassy reviews visa applications within 3 days. When submitting an application through the CC, additional time for sending documents is taken into account.
In rare cases, a decision is made to transfer papers to the Swiss authorities for consideration, in which case the process can drag on for 3 months.
The service for urgent visa processing is officially not available at the Swiss Embassy. However, unforeseen difficult life circumstances are still taken into account. These include: threat to life due to illness, death of close relatives, accidents.
To speed up the process, you need to fill out a form and send an email. The applicant will be contacted and told about further actions.
How to check your visa readiness
You can obtain information about the readiness of a decision in your personal account. The applicant also receives an email and a text message on his phone.
When receiving a foreign passport, you must provide a Russian passport and a checklist (issued by an authorized employee when submitting documents).
National visa
This includes a long-term visa, allowing a stay in Schengen territory longer than 3 months. She was assigned category D. With this type of entry document in Switzerland, you can study, work, solve family problems, and also simply travel around Europe with virtually no restrictions. Obtaining this visa is the first step to obtaining a residence permit in Switzerland.
The list of documents for a D visa is slightly different from the package of documents required to obtain a visa to Switzerland, which is suitable for tourist purposes.
Additional papers must confirm your financial solvency and the host’s interest in your arrival.
List of documents for obtaining a D visa
Basic documents for obtaining a D visa:
- Visa application – 3 pieces. Papers must be filled out in black or blue ink and in strictly block letters in one of four languages;
- Your own foreign travel document with two blank pages and expiration date at least three months after the first departure from the Schengen zone;
- Photos of the established sample – 4 pieces;
- Photocopies of foreign pages containing personal data, including your photograph. Two copies will be required;
- It is also worth making two copies of the last 2 Schengen cards;
- Confirm there are no problems with the law. To do this, you can submit a certificate of good conduct. Residents of Russia can obtain it from the local Ministry of Internal Affairs and then have it endorsed;
- Additional documents on the basis of which a D visa will be issued;
- A letter of guarantee from the sponsor or any bank document that confirms your solvency. Both the original and a copy must be submitted;
- A letter of explanation where you must indicate why you are changing your place of residence and why you are moving. It must be translated and photocopied;
- Additional documents for a visa for family reasons;
- Two photocopies of the foreign passport of a family member permanently residing in Switzerland. This could be a spouse or parent;
- Two photocopies of his residence permit;
- You must also submit a certified duplicate of a document confirming your marital status, if this is the basis for moving;
- A letter from a family member stating that they are expecting their relatives to move;
- An endorsed duplicate of the birth certificate for minor children who are moving for permanent residence, as well as consent to move from the second parent certified by a notary (if any).
Additional documents for obtaining a work visa:
- Original and two copies of the employment contract;
- Sometimes a written request for a work visa may be required in person.
Additional documents for obtaining a study visa:
- Two copies and an original letter from the educational institution, which confirms that such and such a citizen is actually enrolled;
- Documents confirming payment of tuition, accommodation and other expenses of the student and/or a letter of guarantee from the sponsor (). Original and copy. All certificates, account statements, checks must be translated and endorsed;
- Attestations, certificates, diplomas must be submitted in the original and two copies of each document must be attached. A detailed training program at a Swiss institution is also required;
- Translated autobiography – two pieces;
- A letter of explanation, where you must indicate why you chose education in Switzerland, its significance for your career;
- Draw up and sign an undertaking according to which you will leave the country when the full course is completed.
Visa to Switzerland
Important information
From September 14, 2015, a procedure for collecting biometric data has been introduced in all Consulates and Visa Application Centers of the Schengen countries.
More detailed information about the rules for submitting biometric data can be found by clicking on the link.
Documents are accepted no earlier than three months before the start of the trip.
We recommend providing a bank statement showing the movement of funds for 3 months.
A credit card statement is not a financial guarantee.
If a valid passport contains refusals to issue visas by the consulates of the Schengen countries, the tourist is required to provide a written explanation of the reasons for the refusal and provide documents no later than 3 weeks before departure, since the processing of such documents increases in time.
If you have a valid Schengen visa that does not cover the entire period of the trip, you must write an application for cancellation of the current visa, a sample application.
When booking only ground services, you must provide proof of air travel and medical insurance with a set of documents.
If at least one participant in the trip has a valid Schengen visa covering the dates of the trip, then it is necessary to attach a photocopy of his (their) first page of the passport and a valid visa to the documents for the remaining participants in the trip.
Please note that it is not recommended to apply for a visa using a passport issued for more than one person (for example, a parent and child are included in the same passport).
A separate visa is issued for children included in the parents' passport. In this regard, an additional package of documents is collected for the child. It is necessary to take into account that when applying for a visa for an adult and a child included in the parent’s passport, this passport must have an additional two blank pages.
For passports of minor applicants, the following rules apply: for applicants under 14 years of age, the passport must not be signed, for applicants 14 years of age or older, the passport must be signed by a minor.
Parents or an official representative are not allowed to sign a minor's passport. A minor's passport signed by a parent or official representative cannot be used to apply for a Schengen visa to Switzerland.
At the discretion of the Consulate, the processing time may be increased to 45 days.
We recommend that you take out travel insurance in advance. The rules of travel insurance can be found by clicking on the link.
If the submitted documents do not meet the specified requirements, and if the client provides information to the Embassy that does not correspond to reality, ICS Travel Group is not responsible for the refusal to accept documents for a visa by the Consulate General of Switzerland or the subsequent refusal to issue it.
Duration and cost of obtaining a visa to Switzerland
List of documents
Procedure for taking fingerprinting
Regional affiliation
Holiday calendar
Switzerland Visa Application Center Address
Traveling with children
To travel to Switzerland, children, like adults, will also need a visa.
Documents for opening an entry visa:
- A certificate confirming the birth of the baby or his foreign passport.
- Questionnaire in 2 copies.
- Medical insurance policy.
- Photographs in the amount of 2 pieces.
- Certificate from educational institution.
If you are planning to travel with children, then parents should not forget the birth certificate and an insert confirming the child’s citizenship. These documents may be requested at the Swiss border. It is worth noting that children over 14 years of age must have their own foreign passports to cross foreign borders.
Children can travel using their parents' foreign passports if they are entered there only if the entry was made before March 1, 2010. Otherwise, problems may arise at customs control points. The thing is that from March 1, 2015, an entry about a child in his parent’s foreign passport is not a basis for crossing a foreign state. The recording serves only to confirm the relationship between the child and the adult.
In the case of EU countries, this rule is only aggravated. Therefore, today all children are recommended to obtain separate travel documents .
It is also worth remembering that if a child goes to Switzerland with one parent, then upon entering this state you will need to present a permit to export the child ().
If the child’s parents are divorced, then on the trip you will additionally need to take a certificate confirming the fact of divorce.
If the child has only one parent, then you will need to take with you a certificate from the registry office or a death certificate of the second parent.
If the location of the second parent is unknown, then a court decision declaring the parent missing will be required at the border.
If a child is issued a long-term visa, then a mandatory document is a power of attorney for export from two parents ().
If a child goes to Switzerland without parents, that is, accompanied by a third party, then when applying for a visa you will need to present additional documents such as:
- Photocopies of internal passports of both parents.
- A document confirming the financial solvency of the parents.
- Permission from parents to travel to Switzerland.
- Sponsorship letter. This document contains information about the person who bears all the costs associated with traveling to Switzerland.
Visa costs
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The type of visa determines how long it will take to review the package of documents, make a decision, and also how much money the applicant should prepare. The Swiss Embassy does not issue urgent visas; all applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, live or electronic. Hence the fixed cost – 35 euros.
But this cost for obtaining a Schengen visa to Switzerland is paid only by citizens of Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Georgia, the Moldavian Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro. Nationals of other countries pay 60 euros for a Type C visa. Children aged 6 to 12 years living in countries not included in the list are required to pay a visa fee of 35 euros.
Children under six years of age and Ukrainian citizens under 18 years of age do not pay for a visa.
The cost of an urgent visa for nationals of the above 9 countries is 70 euros.
Another 23 will have to pay for visa center services. If in the city where the applicant lives there is only a visa window, then you will have to find out and calculate the cost of delivering the papers by a transport company yourself.
How much does a visa to Switzerland cost in 2021?
The cost of an entry permit directly depends on its type and the place where documents are submitted.
The consular fee for processing an application for a Schengen visa is a fixed amount of 35 euros. Payment is made in rubles at the rate established by the Swiss Embassy.
When submitting an application to the visa center, each applicant must pay 1,800 rubles for service and separately for additional services, if any were ordered.
Submitting documents to obtain a national visa includes payment of a visa fee of 4,080 rubles for adults and 2,400 rubles for children aged 6-12 years.
Children under 6 years of age can receive a free review of any type of visa application.
Basel, Switzerland
Registration deadlines
Visa processing times also vary:
- 3 days - at the embassy, however, now it has practically stopped directly accepting documents from citizens for a tourist visa;
- 5 working days – at the central visa centers of St. Petersburg and Moscow;
- 7–8 days – through visa windows.
If a visa is issued through a travel company, then you need to check the deadlines directly with the company.
It will take significantly longer to obtain a long-term D visa. The registration process can take from one and a half to three months. Its cost will need to be clarified directly with the embassy. To apply for a D visa, you must submit documents in person and possibly undergo an informal interview.
Options for obtaining a Swiss visa yourself
Russians have little choice. You can apply for a visa to Switzerland yourself, either at the Swiss Embassy in Moscow, or through visa centers (VCs), whose presence is listed in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Additionally, it is possible to contact the nearest TLScontact field center at a particular moment.
The TLScontact CC also works remotely, allowing you to fill out the necessary documents yourself through the interface on the website. They can be printed and sent to the embassy by DHL courier service. Required fees are payable via PayPal. This scheme allows you to count on obtaining a permit in full within 8 days.
By submitting documents to the embassy yourself, you can obtain a visa in 3 days.
It is not prohibited to contact the embassy using the visa center in Moscow. You can also visit Switzerland with a Polish Schengen card (more details about its registration in this article).
