Visa Information
VISA TYPES
Short Stay Visa
Applicants who wish to travel to Switzerland will stay no longer than 90 days.
- Tourist
- Professional Purpose
- Family/Friend Visit
- Participation in Cultural and Sporting Activities
- Employees of Accredited Organizations
Long Stay Visa
Swiss Visa Application Centers do not process any kind of long stay visa applications for stays that exceed 90 days, including short stay working visa for duration of less than 90 days as this visa type belongs to the national visa category.
The visa applications should be lodged directly at the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing or at the Consulate competent for your work, study or residence place. Please check the jurisdiction section to know your consular area. You can then proceed to register and schedule an appointment on the website of the Swiss Visa Application Center in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.
For more details about long stay visa, please visit the website of the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing.
Tourist
-
Overview
Applicants who wish to travel to Switzerland for tourist visit or medical treatment will stay no longer than 90 days.
-
Visa Fees
Visa Type Euros RMB Short stay Schengen visa, less than 90 days 80 645 Transit visa 80 645 The visa fee is mandatory for all visa applications unless you are within the exemption categories.
The visa fee is 40 EUR (325RMB) for:
- Children above 6 and below 12 years old.
The visa fee is 35 EUR (280RMB) for:
- Nationals from Bosnia-Herzegovina*, Georgia, Kosovo, FYROM (Macedonia)*, Moldova, Montenegro*, Russia, Serbia* and Ukraine*.
* Only for holders of non-biometric passports
Fee Exemptions:
The following categories do not have to pay the visa fee:
- short stay for children under six years of age
- EU citizen’s spouse
- EU citizen’s child under 21 years old of financially dependent
- Financially dependent ascendant of an EU citizen
- dependent relatives, in the ascending line of the EU/EFTA citizen’s spouse
- pupils, students and accompanying teachers going on study or educational trips
- short stay for scientific researchers
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years old or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events
* Please note that satisfactory proof must be submitted to establish if one of the above exemptions applies.
- The applicable visa fee is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change.
- All the fees are non-refundable.
- There is a service charge of 211 RMB (Inclusive of tax) levied per application over and above the visa fees.
- All charges are to be paid in cash only.
- You can avail the optional courier charge of 70 RMB (Inclusive of tax)
-
Documents Required
The Consulate may request you to provide additional documents or information, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted your application at Visa Application Center. Please be aware that submitting a completed application does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.
-
Photo Specifications
Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, color photo with white clear background, taken within 6 months, from the front and without any head-coverings, face without shadow, make sure the photos have at least 600 DPI and high resolution. The photos for minor applicants (under 6 years) need to be recent and identifiable. If not, there are chances the applicant might be not accepted at visa center. Visa centre or consulate will not be responsible for the result. Please check the sample here.
For your own convenience, you can also choose to take compliant photograph at Swiss Visa Application Center. For more information, please click here.
-
Travel Medical Insurance
The insurance should be valid for the whole Schengen area and cover the whole period of your stay within the Schengen area.
-
Notes:
- The insurance policy should clearly indicate its validity for the whole Schengen area. The insurance covering Switzerland only is not compliant.
- If the travel insurance policy doesn’t indicate Schengen area and the zones covered by the insurance are shown in clauses, please also provide the photocopies of insurance clauses (English, German, French, Italian or Romansh translation required if the policy is in Chinese).
- Insurance period: The insurance should cover the departure and return dates matching air ticket booking document, from the arrival day in the first Schengen country till the departure day leaving the last Schengen country.
-
Insured amount:
The insurance must have a minimum coverage of 30.000 Euro (around 300.000 RMB) including medical fees and repatriation costs.
-
Professional Purpose
-
Overview
Applicants who wish to travel to Switzerland for a business trip or a professional training will stay no longer than 90 days.
-
Visa Fees
Visa Type Euros RMB Short stay Schengen visa, less than 90 days 80 645 Transit visa 80 645 The visa fee is mandatory for all visa applications unless you are within the exemption categories.
The visa fee is 40 EUR (325RMB) for:
- Children above 6 and below 12 years old.
The visa fee is 35 EUR (280RMB) for:
- Nationals from Bosnia-Herzegovina*, Georgia, Kosovo, FYROM (Macedonia)*, Moldova, Montenegro*, Russia, Serbia* and Ukraine*.
* Only for holders of non-biometric passports
Fee Exemptions:
The following categories do not have to pay the visa fee:
- short stay for children under six years of age
- EU citizen’s spouse
- EU citizen’s child under 21 years old of financially dependent
- Financially dependent ascendant of an EU citizen
- dependent relatives, in the ascending line of the EU/EFTA citizen’s spouse
- pupils, students and accompanying teachers going on study or educational trips
- short stay for scientific researchers
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years old or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events
* Please note that satisfactory proof must be submitted to establish if one of the above exemptions applies.
- The applicable visa fee is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change.
- All the fees are non-refundable.
- There is a service charge of 211 RMB (Inclusive of tax) levied per application over and above the visa fees.
- All charges are to be paid in cash only.
- You can avail the optional courier charge of 70 RMB (Inclusive of tax)
-
Documents Required
The Consulate may request you to provide additional documents or information, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted your application at Visa Application Center. Please be aware that submitting a completed application does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. Please pay attention to the following items:
- If invited by Liechtenstein, the destination country on Schengen form is written as ‘ Liechtenstein’
- If invited by Switzerland, duration stay in Switzerland is longer than Liechtenstein, the destination country on Schengen form is written as ‘ Switzerland ‘. If not, the destination is written as ‘ Liechtenstein’
- If invited by other counties ( except Switzerland and Liechtenstein) and the ,and stay in Liechtenstein, the destination country on Schengen form is written as ‘Liechtenstein’
-
Photo Specifications
Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, color photo with white clear background, taken within 6 months, from the front and without any head-coverings, face without shadow, make sure the photos have at least 600 DPI and high resolution. The photos for minor applicants (under 6 years) need to be recent and identifiable. If not, there are chances the applicant might be not accepted at visa center. Visa centre or consulate will not be responsible for the result. Please check the sample here.
For your own convenience, you can also choose to take compliant photograph at Swiss Visa Application Center. For more information, please click here.
-
Travel Medical Insurance
The insurance should be valid for the whole Schengen area and cover the whole period of your stay within the Schengen area.
-
Notes:
- The insurance policy should clearly indicate its validity for the whole Schengen area. The insurance covering Switzerland only is not compliant.
- If the travel insurance policy doesn’t indicate Schengen area and the zones covered by the insurance are shown in clauses, please also provide the photocopies of insurance clauses (English, German, French, Italian or Romansh translation required if the policy is in Chinese).
- Insurance period: The insurance should cover the departure and return dates matching air ticket booking document, from the arrival day in the first Schengen country till the departure day leaving the last Schengen country.
-
Insured amount:
The insurance must have a minimum coverage of 30.000 Euro (around 300.000 RMB) including medical fees and repatriation costs.
-
Family/Friend Visit
-
Overview
Applicants who wish to go to Switzerland for a family or friend visit will stay no longer than 90 days.
-
Visa Fees
Visa Type Euros RMB Short stay Schengen visa, less than 90 days 80 645 Transit visa 80 645 The visa fee is mandatory for all visa applications unless you are within the exemption categories.
The visa fee is 40 EUR (325RMB) for:
- Children above 6 and below 12 years old.
The visa fee is 35 EUR (280RMB) for:
- Nationals from Bosnia-Herzegovina*, Georgia, Kosovo, FYROM (Macedonia)*, Moldova, Montenegro*, Russia, Serbia* and Ukraine*.
Fee Exemptions:
The following categories do not have to pay the visa fee:
- short stay for children under six years of age
- EU citizen’s spouse
- EU citizen’s child under 21 years old of financially dependent
- Financially dependent ascendant of an EU citizen
- dependent relatives, in the ascending line of the EU/EFTA citizen’s spouse
- pupils, students and accompanying teachers going on study or educational trips
- short stay for scientific researchers
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years old or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events
* Please note that satisfactory proof must be submitted to establish if one of the above exemptions applies.
- The applicable visa fee is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change.
- All the fees are non-refundable.
- There is a service charge of 211 RMB (Inclusive of tax) levied per application over and above the visa fees.
- All charges are to be paid in cash only.
- You can avail the optional courier charge of 70 RMB (Inclusive of tax)
-
Documents Required
The Consulate may request you to provide additional documents or information, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted your application at Visa Application Center. Please be aware that submitting a completed application does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.
-
Photo Specifications
Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, color photo with white clear background, taken within 6 months, from the front and without any head-coverings, face without shadow, make sure the photos have at least 600 DPI and high resolution. The photos for minor applicants (under 6 years) need to be recent and identifiable. If not, there are chances the applicant might be not accepted at visa center. Visa centre or consulate will not be responsible for the result.
For your own convenience, you can also choose to take compliant photograph at Swiss Visa Application Center. For more information, please click here.
-
Travel Medical Insurance
The insurance should be valid for the whole Schengen area and cover the whole period of your stay within the Schengen area.
-
Notes:
- The insurance policy should clearly indicate its validity for the whole Schengen area. The insurance covering Switzerland only is not compliant.
- If the travel insurance policy doesn’t indicate Schengen area and the zones covered by the insurance are shown in clauses, please also provide the photocopies of insurance clauses (English, German, French, Italian or Romansh translation required if the policy is in Chinese).
- Insurance period: The insurance should cover the departure and return dates matching air ticket booking document, from the arrival day in the first Schengen country till the departure day leaving the last Schengen country.
-
Insured amount:
The insurance must have a minimum coverage of 30.000 Euro (around 300.000 RMB) including medical fees and repatriation costs.
-
Participation in Cultural and Sporting Activities
-
Overview
Applicants who wish to go to Switzerland for a culture or sport purpose will stay no longer than 90 days.
-
Visa Fees
Visa Type Euros RMB Short stay Schengen visa, less than 90 days 80 645 Transit visa 80 645 The visa fee is mandatory for all visa applications unless you are within the exemption categories.
The visa fee is 40 EUR (325RMB) for:
- Children above 6 and below 12 years old.
The visa fee is 35 EUR (280RMB) for:
- Nationals from Bosnia-Herzegovina*, Georgia, Kosovo, FYROM (Macedonia)*, Moldova, Montenegro*, Russia, Serbia* and Ukraine*.
* Only for holders of non-biometric passports
Fee Exemptions:
The following categories do not have to pay the visa fee:
- short stay for children under six years of age
- EU citizen’s spouse
- EU citizen’s child under 21 years old of financially dependent
- Financially dependent ascendant of an EU citizen
- dependent relatives, in the ascending line of the EU/EFTA citizen’s spouse
- pupils, students and accompanying teachers going on study or educational trips
- short stay for scientific researchers
- representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years old or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events
* Please note that satisfactory proof must be submitted to establish if one of the above exemptions applies.
- The applicable visa fee is as per the current exchange rate. It is subject to change.
- All the fees are non-refundable.
- There is a service charge of 211 RMB (Inclusive of tax) levied per application over and above the visa fees.
- All charges are to be paid in cash only.
- You can avail the optional courier charge of 70 RMB (Inclusive of tax)
-
Documents Required
The Consulate may request you to provide additional documents or information, according to your personal situation, even after you have submitted your application at Visa Application Center. Please be aware that submitting a completed application does not guarantee the issuance of a visa.
-
Photo Specifications
Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, color photo with white clear background, taken within 6 months, from the front and without any head-coverings, face without shadow, make sure the photos have at least 600 DPI and high resolution. The photos for minor applicants (under 6 years) need to be recent and identifiable. If not, there are chances the applicant might be not accepted at visa center. Visa centre or consulate will not be responsible for the result.
For your own convenience, you can also choose to take compliant photograph at Swiss Visa Application Center. For more information, please click here.
-
Travel Medical Insurance
The insurance should be valid for the whole Schengen area and cover the whole period of your stay within the Schengen area.
-
Notes:
- The insurance policy should clearly indicate its validity for the whole Schengen area. The insurance covering Switzerland only is not compliant.
- If the travel insurance policy doesn’t indicate Schengen area and the zones covered by the insurance are shown in clauses, please also provide the photocopies of insurance clauses (English, German, French, Italian or Romansh translation required if the policy is in Chinese).
- Insurance period: The insurance should cover the departure and return dates matching air ticket booking document, from the arrival day in the first Schengen country till the departure day leaving the last Schengen country.
-
Insured amount:
The insurance must have a minimum coverage of 30.000 Euro (around 300.000 RMB) including medical fees and repatriation costs.
-
Employees of Accredited Organizations
Employees of accredited organizations: please contact the Visa Application Center by sending an email to info.swisschina@vfshelpline.com in case you need the checklist of your required documents for your visa application.
Please confirm if your company has already been accredited by the Embassy or Consulate General of Switzerland in China responsible for processing your visa application according to your company location.
-
Companies already accredited by the Embassy or Consulate General of Switzerland in China and has a company account created by the Swiss Visa center:
Please register a new visa application for your employees and book an appointment.
-
Companies already accredited by the Embassy or Consulate of Switzerland in China but has not yet created a company account:
Please send an email to: info.swisschina@vfshelpline.com
Please indicate the full name of your company in Chinese and in English as well as your contact details. The Swiss Visa Application Center will create a dedicated company account for your company.
In case of any queries regarding accreditation, please contact directly the Swiss Embassy or Consulate General responsible for processing the visa application according to your company location.
Long Stay Visa
Swiss Visa Application Centers do not process any kind of long stay visa applications for stays that exceed 90 days, including short stay working visa for duration of less than 90 days as this visa type belongs to the national visa category.
The visa applications should be lodged directly at the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing or at the Consulate competent for your work, study or residence place. Please check the jurisdiction section to know your consular area. You can then proceed to register and schedule an appointment on the website of the Swiss Visa Application Center in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.
For more details about long stay visa, please visit the website of the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing.
Work Visa
-
Procedure if your work permit has already been authorized:
- Make an appointment through Swiss Visa Application Centers to submit the documents at the Embassy/ Consulate. The appointment booking is free of charge.
-
The following documents have to be handed in:
- Visa Application Form
- Passport
- Size 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm, color photo with white background, taken within 6 months and from the front without any head-coverings. Click here to view visa photo requirements.
- Copy of the permit from the migration office
- Visa fee
- It takes approximately 3-5 working days for the visa to be issued
-
Procedure if you do not have an authorized work permit:
https://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home/themen/arbeit/nicht-eu_efta-angehoerige.html
Family Reunion/Marriage/Study Visa
Swiss Visa Application Centers do not process any kind of long stay visa applications for stays that exceed 90 days, including short stay working visa for duration of less than 90 days as this visa type belongs to the national visa category.
The visa applications should be lodged directly at the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing or at the Consulate competent for your work, study or residence place. Please check the jurisdiction section to know your consular area. You can then proceed to register and schedule an appointment on the website of the Swiss Visa Application Center in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.
For more details about long stay visa, please visit the website of the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing.

