Visa Information

Overview

Applicants who are travelling to Switzerland for tourism.

All citizens of South Africa are required to apply for a visa before entering Switzerland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement.

Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective Embassy/Consulate of the country of your main destination. Your main destination will be the Schengen country where your duration of stay exceeds all others. Due to this, when traveling to more than one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, one has to submit their application to the mission of the Schengen country representing their first port of entry.

Switzerland Visa Application Centre in South Africa accepts applications for short stay visas only. A passport should be valid for at least three (3) months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland and there should be at least two (2) empty pages available in the passport.

Click on the other tabs on this page to view more information about the visa application process.

Visa Fees

Visa Fees	Euro	ZAR
Schengen visa	60	990
Children, 6 to 11 years old	35	580
Children, 0 to 5 years old	0	0
Schengen visa for citizens of the following countries (by the Visa Facilitation Agreement): Russian federation, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, Kap Verde	35	580

Methods of payment for visa fees:

• If the applicant submits their visa application at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

  1. Card payment at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment
  2. Advance payment to the given Switzerland Visa Application Centre bank account

Applicants exempted from visa fee:

• Applicants under the Directive 2004/38/EC
• Family members of Swiss citizen
• Diplomatic and official passport holders
• School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Representatives of non-profit organisations, aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events by non-profit organisations – TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE

Service charge applicable when applying at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

Applicants may choose to pay at the Visa Application Centre using Credit/Debit Card or deposit the applicable at the below Bank. Original proof of payment must be received with the visa application. The passport number of the applicant must be clearly stated as reference on the proof of payment or a bank deposit slip.

Click for the price list of additional services

• Special note for all applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre:
• The applicable visa fees in ZAR depend on the current exchange rate, which can be changed without any notifications
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card at the Visa Application Centre or alternatively via cash deposit at any Standard Bank
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Documents Required

Please note that the visa category chosen by the applicant must be based on the purpose of travel to Switzerland and the decision must be made by the applicant him/herself. An application filled incorrectly and carelessly can cause a refusal of the visa application. The applicant may need to submit additional details. The applicant may be asked to come for an interview at the Embassy.

Photo Specifications

To see the visa application photo specifications, please, click here.

Processing Times

Usually, processing time for visa applications is 10 working days (starting from the time when the Embassy or Consulate received the application, not including the transportation time), counting from when all requested documents have been submitted. This period may be extended in specific cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is required, for example, when an applicant must come to an interview or submit additional documentation requested by the Embassy or Consulate. During certain times of the year, the processing time can be longer due to the high volume of applications. It is recommended to submit your visa application at least two weeks prior to date of travel date and if possible, even earlier ahead of the holiday period.

Please note that the application processing time and decisions on visa applications are the sole prerogative of the Embassy or Consulate. VFS Global has no role to play in these areas of the application process.

Overview

Applicants who are travelling to Switzerland for visiting friends and family.

All citizens of South Africa are required to apply for a visa before entering Switzerland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement.

Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective Embassy/Consulate of the country of your main destination. Your main destination will be the Schengen country where your duration of stay exceeds all others. Due to this, when traveling to more than one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, one has to submit their application to the mission of the Schengen country representing their first port of entry.

Switzerland Visa Application Centre in South Africa accepts applications for short stay visas only. A passport should be valid for at least three (3) months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland and there should be at least two (2) empty pages available in the passport.

Click on the other tabs on this page to view more information about the visa application process.

Visa Fees

Methods of payment for visa fees:

• If the applicant submits their visa application at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

  1. Card payment at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment
  2. Advance payment to the given Switzerland Visa Application Centre bank account

Applicants exempted from visa fee:

• Applicants under the Directive 2004/38/EC
• Family members of Swiss citizen
• Diplomatic and official passport holders
• School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Representatives of non-profit organisations, aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events by non-profit organisations – TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE

Service charge applicable when applying at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

Applicants may choose to pay at the Visa Application Centre using Credit/Debit Card or deposit the applicable at the below Bank. Original proof of payment must be received with the visa application. The passport number of the applicant must be clearly stated as reference on the proof of payment or a bank deposit slip.

Click for the price list of additional services

• Special note for all applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre:
• The applicable visa fees in ZAR depend on the current exchange rate, which can be changed without any notifications
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card at the Visa Application Centre or alternatively via cash deposit at any Standard Bank
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Documents Required

Please note that the visa category chosen by the applicant must be based on the purpose of travel to Switzerland and the decision must be made by the applicant him/herself. An application filled incorrectly and carelessly can cause a refusal of the visa application. The applicant may need to submit additional details. The applicant may be asked to come for an interview at the Embassy.

Photo Specifications

To see the visa application photo specifications, please, click here.

Processing Times

Usually, processing time for visa applications is 10 working days (starting from the time when the Embassy or Consulate received the application, not including the transportation time), counting from when all requested documents have been submitted. This period may be extended in specific cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is required, for example, when an applicant must come to an interview or submit additional documentation requested by the Embassy or Consulate. During certain times of the year, the processing time can be longer due to the high volume of applications. It is recommended to submit your visa application at least two weeks prior to date of travel date and if possible, even earlier ahead of the holiday period.

Please note that the application processing time and decisions on visa applications are the sole prerogative of the Embassy or Consulate. VFS Global has no role to play in these areas of the application process.

Overview

Applicants who are travelling to Switzerland for business.

All citizens of South Africa are required to apply for a visa before entering Switzerland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement.

Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective Embassy/Consulate of the country of your main destination. Your main destination will be the Schengen country where your duration of stay exceeds all others. Due to this, when traveling to more than one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, one has to submit their application to the mission of the Schengen country representing their first port of entry.

Switzerland Visa Application Centre in South Africa accepts applications for short stay visas only. A passport should be valid for at least three (3) months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland and there should be at least two (2) empty pages available in the passport.

Click on the other tabs on this page to view more information about the visa application process.

Visa Fees

Methods of payment for visa fees:

• If the applicant submits their visa application at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

  1. Card payment at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment
  2. Advance payment to the given Switzerland Visa Application Centre bank account

Applicants exempted from visa fee:

• Applicants under the Directive 2004/38/EC
• Family members of Swiss citizen
• Diplomatic and official passport holders
• School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Representatives of non-profit organisations, aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events by non-profit organisations – TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE

Service charge applicable when applying at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

Applicants may choose to pay at the Visa Application Centre using Credit/Debit Card or deposit the applicable at the below Bank. Original proof of payment must be received with the visa application. The passport number of the applicant must be clearly stated as reference on the proof of payment or a bank deposit slip.

Click for the price list of additional services

• Special note for all applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre:
• The applicable visa fees in ZAR depend on the current exchange rate, which can be changed without any notifications
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card at the Visa Application Centre or alternatively via cash deposit at any Standard Bank
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Documents Required

Please note that the visa category chosen by the applicant must be based on the purpose of travel to Switzerland and the decision must be made by the applicant him/herself. An application filled incorrectly and carelessly can cause a refusal of the visa application. The applicant may need to submit additional details. The applicant may be asked to come for an interview at the Embassy.

Photo Specifications

To see the visa application photo specifications, please, click here.

Processing Times

Usually, processing time for visa applications is 10 working days (starting from the time when the Embassy or Consulate received the application, not including the transportation time), counting from when all requested documents have been submitted. This period may be extended in specific cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is required, for example, when an applicant must come to an interview or submit additional documentation requested by the Embassy or Consulate. During certain times of the year, the processing time can be longer due to the high volume of applications. It is recommended to submit your visa application at least two weeks prior to date of travel date and if possible, even earlier ahead of the holiday period.

Please note that the application processing time and decisions on visa applications are the sole prerogative of the Embassy or Consulate. VFS Global has no role to play in these areas of the application process.

Overview

Applicants who are travelling to Switzerland as spouses and children of Swiss and EU/EFTA nationals.

All citizens of South Africa are required to apply for a visa before entering Switzerland and/or other countries under the Schengen agreement.

Before applying, please ensure you understand your particular ‘purpose of visit’. Schengen visas must be applied for at the respective Embassy/Consulate of the country of your main destination. Your main destination will be the Schengen country where your duration of stay exceeds all others. Due to this, when traveling to more than one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the Embassy/Consulate representing the country of your main destination. In case of equal stay, one has to submit their application to the mission of the Schengen country representing their first port of entry.

Switzerland Visa Application Centre in South Africa accepts applications for short stay visas only. A passport should be valid for at least three (3) months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland and there should be at least two (2) empty pages available in the passport.

Click on the other tabs on this page to view more information about the visa application process.

Visa Fees

Methods of payment for visa fees:

• If the applicant submits their visa application at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

  1. Card payment at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre on the day of appointment
  2. Advance payment to the given Switzerland Visa Application Centre bank account

Applicants exempted from visa fee:

• Applicants under the Directive 2004/38/EC
• Family members of Swiss citizen
• Diplomatic and official passport holders
• School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Researchers travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research - TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE
• Representatives of non-profit organisations, aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events by non-profit organisations – TO BE EVALUATED CASE BY CASE

Service charge applicable when applying at the Switzerland Visa Application Centre:

Applicants may choose to pay at the Visa Application Centre using Credit/Debit Card or deposit the applicable at the below Bank. Original proof of payment must be received with the visa application. The passport number of the applicant must be clearly stated as reference on the proof of payment or a bank deposit slip.

Click for the price list of additional services

• Special note for all applicants applying at the Visa Application Centre:
• The applicable visa fees in ZAR depend on the current exchange rate, which can be changed without any notifications
• The visa fees need to be paid via debit / credit card at the Visa Application Centre or alternatively via cash deposit at any Standard Bank
• Applicants who are exempted from the visa fees need to pay only the service fee
• The fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Documents Required

Please note that the visa category chosen by the applicant must be based on the purpose of travel to Switzerland and the decision must be made by the applicant him/herself. An application filled incorrectly and carelessly can cause a refusal of the visa application. The applicant may need to submit additional details. The applicant may be asked to come for an interview at the Embassy.

Photo Specifications

To see the visa application photo specifications, please, click here.

Processing Times

Usually, processing time for visa applications is 10 working days (starting from the time when the Embassy or Consulate received the application, not including the transportation time), counting from when all requested documents have been submitted. This period may be extended in specific cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is required, for example, when an applicant must come to an interview or submit additional documentation requested by the Embassy or Consulate. During certain times of the year, the processing time can be longer due to the high volume of applications. It is recommended to submit your visa application at least two weeks prior to date of travel date and if possible, even earlier ahead of the holiday period.

Please note that the application processing time and decisions on visa applications are the sole prerogative of the Embassy or Consulate. VFS Global has no role to play in these areas of the application process.