Switzerland entered the Schengen area. Visa for Switzerland

More than half of Switzerland's territory is occupied by the highest mountains in Europe - the Alps. The country is famous for its high-class ski resorts - the favorite vacation spots of many famous and wealthy people. There is a high level of service in all industries.

The world's most reliable banks, high-quality education system, first-class medical service- The Swiss have a lot to be proud of. Residents of the country thoroughly approach any business.

Zurich, Switzerland

Castles in Switzerland were built for centuries, to this day they have retained a beautiful view and look royally beautiful against the background of the mountains. Visiting them is the most interesting part of a tourist trip.

Life in the country is expensive, but the incomes of working citizens, including visitors, are also high. Therefore, people come here for this purpose.

Do Russians need a visa to Switzerland in 2020

Regardless of the priorities of the trip, Russians need a visa to visit Switzerland without fail, be it tourism, study, medical treatment, work or business visit.

Main types of visas

A Schengen visa for Switzerland is required if the trip is carried out for the following purposes:

tourism (tourist visa);
private visit (guest);
education (study visa);
professional purpose (business visa);
treatment (medical);
travel through Switzerland (transit visa).

Important! If you are planning to visit other member states of the Schengen Agreement, then the largest number of days should be spent in Switzerland.

Violation of this condition may result in refusal for subsequent requests for entry clearance.

Schengen is issued for 90 days. This is the amount of time that the traveler is entitled to stay in the country for half a year.

When a longer stay is needed, for example, for university students, working citizens or those wishing to reunite with their families, then a national visa is issued.

How much does a visa to Switzerland cost in 2020

The cost of an entry permit directly depends on its type and place of submission of documents.

The consular fee for processing a Schengen visa application is a fixed amount of 35 euros. Payment is made in rubles at the rate set by the Swiss Embassy.

When submitting an application to Visa Center every applicant in mandatory pays 1800 rubles for service maintenance and separately for additional services, if any.

Submission of documents for the purpose of obtaining a national visa includes payment visa fee in the amount of 4080 rubles for adults and 2400 rubles for children aged 6-12 years.

Children under 6 years of age apply for free examination of any type of visa application.

Basel, Switzerland

How to make a visa to Switzerland on your own

It is not at all necessary to agree to the expensive assistance of travel companies in the visa application process. Cope with the submission of documents through a visa center or consulate to obtain permission to visit the country is quite a feasible task.

Regardless of the application method, fingerprinting is mandatory in accordance with the new rules of the Visa Information System. The exception is children under 6 years of age and people who are temporarily or permanently unable to take fingerprints due to their injuries. The frequency of the procedure is at least once within 5 years.

Through the visa center

The TLScontact visa center has the exclusive right to represent the interests of the Swiss Embassy in Russia. The first step you need to take to establish cooperation is to create a personal account.

After creating an account, you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with an individual list of documents, select the date and time of visiting the EC, find out the status of the application after submitting the documents.

Be sure to print and sign the confirmation of the online appointment at the CC and attach it to the main package of papers.

If the applicant fails to appear at the specified time, a new account must be activated to re-submit the documents.

During a visit to TLScontact, you need to submit a full package of documents, pay all required fees, and, if necessary, submit biometric data. Sign an agreement for the delivery of documents to the Swiss Embassy in Moscow and back. Pick up the passport with the decision made in the EC where the application was submitted.

Applications for a national visa are not considered - you need to contact the consular department of the Embassy directly.

You can get a visa to Switzerland even without leaving your home. For the delivery of fingerprinting, an additional VC service is provided - mobile biometrics, for submitting a visa application by mail - a courier service of the international company DHL.

Additional services of the visa center

The intention to take advantage additional services pre-fixed in personal account... Clients of EC TLScontact can order:

Service "Premium": the process of submitting documents in a separate comfortable room, individual consultation, free printing and photocopying of documents, the ability to deliver missing papers on the same day (until 17:00);
"Super Premium": free parking, one accompanying relative, employee, security guard is allowed; free Wi-Fi, making copies, printing, consultations;
Prime-time service: a convenient opportunity to submit documents outside work time... In the morning from 8:00 to 9:00, in the evening - 17: 00-19: 00;
"Mobile biometrics": call a specialist at the specified address of the applicant to submit biometric data;
Assistance in registering on the site, filling out a questionnaire, setting the date of the visit;
Delivery of the finished passport by courier;
Providing at the disposal of a photo booth, a copier;
Discount coupons that allow you to save money during your visit to Switzerland (excursions, restaurants, cruises, and more).

A detailed description of each service, prices can be found at the link.

Obtaining a visa by mail

The service is available for customers who have previously submitted biometric data. To organize the process of obtaining a visa by mail without a personal presence at the TLScontact office, you need:

activate your account;
pay the visa, service fee, DHL courier services;
print, fill in and sign: DHL statement, consent to use courier services and personal data processing;
send a package of documents to the TLScontact computer center of the city of Moscow;
expect to receive a passport.

Please note that DHL couriers are not authorized to provide any information regarding correct filling documents, their quantity, terms of consideration. The firm's employees are solely responsible for the delivery of the papers.

Lausanne, Switzerland

Through the consulate

Obtaining a visa on your own through the visa department of the Swiss Embassy in Moscow may take more time compared to the VC, since the daily number of citizens that can be accepted is limited.

Reception of applicants at the Embassy is carried out only by appointment on the TLScontact website.

At the same time, if the visa application is of a short-term type, you must additionally call the call center of the TLScontact company.

Persons who are sent to one of the following international organizations are accepted without prior registration. In this case, the visit to the consular officer must be made from 9:00 to 11:45 on weekdays.

Obtaining a visa through the Embassy in the standard mode provides for: registration, making an appointment, personal attendance, providing a full package of documents, obtaining a decision.

Switzerland visa application form

It is permissible to fill out a questionnaire to obtain a permit to visit Switzerland in the following languages: Russian or German, English or French.

The national visa application form can be downloaded.

Documents for a visa to Switzerland: list from 2020

The prepared package of papers has the right to be submitted by other persons instead of the applicant: relatives (if there are documents confirming kinship), work colleagues (when providing a power of attorney from the organization), representatives of accredited travel agencies with which the Embassy cooperates.

Documents for obtaining a national visa must be submitted only by the applicant in person, there are no exceptions of any kind.

List of documents required for a Schengen visa to Switzerland in 2020:

Application form completed in one of the permitted languages and signed by the applicant personally;
(issued no more than 10 years ago, expiration date from the date of return from a trip to Switzerland at least 3 months) with two free pages;
Photos: one glued on the questionnaire in a specially designated place, the second is attached separately;
Copies of pages of a civil passport (biographical information, registration, family status, a mark on the issuance of a passport);
A health insurance policy in the amount of at least 30 thousand euros, valid for the entire period of stay in Switzerland, as well as in other Schengen countries;
Documents that confirm the presence of a place of residence in the country (hotel booking, apartment rent);
Papers confirming the intention of the trip (ticket booking);
Sufficient evidence Money from the applicant at the rate of 100 Swiss francs per day of residence in the country (covering the planned costs, bank statement, sponsorship documentation).

Photo for a visa to Switzerland

Attention! Be sure to take the documents that were submitted for obtaining a visa with you on a trip, since the likelihood of checking them upon entering the country is very high.

How long does a visa to Switzerland take?

The Consular Section of the Embassy considers visa applications within 3 days. When submitting an application through the VC, the time for sending documents is also taken into account.

In rare cases, a decision is made to transfer the papers for consideration to the Swiss authorities, then the process can drag on for 3 months.

The service of urgent visa processing is not officially available at the Swiss Embassy. However, unforeseen difficult life circumstances are still taken into account. These include: life threatening due to illness, death of close relatives, accidents.

To speed up the process, you need to fill out a form, send a letter to email address [email protected] The applicant will be contacted and told about further actions.

How to check the readiness of the visa

You can get information about the readiness of the decision made in your personal account. Also, the applicant receives a letter to email and a text message to your phone.

Upon receipt of a passport, it is imperative to provide a Russian passport, a checklist (issued by an authorized employee during the submission of documents).

Embassy, consulate, visa centers of Switzerland in the Russian Federation

The final decision on the issue of an entry permit is made at the visa section of the Swiss Embassy in Moscow. Residents of the Kaliningrad region can apply for some types of visas at the consular department.

Embassy of Switzerland in Moscow

Address: Serpukhov lane, 6
Moscow, 119121

Switzerland is a thriving Western European state, the capital of which is the city of Bern. When going on a trip to Europe, a traveler immediately asks questions: is the country included in the Schengen Agreement and the European Union, which visas give the right to visit it? And those who are going to visit Switzerland regularly or move to live there are faced with the task of obtaining a Swiss visa.

What kind of visa do I need to travel to Switzerland?

The state of Switzerland is a full member of the Schengen area. However, it is not part of the European Union.

You can enter Switzerland with a Schengen visa issued by any country. Citizens of the CIS states who are holders of residence permits or national visas of the Schengen countries or holders of diplomatic passports of Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine and service passports of Moldova and Ukraine do not need to issue a visa either. These documents are suitable for continuous residence in Swiss territory up to three months... However, you should open a visa and be on it most of the time in the country that issued it. In all other cases, you must apply for a visa to Switzerland.

Switzerland transit visa is required to travel through its territory to another country. If you do not have a valid "Schengen", it will be required even for a transfer at the airport in the capital.

Video: Switzerland is a Schengen member

Types of Swiss visas

The Swiss Foreign Ministry issues several types of visas.

Type C Schengen visas are valid not only in Swiss territory, but also in all Schengen states. They are issued for the following travel purposes:

transit,
studies,
treatment,
official visit,
participation in sports, cultural, scientific events,
business visit,
private trip.

Type D national visas are intended for long-term stay in the country and are issued for applicants planning to undergo training or to reunite with their family.

An entry work visa is required to carry out labor activity in Switzerland. It is issued only after the employer receives a work permit for the applicant from state authorities.

Where to get a visa for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and other foreigners?

To obtain a visa, you must personally submit a package of documents to the representative office of Switzerland - the embassy or consulate. A Schengen visa can be obtained through one of the authorized visa centers.

Where do Russians go?

The only representative office of Switzerland is located in Moscow. Applicants must first make an appointment through the website of the visa center or by phone.

Citizens of the Russian Federation residing in the Kaliningrad region can apply at the consular section of the Latvian Embassy in Kaliningrad. However, the following issues are not within the competence of the office:

issuance of short-term visas for travel related to work, medical treatment,
issuance of national visas,
issuance of visas for short-term official visits to persons with diplomatic, service, special and ordinary passports who are not citizens of the Russian Federation.

In the above cases, applicants should contact the Visa Section of the Swiss Embassy.

Applications for national and work entry visas are only accepted at the Swiss Embassy in Moscow.

You can also apply for a visa at special points of TLScontact, which operate in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other large cities. Contact information is available here.

You can submit documents to visa centers in person or by mail through the DHL delivery service.

Addresses of embassies in the CIS countries

Citizens of the CIS countries apply for a Swiss visa:

from Armenia - at the Swiss Embassy in Yerevan,
from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan - at the Swiss Embassy in Baku,
from Belarus - at the Swiss Embassy in Warsaw or at the Hungarian Embassy in Minsk,
from Georgia - at the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi,
from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan - at the Swiss Embassy in Astana,
from Kyrgyzstan - at the Swiss Embassy in Bishkek,
from Ukraine and Moldova - at the Swiss Embassy in Kiev,
from Uzbekistan - at the Swiss embassy in Moscow or at the Latvian embassy in Tashkent.

How can you get a visa yourself?

Contacting the embassy

You can apply for a visa at the Swiss Embassy. The process includes several stages:

Registration in your personal account on the website of the visa center.
Make an appointment through the website of the visa center (if you plan to submit documents for a Schengen visa, you need to make an appointment by phone).
Preparation of the necessary documents.
Printout of the notice of appointment at the consulate.
Submission of documents on the appointed day, biometric data collection.
Repeated visit to the embassy and obtaining a passport with a visa.

Receiving through the Visa Application Center

If the applicant intends to apply to the Visa Application Center, the procedure will follow the following scheme:

Registration on the website of the visa center (as in the previous case).
Preparation of documents according to the list generated by the system.
Online appointment for an appointment in your personal account and printout of the appointment notification.
Visiting the visa center, submitting documents, taking biometric data.
Tracking the status in your personal account.
Obtaining a passport with a visa.

Upon receipt of a passport, the applicant must have a civil passport and a checklist of documentation, which is issued after its submission.

If the applicant does not come to the appointment at the appointed time, a second appointment will be required.

Passing biometrics

The procedure for removing biometric data is mandatory from September 14, 2015. It involves fingerprinting and taking a digital photograph. Information about each applicant is stored in a single database - Visa information system(VIS) - within 59 months, after which the procedure is repeated.

If the applicant has previously gone through the procedure for removing biometric information, the documents can be submitted and received by a representative. For this you will need:

copy of the applicant's passport,
Documentation checklist (issued at the Visa Application Center),
free-form handwritten power of attorney (not needed if documents are submitted by a close relative),
copy and original of the representative's passport,
documents confirming family ties (if the representative - close relative applicant).

The following categories of applicants are exempted from the removal of biometric information:

Children under 12 years old.
Individuals who are physically unable to undergo fingerprint scanning. If fewer than 10 fingers can be scanned, then as many as possible should be scanned. If the impossibility is temporary, then the applicant will have to go through a scan procedure the next time they apply for a visa.
Heads of State or Government and members of the national government with their accompanying spouses, as well as members of official delegations when traveling for an official purpose at the invitation of a Schengen country or an international organization.

Sending documents by courier service

Applicants who are exempted from submission of biometric information or who have previously received a visa marked with a VIS can apply to the visa centers through the DHL delivery service. The procedure includes the following steps:

Registration in your personal account on the website of the visa center (as in other cases).
Preparation of the necessary documents according to the generated list.
Payment of service and visa fees online through the website of the visa center.
A call to the call center in order to clarify the date and place of sending the documents (+7 495 9958512, +7 495 2322334 from 09:00 to 12:30 and 13:00 to 17:00 on weekdays).
Payment for intermediary services to the DHL courier and sending documents to the address: Russia, Moscow, Business Center Delta Plaza, 2nd Syromyatnicheskiy lane 1, index 105120, recipient - TLScontact Switzerland Visa Application Center.
Receiving a notification from the staff of the visa center about the acceptance of documents.
Tracking the status of the application through your personal account.
Obtaining a passport with a visa.

And also applicants can use the service "mobile biometrics", which includes the visit of a specialist of the visa center at any convenient place and time to the applicant in order to receive documents and remove biometric information.

In the process of considering applications, the consul has the right to invite applicants for a personal conversation, to request additional documentation and send documents to Switzerland for review to the relevant authorities.

Video: new rules for obtaining Schengen

List of required documents and requirements for them

Schengen visa

General list of documents:

application form, fully completed and signed by the applicant,
a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of departure from the Schengen area, having at least two free pages and issued no more than 10 years ago,
copies of pages of a civil passport with personal data, information about issued foreign passports, civil status and registration,
2 photographs, one of which must be glued to the application form (photo requirements),
copy of the policy health insurance valid for the entire period of stay in the Schengen area, with a minimum amount of coverage from 30 thousand euros,
documents confirming the legality of stay on the territory of the Russian Federation (for foreign citizens).

If the passport does not contain Schengen visas, but they were previously issued to the applicant, the embassy recommends attaching an old passport and copies of pages with personal data and the latest visas to the application.

Depending on the purpose of the visit, applicants must provide and additional documents.

Entry for property owners

For property owners in Schengen countries and their relatives, the list of additional documents will be as follows:

copy official document confirming ownership, issued no more than 6 months ago (for example, an extract from the land register),
documents confirming relationship (if a visa is requested for relatives),
certificate from the place of work indicating the position and size wages(for students - a certificate from the place of study or a copy of the student card),
documents confirming solvency, for example, a bank statement for the last three months or a statement from the bank about the account balance (the applicant must confirm the presence of at least 100 Swiss francs for 1 day of stay in the country),
copies of round-trip air tickets.

Visitor visa by invitation

To visit relatives or friends in Switzerland (including brides and grooms), you need to request an invitation to the country from them in advance.

Documents for submission to the consulate:

an application from the inviting person in Switzerland,
a copy of his personal document,
a copy of documents confirming the relationship (if the inviter is a relative),
documents confirming the applicant's solvency.

Business trip

Documents for a company representative:

a certificate from the employer,
letter of invitation from a Swiss company,
copy of an extract from the commercial register of the Swiss company (only the title page and page with the name / s of the persons who signed the invitation).

If an individual entrepreneur makes a business visit, instead of a certificate from the employer, you must provide:

certificate 2-NDFL, 3-NDFL, extract from the United state register individual entrepreneurs or other confirmation of commercial activity,
an account statement for the last 3 months or a statement from the bank about the account balance.

Participation in events

To participate in sports, cultural, scientific events, you must provide:

invitation from the organizer of the event,
confirmation of the place of residence and solvency, if the organizers do not take financial responsibility.

For an official visit:

a letter from the employer confirming the applicant's participation in the event as an official,
application from an international organization in Switzerland.

Treatment in Switzerland

Documents for persons intending to undergo treatment in Switzerland and their accompanying persons:

a certificate from an employer or an educational institution,
a well-readable copy of the invitation from a Swiss clinic or hospital with a doctor's signature, confirming the fact of full or partial payment for the upcoming treatment,
a bank statement for the last three months or a statement from the bank about the account balance,
copy of round trip tickets.

Study visa

A Schengen visa is issued for short-term studies. Documents for her:

confirmation letter of enrollment in courses or educational institution(original and copy),
confirmation of payment for tuition and related expenses (original and copy),
travel sponsorship documents or other documents confirming the availability of funds (if not indicated in the letter).

Transit documents

For a transit Schengen visa:

travel documents to the main country of destination (copy of visa / entry permit, copy of tickets to the main country of destination),
a certificate from an employer or an educational institution,
documents confirming solvency.

link .

The list of documents for registration of the airport transit visa exactly the same as required for a Schengen transit visa. More details can be found at the link.

National visa

Mandatory documents for all applicants:

3 fully completed visa application forms for a long-term stay (the form can be downloaded from the link). All designated places must be signed by the applicant,
a passport valid for at least 3 months at the time of departure from the Schengen area and having at least 2 blank pages,
2 copies of the passport (pages with a photo, full name and signature),
2 copies of the pages of the passport with the latest Schengen visas,
4 photographs, three of which must be glued to the questionnaires (requirements for photographs are similar to those for a Schengen visa).

The lists of other documents depend on the purpose of residence in Switzerland.

student visa

To study in Switzerland, you will additionally need:

a letter from a school or university confirming the fact of enrollment (original and 2 copies),
confirmation of the fact of payment for tuition and related expenses in German, French, Italian or English (original and 2 copies),
confirmation of solvency, for example, a bank statement for the last 3 months or a statement from the bank about the account balance or a sponsorship letter (original and 1 copy),
all diplomas, school certificates, certificates (language courses, internships, olympiads), including annexes with grades (original and 2 copies),
academic transcript with grades, if training has not yet ended (original and 2 copies),
CV in German, French, Italian or English (2 originals),
motivation letter in German, French, Italian or English in 2 copies (indicate the reasons for obtaining an education in Switzerland, its advantages for the professional future),
study plan in 2 copies (drawn up by the applicant in free form in German, French, Italian or English),
a commitment signed by the applicant to leave Switzerland after graduation in 2 copies (drawn up in free form in German, French, Italian or English).

If the applicant attaches a sponsorship letter, it must additionally indicate the nature of the relationship with the sponsor, and also must attach to it:

documents confirming the sponsor's solvency,
2 copies of a foreign or civil passport pages with a photograph, full name and signature with translation in German, French, Italian or English.

The sponsorship letter must be written in or translated into German, French, Italian or English.

Family reunification

To move to a family in Switzerland, you must additionally attach:

documents confirming solvency (original and 1 copy, translated into German, French or Italian),
police clearance certificate with apostille (original and 1 copy, translated into German, French or Italian and notarized),
a letter of motivation indicating the reasons for the planned move to Switzerland, as well as the future address (in German, French or Italian - original and 1 copy),
2 copies foreign passport or a residence permit of a family member staying in Switzerland,
a copy of the marriage certificate with an apostille, translated into German, French or Italian and notarized, and 1 photocopy,
invitation from a family member in Switzerland (in German, French or Italian - original and 1 copy).

Detailed information is available here.

Entry work visa

To apply for work visa, you must first obtain a work permit. The employer is responsible for obtaining the permit. Scroll common documents coincides with the one required for obtaining a national visa. Additionally you need to attach labor contract with a Swiss employer.

Detailed information is available here.

Features for minors

The main package of documents must be accompanied by:

copy of birth certificate,
notarized consent of both parents for the child to travel abroad, as well as a copy of it translated into German, French, Italian or English if a minor travels without parents (when a trip is planned with one of the parents, only the consent of the second is required),
a copy of the parent's visa if the child's visa is requested separately.

The application form must be signed by one parent.

How long will the registration take?

Applications are considered at least three working days in general case... This period can be increased up to 2 months if the embassy asks for additional papers or calls the applicant for an interview.

The embassy advises to submit a package of documents for a visa no earlier than 3 months and no later than 2 weeks before the date of the planned trip.

Document cost

The application is considered only after payment of the visa fee, the amount of which is:

2,535 rubles (35 euros) for issuing Schengen visas to citizens of Russia, Moldova, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia,
4,355 rubles (60 euros) for issuing Schengen visas to citizens of other states,
4,355 rubles (60 euros) for work entry visas and visas of categories A, D,
2,535 rubles (35 euros) for visa categories A, C and D for children 6-12 years old.

You do not need to pay for a visa:

spouses, children (including adopted children), parents (including guardians), grandfathers, grandmothers, grandchildren of citizens of Switzerland or another Schengen state legally residing in the Russian Federation or at home,
spouses, children (including adopted children), parents (including guardians), grandfathers, grandmothers, grandchildren of Russian citizens legally residing in Switzerland or on the territory of a Schengen country,
holders of service passports,
members of official delegations taking part in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programs at an official invitation from a Schengen country or the Russian Federation, as well as participating in events organized by intergovernmental institutions on the territory of the Schengen countries or the Russian Federation,
members of national or regional governments and parliaments, constitutional and supreme courts if they are not exempt from the need to obtain a visa,
students, pupils, alumni and accompanying teachers / professors leaving for the purpose of study,
disabled persons of groups 1 and 2 and accompanying persons,
all persons for humanitarian travel, including travel for urgent purposes medical treatment, to the funeral of a close relative or to visit a seriously ill close relative, as well as to persons accompanying them,
participants of international exchange programs organized between sister cities,
participants of international sports youth events and their accompanying persons,
participants in scientific, cultural, creative events, including university and other exchange programs,
children under 6 years old,
persons under the age of 25 who travel to participate in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural, educational events organized by non-profit institutions, as well as persons under the age of 25 who represent these non-profit institutions in these events,
researchers traveling to Switzerland to conduct scientific research.

Fees are strictly fixed in euros, but they are collected in cash only in the currency of the country of residence and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations.

If the applicant intends to apply to one of the visa centers, he will need to pay an additional service fee for the provision of services by this organization - 1900 rubles. Optionally, you can use additional paid services.

Terms of validity and renewal rules

Visas can be issued for one, two or more entries. To obtain a multiple entry visa, the applicant must prove the need for regular travel.

Transit visas are generally valid for up to 5 days. You can stay in Switzerland on a Schengen visa for no more than 90 days in one half of the year, and on a national and work visa - continuously during the entire period of its validity.

How long will the visa be issued depends on the request in the application form and the conditions of the trip. The validity periods of visas can range from 1 day to 5 years.

Extension of a visa is possible only in the event of force majeure. To do this, it is necessary to contact the local immigration authorities at the place of stay in time before the expiration of the visa (see the link for the addresses of the offices). After the visa has expired, you need to leave the country and issue a new entry document.

How to proceed in the event of a refusal?

The visa department may refuse for the following reasons:

economic insolvency of the applicant,
low level of regular income indicated in official documents,
foreign trips previously made in violation of the rules of entry,
the presence of relatives who are abroad illegally,
inconsistency of the submitted application with the requested type of visa,
lack of necessary documents,
previously received refusals,
the presence of conflicting information in the questionnaire and provided documents,
providing information that cannot be verified,
sending deliberately false data to the consulate,
a criminal record or security clearance,
suspicious interview behavior.

The embassy informs about the circumstances that led to the refusal in a special form, which is issued along with the passport after processing the application.

After refusal, the applicant has the right to re-submit documents or appeal against the decision made by the embassy. This can be done within 1 month after receiving the refusal. An appeal can be made by the inviting person or organization in Switzerland. To file an appeal, you need to draw up a written appeal at one of the state languages Switzerland (German, French, Italian) with a statement of reasons and submit it to the State Secretariat for Immigration, which is located at Quellenweg 6, 3003 Bern-Wabern. If the applicant does not have legal representative in Switzerland, he has the right to contact the embassy. The cost of considering an appeal in Moscow is 13 thousand rubles. The cover letter details the appeal procedure.

Video: a review of a visa to Switzerland

Since Switzerland is a valid member of the Schengen Agreement, a visa is required to travel to this country. You can do it yourself at the Swiss embassy or at accredited visa centers. If the visa is denied, the foreigner can appeal or repeat the entire procedure.

Switzerland is not part of the EU, so the question often arises, what kind of visa do you need to travel there? Since the end of 2008, this country has joined the Schengen area, therefore Russians will need Schengen to enter... A visa to Switzerland is independently made only through the embassy in Moscow and TLScontact visa centers in the Russian Federation.

Now you can get to Switzerland on a Schengen visa of two types:

Short-term C - for all short-term trips, they allow a maximum stay of 90 out of 180 days in the Schengen area.
Long-term D (national) - allow you to stay for more than 90 days. The list of documents for it is practically the same, but a different questionnaire and more stringent requirements for applicants. Mainly suitable for relatives of EU residents. Does not give the right to work on it.

Instead of earlier existing categories A and B for transit, now issued short-term ones marked TRANSIT. Not necessary for Russians if you are flying with a stopover up to 24 hours and do not leave transit zone airport. In other cases, it must be received in advance.

You can also conditionally divide all visas according to the purpose of the trip: tourist, guest, business, transit, study, etc.

The Swiss visa can be single, double and multiple (multi). This means that a single entry visa can be used only 1 time to enter the zone, and with a multivisa, you can enter / exit an unlimited number of times during its validity.

Note! A visa to Switzerland is obtained only if it is the main country of your stay in the Schengen area. If you plan to spend more days in another country on this visa, you may be refused. If the number of days of stay in two countries is the same, you need to contact the embassy in the first of them according to the time of entry.

List of documents for a visa to Switzerland

In 2020, all Schengen countries require one list of documents, which may differ depending on the purpose of your trip. At the embassies different countries only slight differences are permissible.

Even if you have a visa, you can be checked at the border, and if any documents are missing, you have the right to be refused entry.

Serve only full list documents, otherwise it may not be accepted from you.

List of documents standard for all categories of applicants:

Visa application form. It must be filled out online, after registering a personal account on the Visa Application Center website.
2 recent photographs 35 * 45 mm (< 6 месяцев). Они должны соответствовать стандартным требованиям для шенгенских виз, о которых вы можете прочитать . Одну из них приклейте к анкете, а вторую просто приложите с документами.
International passport, valid for more than 90 days at the time of departure from Schengen, with 2 blank pages.
If you have other valid or already expired passports with Schengen visas obtained in the last 3 years, it is recommended to provide their original and a copy.
. Medical policy must be valid throughout the Schengen area and the entire duration of the trip. The amount of insurance payments on it must be at least 30 thousand euros. When requesting a multiple entry visa, the insurance should only be valid for the first trip. You guarantee its presence in subsequent visits by putting the appropriate signature in the questionnaire.
A copy of all filled pages inside Russian passport.
When submitting an application to the visa center: you need to sign (to the embassy and back).

After completing the online application, the applicant receives a list of documents required from him. As a rule, they are standard.
For tourists:

Printout of round trip flight reservations. Or other information about your purpose of travel and itinerary (for example, car documents and a written travel plan).
Confirmation of room reservation, or other document confirming that you have a place of residence.
An extract from the bank for the last 3 months or a statement of the current balance (original stamped and signed by bank employees). Each applicant must confirm the presence of at least 85 euros for each night of stay.
You can also confirm your income by having a stable job with a salary of more than 30-40,000 rubles. To do this, you need to get a certificate from work indicating the position, duration of the trip and the average monthly salary.
In the case of low wages and lack of funds, you can arrange where a third party will take on the responsibility to pay the travel expenses. Additionally, you will need to attach to it a confirmation of the sponsor's income and a copy of his passport.

When traveling with a different purpose, you also need to confirm 3 things: accommodation, availability of finances and the purpose of the trip. This can be done with an invitation from a private person / company, which will guarantee the provision of accommodation for you and payment of all expenses. You can see a complete list of documents for other purposes by downloading.

Visa cost

The visa processing fee for Russians is 35 euros. For citizens of other states, it is 60 euros. If you need urgent processing of documents by the embassy, you need to pay a double fee - 70 euros.
Visa fee for a long-term visa - 60 euros (or 35 for children 6-12 years old).
Additionally, when contacting the visa center, you will need to pay a service fee, which is 1800 rubles.
Certain categories of applicants are exempt from paying fees (for example, children under 6 and disabled).
Payment is made in rubles at the exchange rate when applying for a visa. At visa centers, payment goes to the cashier, and at the embassy - at the bank. Additionally, the bank can take a commission of 150 rubles for each visa. After paying, do not forget to take a receipt, it will need to be shown on the day the documents are issued.
In case of cancellation, fees are non-refundable.

Visa processing time

The embassy processes all applications usually within 3 working days. Additionally, it takes several days to deliver documents to visa centers.

If you are submitting an incomplete set of documents, or a personal interview is required, the processing time for applications increases.

Documents must be submitted no earlier than 90 days before the planned date of travel. It is recommended to apply at least 2 weeks before departure.

Where to apply for a visa to Switzerland

Yekaterinburg, st. Bolshakova, 70 Rostov-on-Don, st. Suvorov, 91 Novosibirsk, st. Sibirskaya, 57 St. Petersburg, st. Liteiny prospect, 26 lit A Moscow, st. Syromyatnichesky 2nd lane, 1 St. Petersburg, st. Chernyshevsky prospect, 17 Moscow, st. Serpov lane, 6 Moscow, st. Prechistenskaya embankment, 31

Only residents of the Northwestern Federal District can submit documents to the Consulate General of Switzerland in St. Petersburg and only for the purpose of marriage (prior registration is required).

For a visit to the embassy, you need to make an appointment by phone +7 495 9958512. The number of places is limited, so the registration is made several weeks before the visit.

Residents of the Kaliningrad region can obtain a visa at the Embassy of Latvia in Kaliningrad at st. F. Engels, 52a.

Documents for a family whose members have already passed biometrics earlier can be submitted by a close relative without a power of attorney. To do this, you need to confirm the family ties of the applicants. The representative must be in possession of the original and a copy of the passport. In other cases, personal presence is required.

You can use the services of TLScontact visa centers and accredited travel agencies to transfer documents for short-term visas to the embassy. For long-term visas, you can apply only if personal visit to the embassy.

There are visa centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk. The application can be submitted on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm.

In Samara, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, Ufa, Omsk, Perm, Irkutsk, Murmansk, Surgut and Yakutsk, you can transfer documents for a visa through post offices DHL. Additional payment will be required.

Applying directly to the Embassy

After registration, make an appointment through the website for an appointment at the embassy and print out the notification of the appointment https://ch.tlscontact.com/ru/mow/index.php?l=en. You can also sign up without registration by sending a fax to +7 495 225 88 36 indicating your full name, number of applications, desired date of submission, your phone number and email. The number of places in the embassy is limited, priority at reception for long-term visas.
Visit the visa section of the embassy at the appointed time. Please arrive 15 minutes before the appointment.

Application procedure through the visa center

Collect all Required documents for your purpose of travel.
Make an appointment via the website and print the appointment notification.
Show up at the appointed time with a full package of documents, an application form and a passport at the TLScontact Visa Application Center.
You will need to answer a few questions, go through the biometrics procedure and pay the fees at the box office.
When the passport is ready, you will receive an SMS notification about this, an email and you can see it in your personal account on the VC website. Pick it up in person, or order delivery by courier in advance. In order for an authorized person to receive a passport with a visa for you, you need to make a power of attorney and have copies of the passports of the authorized person and the principal with you, as well as confirmation of family ties.

Submitting an application via mail

Register on the official website of the VC: https://ch.tlscontact.com/ru/MOW/register.php.
Gather all the necessary documents for your purpose of travel.
Pay through the website of the VC all fees online. Payment is possible via PayPal and bank cards.
Be sure to call the TLScontact Call Center on + 7 495 9958512 or +7 495 2322334 to arrange the transfer of documents to a DHL courier. All documents and passport must be sealed in an envelope.
Pay the cost of courier delivery to the main office of the VC and back (you will need to sign). Address: Moscow, 2nd Syromyatnichesky lane 1 (BC Delta Plaza), index 105120.
The cost of delivery will depend on the number of applications and the city of your residence, prices vary from 550 rubles to 3800 rubles. For detailed cost, see the photo.
When the passport is ready, you will receive an SMS notification about this, an email and you can see it in your personal account on the VC website. It will be shipped back via DHL and can be tracked on their website using the invoice number.

Conclusion

Due to the presence of several ways of submitting applications, you can easily and independently obtain a visa to Switzerland, being in any city of the Russian Federation. If you confirm your travel goals, funds and housing with authentic documents, then the chance of getting refused becomes almost zero. Keep these documents also when crossing the border, they may be required by the border guards.

Any foreigner can enter Switzerland on a Schengen visa, since this country, which is not a member of the EU, has signed the Schengen agreement. Schengen visa is a universal entry permit that allows you to freely enter (exit) the countries of the Schengen zone. Obtaining a visa can be done independently, or you can entrust competent specialists who will receive the required visa in a few days.

Visa: Schengen and National

If, having received a Schengen visa, a Russian can safely travel to all 26 Schengen countries, including picturesque Switzerland, then a national Swiss visa does not provide such opportunities. The need for national visa arises when traveling to Switzerland for the purpose of study, in connection with professional activities or for family reunification / extended stay. The national visa is long-term and is granted for a period of over 90 days.

Going to Switzerland on a Schengen visa, Russians, in addition to Swiss mountain resorts and hot springs, can see the sights of all the other 25 Schengen countries. Switzerland provides foreigners with three options for short-term visa permits - guest, business, tourist. Guest Schengens are open to Russians who are poisoned by relatives or friends living in Switzerland - its citizens or holders of a residence permit.

A business visa is opened for persons traveling to Switzerland on business related matters. A tourist visa permit is issued to persons traveling to Europe on vacation. In this case, the hotel must be booked in advance. Also with tourist visa travel as part of bus tours. They also travel on short-term Schengen for treatment, medical consultations, sports and cultural events. A transit visa pass is also considered a short-term visa permit. It is required for citizens crossing Switzerland when traveling to another country outside the EU.

How to enter Switzerland?

Foreigners can enter Switzerland on a Schengen visa issued by the consulate of any Schengen signatory country. As a signer of the agreement of the same name, Switzerland freely accepts all foreigners with Schengen visas. Thus, traveling to Italy or Spain on the Schengen visa issued by the Italian or Spanish embassy, respectively, a Russian can pay a visit to the pearl of the European continent - the beautiful country of Switzerland.

Documents for a visa

Packages of documents collected for different types Switzerland visas differ only in some details. The standard list mandatory documents includes:
... International passport (must remain valid for another 90 days after the end of the trip, at least).
... Photos - 2 pcs. It is important to comply with the requirements for a photo for a visa.
... Completed application form (language - German, English, French).
... Medical policy (copy).
... Financial guarantees.
... Booking tickets.
... Help from work.
... Copies of old Schengen visas.

To visit Switzerland you need a Schengen visa. The tourist's passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after the end of the trip to Switzerland. The passport must have 2 blank pages.

From 14 September 2015, all applicants must be fingerprinted to obtain a Schengen visa. According to the new rules, all citizens of the Russian Federation over 12 years old who receive a short-term Schengen visa must undergo a fingerprinting procedure. The procedure includes taking 10 fingerprints (if possible) and a digital photo. The data will be stored in the database for 5 years, after which the prints will have to be submitted again. When entering a Schengen country, holders of new visas will have their fingerprints checked with a special scanner.

Every Russian citizen applying for a short-term Schengen visa must appear in person to one of the consular departments and authorized visa centers of the required country. Fingerprints are removed in 2 minutes. The rest of the package of documents and the amount of the visa fee remained unchanged.

Acceptance of documents for a visa from tourists, who bought a package tour on Tutu.ru, is carried out in the same mode. After tourists submit the package of documents necessary for a visa to Tutu.ru in advance, the tour operator contacts the consular department of the embassy. Then the date and time of personal delivery of biometric indicators is assigned. Tourists are escorted to the consulate or visa center by representatives of the tour operator. Issuance of ready-made visas is carried out at the airport of departure (as agreed with the tour operator).

Tour operator visa support is paid. Its cost starts at $ 10, but it can be higher (depending on the tour operator).

List of documents for obtaining a visa to Switzerland through Tutu.ru:

Two color photographs 35 × 45 mm, on a white or light blue background without corners and ovals. Photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and be up to date outward appearance the applicant. The face in the photo should be shown in full face and occupy about 70-80% of the photo space;

A photocopy of the first page of the passport;

Photocopies of the passport pages with the last two Schengen visas, if any;

Application form completed in English, German, French or Italian, certified by the signature of the applicant;

A copy of the Russian passport: pages with information, pages with registration, pages with information on civil status and pages with notes on previously issued passports;

Certificate from the place of work (original) indicating the position, salary (at least 30,000 rubles) on the letterhead of the organization (with the name of the organization, address and telephone number), stamped, signed by the official who issued the certificate. The certificate must be signed no earlier than 1 month before the date of submission.

Bank statement (required).

For kids:

Photocopy of birth certificate;

Certificate from the school (during the summer holidays, it is not necessary to provide a certificate);

Notarized consent from both parents (if the child is traveling alone or accompanied by a third person) to travel abroad (certified copy translated into German, French, Italian or English).

The consent text must indicate - "to Switzerland" or "to Switzerland and other countries of the Schengen agreement". The consent is valid for one month from the date of its issue by a notary.

If the parent / s with whom the child is traveling already has a valid Schengen visa: a copy of this visa / visas + a copy of the first page of the passport.

If the child is traveling with one parent, then only a certified copy of the consent from the other parent is required;

A photocopy of the first page of the civil passport and the page with the registration of the parent giving consent (or two parents - if the child is traveling without them);

Sponsorship letter from one of the parents or next of kin + sponsor's financial documents + a copy of the document confirming the relationship with the sponsor and a copy of the first page of the sponsor's civil passport.

The cost of obtaining a visa to Switzerland:

for adults and children from 6 years old - 90 euros;

for children under 5 years old (inclusive) - 30 euros.

CIS citizens and Foreign citizens apply for a visa on their own through the consulate or visa center.

The consular section of the Swiss Embassy has the right to require any additional documents, or to call for an interview those who applied for a visa.

If you want to apply for a visa to Switzerland on your own, contact