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SwitzerlandVisit & tourismLast checked October 16, 2026

Schengen tourist & business visa

short stay, up to 90 days · Official name: Schengen visa (category C) for Switzerland

Switzerland issues the uniform Schengen short-stay (type C) visa for tourism, business and visits to family or friends, valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period in all Schengen countries. You apply to Switzerland when it is your main or only destination, normally in your country of legal residence, using swiss-visa.ch. The core rules (fee, insurance, passport and timing) are set by the EU Visa Code and are the same in every Schengen state; Switzerland sets its own application channels, and sets means of subsistence at CHF 100 per day (CHF 30 for students). Switzerland is not in the EU but applies the Schengen visa rules as an associated Schengen country.

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Visiting Switzerland

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Life in Switzerland

Money

3

Currency

Swiss Franc

CHF

Swiss Franc

Cost of living

128

Price level · US = 100

World Bank price levels, 2025

Tax

0.77–11.5%

Income tax (national)

VAT 8.1%

Federal direct tax only: rises in steps (marginal rate peaks at 13.2%) to a flat 11.5% on very high incomes (about CHF 794,000+ for single people, before inflation indexing); cantonal and communal taxes come on top and are usually much larger.

Official rates, 2026 · headline only

Living

1

Happiness

7.0

#10 of 145 countries

World Happiness Report 2025

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Who it’s for

Nationals of countries that need a Schengen visa who want to visit for tourism, business meetings or family and friends, for up to 90 days, with Switzerland as their main destination.

Eligibility

  • Short stay only

    The visa covers stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.

    90 days

    Stay limit

    • Covers tourism, business, or visiting family or friends
    • The 180-day period is counted across all Schengen countries together
    Official wording

    The uniform (type C) visa covers stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, for tourism, business, or visiting family or friends. The 180-day period is counted across all Schengen countries together.

  • Apply to the right country

    Apply to Switzerland if it is your only or main destination, or your first external border crossing if no main one.

    • Main destination is set by length of stay or purpose
    • Several separate trips within two months count together
    Official wording

    Apply to Switzerland if it is your only destination, or your main destination by length of stay or purpose. If no main destination can be set, apply to the country whose external border you cross first. Several separate trips within two months count together.

  • Apply where you legally live

    As a rule, apply at the Switzerland consulate (or its service provider or representing country) covering the place where you legally reside. A consulate may accept an application from someone legally present but not resident there only if they justify it.

A sneak peek at what's inside

  • Next requirementPassport
  • Document checklistCompleted and signed Schengen visa application form
  • FeesSchengen visa fee, adult (age 12 and over)

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  • 6 more requirements
  • 11 documents
  • 5 fees
  • 8 steps
  • Processing times and conditions
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