Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Online desk FDFA

Using the FDFA’s online consular services while abroad.

The relevant Swiss representation abroad can answer any questions concerning the FDFA’s online desk.

Important information for the applications of Schengen visa

Due to the current situation, the Swiss government has decided to stop the issuance of Schengen visa until further notice. Therefore, the visa section will remain closed for the issuance of C type Schengen visa for the time being and will resume its operations in coordination with the other Schengen member states.
Applications for national visas for Switzerland (long stay of more than 90 days) are now accepted on appointment only. Inquiries and appointment requests are to be submitted via e-mail to cairo.visa@eda.admin.ch.

General information on current entry restrictions to Switzerland and on the resumption of the issuance of Schengen visa can be found on the webpage of the State Secretary of Migration of Switzerland.

For additional information, do not hesitate to contact the visa section cairo.visa@eda.admin.ch or visit our internet site www.eda.admin.ch/cairo.

Please also consider the following information:

Easing of the restrictions on entry into Switzerland as per 15.06.2020 (PDF, 310.4 kB, multilingual: English, German, French, Italian)

Guidelines for holders of previously issued visas (PDF, 231.2 kB, English)

Various regulations apply for entering Switzerland. A basic distinction is made between citizens of the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and those of other countries. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is the responsible authority in Switzerland.

SEM

Since Switzerland’s adherence to the Schengen and Dublin agreements came into force (12 December 2008), Swiss representations abroad are able to issue certain categories of visa, depending on the length of stay and purpose of the journey in Switzerland. Please select one of the following options.