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Other languages: SEM – Visa Application Form
Application for Schengen visa and procedure
As a general rule, a decision is taken by the Consulate within 15 days. This period may, in individual cases, be extended.
Some Schengen States require that they be consulted on visa applications submitted to other Schengen States by citizens of certain countries. The consultation process may take up to seven calendar days. Such consultation is currently required for nationals of the countries listed here:
It is therefore recommended to submit the visa application early, at the earliest 6 months before the planned journey.
The reasons for refusal are notified to the applicant using a standard form.
You have the right to appeal within 30 days of receipt of the refusal. For information on appeal procedures, please refer to the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration.
Biometric data (fingerprints) are generally collected every 59 months from the age of 12 years from the first recording.
If you are a family member of a Swiss, European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) citizen, you are entitled to submit your application directly at the responsible Embassy or Consulate of Switzerland. An appointment is mandatory and must be booked in advance.
If you wish to complain about the behavior of the consular staff and, if applicable, about the external service provider or about the process, please contact the competent representation in writing.
No visas for dual citizens
The Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Abeba does not issue a visa to a Swiss citizen or a citizen of a Schengen Member State who additionally holds the nationality of a third state and for holders of a valid Swiss residence permit (permit B or C).
Monday 14.00 - 16.00 and Tuesday - Thursday 09.00 - 12.00
An appointment is not needed.
The Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba does not issue any visa, it solely informs about the process and offers the service of sending complete applications to the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa. It is the responsibility of the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa to decide whether a visa is issued or not.
The Swiss Embassy urges the visa applicants to apply at least three weeks prior to the intended travel date to Switzerland. An application can be submitted six months before earliest. It is highly recommended to submit the visa application at an early stage.
The visa application will be forwarded by weekly courrier to the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Abeba for decision.
South Sudanese citizens and some other nationalities, regardless their passport status, have to go through the Schengen consultation. In practice, this implies that their application remains in consultation among the Schengen States for up to 10 working days. A visa can only be authorized and issued after this period and with positive outcome.
The passport will then be sent back to the Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba where it can be picked up during the opening hours.
Exceptions
If you travel for the first time to the Schengen area or if your fingerprints were collected more than 59 months ago, you are kindly requested to submit your visa application in person at the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Abeba (please make an appointment on www.swiss-visa.ch. The booking of the appointment is free of charge).
Options when submitting the passport at the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Abeba:
1) Stay in Ethiopia and collect the passport after the consultation period of approximately 10 days.
2) Return to South Sudan and hand over the passport to the Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba which will forward it to the Embassy for issuance of the visa. The passport with the visa can then be picked up again at the Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba after approximately one week.
3) Return to South Sudan and send the passport together with a prepaid return envelope of a private courier company to the Swiss Embassy in Addis Ababa for issuance of the visa and await its direct return to the applicant by the private courier. This procedure will take approximately 5 days.
The visa application must be submitted in person.