Application for Schengen visa and procedure
Please do not send any documents regarding visa applications to the Consulate General.
Visa applications need to be submitted through VFS Global.
(exemptions: Diplomatic- and Service passport holders, Visa applications exceeding 90 days, visas authorized by the cantonal migration office)
Biometric data (fingerprints) are generally collected every 59 months from the age of 12 years from the first recording.
If your fingerprints have not been recorded, personal appearance when applying for a Schengen visa is mandatory.
If you received a Schengen visa issued within the last 59 months and your fingerprints were successfully recorded, personal appearance should not be necessary.
In case the previously recorded fingerprints prove to be of insufficient quality, you will still have to appear in person.
Personal appearance and fingerprint scan is not necessary for children under the age of 12.
The Swiss representation reserves the right to request the applicant to appear for a personal interview after reviewing the application.
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 14 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.
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.
The short-stay calculator is used to calculate the amount of time available for short stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. This calculator is used for third-state nationals within the Schengen Area, regardless of their visa obligation status.
Private entities not related to the Consulates or any other government body offer appointment services to visa clients. The visa clients who employ the services of such a company pay a fee to the company for making an appointment at the relevant Consulate for them. This fee does not include the actual visa fee, which has to be paid to the Consulates directly. The Consulates do not ask for an appointment fee and do not give preference to clients who employ the services of a private company to make the appointment on their behalf.
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.
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.
