1. Home
  2. Visa requirements
  3. Switzerland
Destination · Europe · Schengen area

Switzerland visa requirements (2026)

Of 198 passports, 93 can travel to Switzerland without arranging a visa in advance. 0 can apply online for an e-Visa and 105 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Who can visit Switzerland: passports by requirement

How to enter Switzerland: official routes

Checked November 2026

⚠️ The official ETIAS site says it is the only EU website that takes ETIAS applications directly and warns that intermediary sites collect your data and charge extra; ETIAS is not yet accepting applications, so any site selling one now is not official. Use only the official links below.

Official route

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)

Fee
EUR 20 once the system starts (raised from the originally planned EUR 7); applicants under 18 or over 70 pay nothing
Valid for
3 years, or until the passport used to apply expires if that is sooner; covers multiple trips of up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Processing
Most decisions within minutes; some applications can take up to 30 days
Status
Not yet live. As of November 2026 the official ETIAS site says the system is not in operation and no applications are being taken; the EU says it will give the start date several months ahead. No start date was found on the official pages checked. Applies to visa-exempt travellers only.
Official site →
Official route

Schengen short-stay visa (type C), for nationalities that need a visa

Fee
EUR 90 for adults; EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12; free under 6. Some nationalities pay reduced rates under EU agreements (for example EUR 35; EUR 67.50 for Cabo Verde). External service-provider charges are extra.
Processing
Generally decided within 15 days of a complete application; can take longer in exceptional cases. Many Swiss missions use an external provider, which charges its own service fee.
Official site →

At the border

  • Passport (or travel document) must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
  • Visa-free and visa holders alike may stay no more than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together.
  • Entry/Exit System: on your first crossing since EES started, border officers record your passport data, a facial image and fingerprints; passports are no longer stamped since 10 April 2026.
  • Visa applicants need travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with at least EUR 30,000 cover, including emergency care and repatriation.
  • Visitors paying their own way must be able to show at least CHF 100 per day of stay (cash, cards, traveller's cheques or a guarantee).
  • Switzerland is not in the EU but applies Schengen rules, EES and (once launched) ETIAS.

Recent changes

  • October 2025: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) began a phased rollout at external borders on 12 October 2025.
  • April 2026: EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaced manual passport stamping for short-stay non-EU visitors.
  • July 2025: the European Commission set the future ETIAS fee at EUR 20 instead of EUR 7; ETIAS itself has not launched.

Official source: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) - entry and visa · Not yet confirmed officially: Swiss official warning about look-alike visa sites

Do I need a visa for Switzerland?

Entry requirement Choose a passport and a destination.

Popular passports

PassportRequirementStay
United States Visa-free 90 d
United Kingdom Visa-free 90 d
India Visa required –
Philippines Visa required –
Nigeria Visa required –
Pakistan Visa required –
Canada Visa-free 90 d
Australia Visa-free 90 d
China Visa required –
Germany Visa-free –

Access by passport region

Passports that enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or an eTA.

RegionPassports
Europe 43/45
Asia 12/50
Africa 2/54
North America 18/23
South America 8/12
Oceania 10/14

Switzerland is in the Schengen area: visa-free visitors may stay 90 days in any 180-day period across all Schengen countries. Calculate your remaining days.

Passports that can enter Switzerland visa-free

93 passports

Passports that need a visa for Switzerland

105 passports

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to visit Switzerland?

It depends on your passport. 93 passports can enter Switzerland visa-free, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 need an eTA, 0 can apply for an e-Visa online and 105 need a visa from an embassy or visa centre.

Which countries can enter Switzerland without a visa?

93 passports can enter Switzerland visa-free, including Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados and others.

Is Switzerland part of the Schengen area?

Yes. Short stays in Switzerland count toward the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared across all Schengen countries.

Holding a Switzerland passport? See where the Switzerland passport can travel visa-free.

Data last updated February 2026. Rules can change at short notice and may differ by purpose of travel. Confirm with the embassy or official immigration website of Switzerland before you book.