Switzerland Transit Visa for Indians

Yes, you can apply for a Switzerland transit visa online. However, you need to submit your visa application in person at the nearest Visa Application Center.

Moreover, other necessary formalities, like biometric screening, need to be completed offline, too. In short, the Switzerland visa application is both online and offline.

No, at present, Switzerland does not offer visa-on-arrival services to Indian passport holders. Thus, if you are planning to visit Switzerland for tourism or your layover is more than 24 hours, then it is advised that you apply for a Switzerland tourist visa well in advance.

You can enter the country with valid visa permission, and the inability to present proper travel documents can lead to severe consequences.

The Switzerland airport transit visa, also known as an A-visa, is the only transit visa category issued to people who want to travel from Switzerland to any non-Schengen destination. It is issued if you plan to leave the international airport's transit zone and is valid for only 24 hours.

If you plan to stay in Switzerland for more than 24 hours, then you need to apply for a regular tourist visa.

Step 1: Visit the official VFS Global website.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on the “Apply for a Visa” tab to proceed with the visa application.

Step 3: Now, select the type of visa you want to apply for and fill out the application form.

Step 4: After filling out the application, you need to apply to book an appointment with your Visa Application Center (VAC).

Step 5: Once the appointment is made, you need to pay the visa application fees. You can do this at the VFS centre.

Step 6: Visit the Visa Application Center (VAC) with your completed application form for submission.

Step 7: Now you need to wait for your visa application processing, and in the meantime, you can check the status of your application online.

Step 8: Once your visa is approved, you will receive a notification mail. Then, you can go to the visa centre and collect the documents or have them delivered via post (charges applied).

Indian Passport: You must have a valid Indian passport with you to apply for a Switzerland visa or travel to any foreign destination. It is a government-authorised document that permits Indian nationals to travel internationally and acts as their identification card in foreign countries. Your passport must have a validity of at least 6 months.

Visa Documentations: You must present confirmed valid visa documents for the destination country you are transiting to from Switzerland.

Passport Photograph: Provide your recent coloured passport-size photograph as per the required photo specifications.

Proof of Identity: You have to provide identification documents like an Aadhar card, PAN card, and voter ID card when you apply for transit visa Switzerland.

Financial Documents: Financial documents like bank statements, credit card statements, and salary slips are required to prove your financial ability to support your foreign trip.

Travel Details: You need to provide detailed information on your travel itinerary. It includes the number of days of your trip, transit stops, destination country, activities to do in the destination country, and confirmed accommodation details.

Note: Visa fee rates are subject to change as per the latest government policies and currency exchange rates. To get the latest information on visa fees, please visit the official website of the Switzerland Embassy in India before proceeding.

The transit visa Switzerland processing time is 10 working days from the day your transit visa application reaches the Switzerland Embassy or Consulate (excluding the transportation time).

However, the mentioned processing time can change depending on several factors, such as slow processing, wrong document submission, technical issues, etc. Thus, it is always advisable to apply for a transit visa well in advance.

Once you land at the Switzerland International Airport, head to the International Transit Zone. There, you need to present your travel documents, such as your Indian passport, confirmed tickets, and visa for the destination country, as well as your Switzerland transit visa, if applicable.

The officer will verify all your documents along with the Switzerland transit visa for Indians. Thus, keep all the documents ready with you.

Once the verification is done, you can wait in your designated International Transit Zone for your connecting flight.

Switzerland is a part of the Schengen area, and like any other Schengen country, you must have travel insurance for Switzerland, too. Having adequate travelling insurance is a compulsory requirement to get a visa for Switzerland. However, its important goes beyond the mandatory requirement as it also protects your journey.

Travel insurance is a safety net that provides you with financial protection and assistance during any emergency while you are in a foreign country.

You can check out Tata AIG overseas travel insurance, which includes benefits like COVID-19 protection, cover for delayed baggage and delayed flights, medical emergency coverage and cover for trip cancellation.

So, while you are applying for a visa, make sure to check your travel insurance. It is especially true if your destination country is Spain or the USA, where having travel insurance Spain or the USA is mandatory.

• If you plan to leave the Switzerland International Transit zone or have to transit between two Switzerland airports within the country, you need to apply for a Switzerland transit visa for Indians.

• The validity of a Switzerland transit visa is 24 hours. If your connecting flight gets delayed or cancelled, you must apply for a regular visa to stay in the country.

• You must always carry all your necessary travel documents, such as an Indian passport, visa documents for the destination country, tickets to the destination country, etc.

• To get a Switzerland transit visa for Indian citizens, you must apply for it before your trip and fulfil all the necessary formalities, such as filling out the application form, paying the fees, and keeping all the documents ready.