Visa Requirements for Swiss Citizens

Visa requirements for Swiss nationals are the laws in place in other countries around the world that dictate if visitors from Switzerland require an authorization for entry and, if so, what type of visa or travel authorization is needed.

The Swiss passport is currently ranked by the Henley Passport Index as the 7th strongest in the world in terms of travel freedom. It grants access to over 180 countries and territories without applying for a visa in advance.

Visa requirements for citizens of Switzerland vary depending on the country. Some destinations also have different visas and travel authorizations for different purposes of visit and lengths of stay.

A number of countries have online systems that allow Swiss nationals to complete an application form via the internet in order to obtain either an electronic visa (eVisa) or an electronic travel authorization (ETA), depending on the destination.

The terms of eVisas and ETAs for Swiss citizens vary from country to country, but typically permit short visits for the purpose of tourism. They may additionally permit visit business visits and/or transit.

For long-term stays, or to live and work in the majority of countries, nationals of Switzerland must apply for the relevant visa or permit at an embassy or consulate.

Over 70 countries require Swiss passport holders to visit an embassy in order to obtain a visa for any visit, regardless of purpose or length of stay, including tourist visas for short visits.

Citizens of Switzerland can travel to certain destinations and obtain a visa on arrival. However, this can mean spending a long time standing in line at the border to apply.

For this reason, it is strongly recommended to apply online before the trip if this is a possibility for the destination.

There are a large number of countries that permit Swiss passport holders to enter visa-free for certain periods.

Some countries offer visa exemption for long stays and even for Swiss nationals who plan to move to and work in these sovereign states.

List of Visa Countries for Swiss Passport Holders

Swiss passport holders require a visa for around 130 different destinations around the world.

There are various different types of visa available to citizens of Switzerland. The type required may depend on the purpose of traveling, such as a tourist visa, business visa, student visa, transit visa, or work visa. Some general visit visas cover multiple purposes.

The terms of visas vary. The maximum period of time a Swiss national can stay depends on the destination and type of visa. In some cases, a single entry to the country is permitted, while other states have multiple-entry visas.

Electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) are available to Swiss nationals in order to visit around 30 different countries. In many cases, these cover visits for tourism, business, and transit.

Some types of visas and permits, such as residence visas and work visas, can only be obtained at foreign diplomatic missions, such as embassies.

Swiss nationals are required to obtain a tourist visa or visit visa from an embassy in order to visit around 75 different countries.

Visas on arrival are available to Swiss passport holders at the borders of over 20 countries, although in some cases these are only available at certain airports, seaports, and land border checkpoints.

See below a map showing all the countries for which citizens of Switzerland require a visa in order to enter.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization

A number of countries and territories have either an electronic visa (eVisa) or an electronic travel authorization (ETA) available to Swiss passport holders.

These online systems are similar, the main difference being that ETAs are visa waivers.

Both eVisas and ETAs for Swiss citizens feature simple online application forms that are straightforward to complete and are processed quickly (typically within a few days). The ability to apply online eliminates the need to go to an embassy to obtain a visa.

In order to obtain an eVisa or ETA, applicants from Switzerland must submit some basic personal information, passport details, and an email address. The approved eVisa or ETA will be sent to this account.

In most cases, eVisas and ETAs are digitally linked to the Swiss passport registered in the application. Some countries may ask that travelers also bring a printed copy.

An ETA or eVisa for citizens of Switzerland permits a maximum length of stay of between 14 days and 3 months, depending on the destination.

Some eVisas and ETAs grant Swiss nationals a single entry to the country, while others permit multiple entries.

Check the list below for destinations that Swiss passport holders can apply for either an eVisa or an ETA to visit.

Visa On Arrival

A visa on arrival for Swiss passport holders is a visa that can be obtained by completing an application form at the border of the destination country.

Citizens of Switzerland are eligible for a visa on arrival for over 20 different sovereign states and territories.

Visas on arrival grant Swiss visitors entry to the state or territory and a maximum stay of between 7 and 90 days, depending on the country. Some destinations have multiple-entry visas on arrival.

This type of visa generally permits visits for the purpose of tourism. Visas on arrival for certain locations additionally permit business visits, transit, and, in some cases, other purposes of visit.

Visas on arrival for Swiss nationals may only be available at some ports of entry to the country, for example at certain airports, seaports, or land border crossing points.

Long lines for application forms are common and it is not unusual to spend some time at border control before being cleared to pass through immigration.

In some countries that offer a visa on arrival for Swiss visitors, it is necessary to pay the visa fee in cash in the local currency.

Consult the list below to see all the countries where travelers from Switzerland can apply for and obtain a visa on arrival in order to enter.

Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Comoros
Guinea-Bissau
Lebanon
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mozambique
Pakistan
Palau
Samoa
Senegal
Somalia
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Get Embassy Info

Embassy Visa Required

An embassy visa or consular visa for Swiss nationals is a visa that must be obtained from an overseas diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate) belonging to the destination country before traveling there.

Embassy visas usually take the form of a stamp or sticker in the Swiss traveler’s passport or a physical document.

There are various kinds of visa that can be acquired from an embassy. Diplomatic missions are usually the only place that citizens of Switzerland can acquire residence visas and work visas or permits for the majority of other countries.

Depending on the country, applying at an embassy might be the only way to obtain business and study visas.

Around 75 different destinations require that Swiss passport holders apply at an embassy for any type or length of visit, including for short-stay tourist visas.

To apply for an embassy visa for some countries, it is necessary to make an appointment beforehand.

Swiss applicants must complete a form and provide the required supporting documents, including a valid passport.

See below the list of countries for which nationals of Switzerland must apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate, regardless of the purpose of their visit and how long they intend to stay.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antarctica
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guernsey
Iraq
Isle of Man
Jersey
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Montserrat
Nauru
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Tokelau
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required

Swiss nationals enjoy visa exemption for over 130 different countries and territories. A valid passport issued by Switzerland is the only entry requirement for these locations.

The maximum period of time that a citizen of Switzerland can spend in a foreign country visa-free ranges from 14 days to one (1) year for the majority of destinations.

In most cases, visa exemption extends to visits for tourism, leisure, transit, and, in some cases, business. However, for the majority of these destinations, the relevant visas or permits will be required for long-term stays or to move to or work in the country.

Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as well as the Schengen Area. Due to the shared policy of freedom of movement between member states of these organizations, Swiss passport holders can travel to all of these countries visa-free. In addition, no visa is required to live or work in these locations.

ID cards may be used for travel within the Schengen Area as an alternative to passports.

See below a complete list of countries for which Swiss nationals do not need a visa to visit.