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Switzerland Visa Application 2021 & Requirement
Brief History Of Switzerland
The population of the country is currently at 8,508,898 with an area of 41,285 km2. Currently, it does not have an official capital, however, the city of Bern is its de jure capital. Zurich and Geneva have proven to be the largest cities in the country, having economic centers. Switzerland is a wealthy and orderly country. Its mountain-walled valleys are far more likely to echo the music of a local rock band than a yodel or an alphorn.
The majority of Switzerland’s indigenes live in towns and cities, not in the idyllic rural landscapes that captivated the world through Johanna Spyri’s Heidi (1880–81), the country’s best-known literary work. Switzerland cities have emerged as international centers of industry and commerce connected to the larger world, this is however a very different tenor from Switzerland’s isolated, more inward-looking past. This is as a result of its longevity to be stabilized and guarded neutrality.
An invisible line separates historically Protestant from historically Roman Catholic districts, while the tall mountains of the St.Gotthard Pass separate northern from southern Europe and their diverse sensibilities and habits. Regardless, Switzerland has forged strength from all these differences, creating a peaceful society in which individual rights are carefully balanced against community and national interests.
The European Free Trade Association Switzerland is a founding member; however, it is not part of the European Union. It joined the Schengen Area in 2008 and since then, world travelers can enter its territory with a Schengen visa.
Switzerland Visa Entry Requirements
The visa entry requirements largely depend on the purpose of the visit. However, there are general visa requirements that are all-encompassing regardless of the purpose of your visit.
If you are an EU/EEA national, you will only need an identification document to enter Switzerland due to the common travel area of the Schengen Zone, the member states of which have abolished borders for their citizens.
However, if you are a non-EU/EEA traveler wishing to visit Switzerland, you will need to present the following, when you show up at the Swiss port of entry:
An International Passport
An international passport is really important whenever you plan on going to another country, therefore the need to have it when entering the swiss borders. The passport is a document that has a piece of brief information about you and must have been issued to you in the last 10 years of entry into the Swiss borders. In addition to that, valid for at least three more months beyond your planned date of exit from Schengen. You should have photocopies of current and previous passports/other travel documents.
A Visa
Getting a visa has to be up there when gathering your important documents. However, getting a visa has to do with a whole lot of documentation and careful preparation as if not done carefully and on time the applicant might not be given the visa.
Below are documents needed to get a visa;
Switzerland Visa Application Form
The visa application form is to be downloaded and filled completely and truthfully. Once that is done, the form is then signed and taken to the embassy personally amongst other documents.–Advertisements–
Passport Photograph
The two most recent passport photographs are needed on the form during the submission of the documents. The passport photograph should really display your face in the photograph. No headgear, goggles, makeup, facial mask, or anything that will hide/cover the face is required in the passport photograph. Also, the picture should be on a white background with light lightings.
Medical Insurance
The travel medical insurance that is valid for the entire duration of your stay will be asked of you. It should be able to cover 30,000 of the medical expenses in all the member states of the Schengen area.
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of accommodation for the entirety of your stay in Switzerland is required, whether that’s through hotel bookings, an invitation from your host, or evidence of a pre-paid tour.
Cover Letter
In this letter, you are to state the reasons why you want to travel to Switzerland, and how long you intend on staying there. In addition to those, you will be required to state how you intend to stay there, who is sponsoring the trip, and the relationship you have with the sponsor if any. Also, proof that you intend to return to your country after the duration you gave elapses.
Flight itinerary
The flight itinerary is a document that shows the flight numbers, as well as the exit and entry dates from/into Switzerland.
Proof of Funds
The Swiss authorities need to be convinced that you will be able to cater for yourself during your stay there. A minimum of 100 CHF or €92.34 per day is required of you, this will help during your stay in Switzerland.
The amount is relatively lowered to 30 CHF or €27.70 a day for students only.
Documents Needed According To Your Employment Status
Applicants who are employed, self-employed, or students are to provide the following;
For the employed, you must provide:
- A copy of your employment contract.
- Bank statement of the past 6 months.
- No-objection certificate from the employer. This is proof of the contractual obligations you have to your home country.
For self-employed applicants, you have to provide:
- A copy of your business license.
- 6 months of your company’s bank statement
- Income Tax Return (ITR).
For students, you have to provide:
- Proof of enrollment at your educational institution.
- A No Objection Letter from your university.
For retired applicants, you must provide:
- Pension statements from the past 6 months.
Do NOTE: The border police has the final say on whether or not to permit you into Switzerland. When the Swiss border officer concludes that you are no risk to Switzerland, upon checking your documents, you will be permitted to enter Switzerland, and thus the Schengen territory.
In addition, make sure that the Swiss border officer stamps your passport when you enter Switzerland. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Switzerland.
