Skip to content

Switzerland visa guide

Switzerland Tourist Visa

A Schengen short-stay (type C) visa for a holiday in Switzerland: up to 90 days in any 180-day period, filed at VFS and decided by the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi.

Tourist Visa — Done For You

₹4,999all-in · GST included

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. How the refund works

What’s included

  • Complete filing — every form, every field
  • Custom cover letter (not a template)
  • Money-papers review + VFS booking
  • Refusal-trigger audit before we submit

Your file is ready to submit within 3 working days of us receiving your complete documents.

Government and VFS fees are paid to them at cost: the embassy visa fee is €90 per adult, set uniformly by the EU for all 29 Schengen states.

What you pay, line by line
Our fee
₹4,999
All-in, GST included. Paid to us.
Embassy visa fee
€90 per adult
Set uniformly by the EU for all 29 Schengen states. Paid to the embassy at cost.
VFS / appointment charge
Varies by centre
Paid to VFS (or the appointment partner) at cost.

Nothing is added to our fee. The number on the page is the number.

Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC‑3/20245.0 · 112 Google reviewsPatiala office, Nabha Road

Processing
Usually 15 calendar days once the Embassy in New Delhi has your complete file; transport time is extra and busy seasons take longer
Support
Your own consultant

Your journey with Lifeset

Switzerland visitor visa, from first message to passport back.

  1. 1Day 0Tell us your planWhatsApp or a call. A consultant asks the right questions and says plainly whether a Switzerland visitor visa is realistic for you.
  2. 2Same dayYour tailored checklistA document list for your case, not a generic one. You collect; we answer every "which one?" on WhatsApp.
  3. 3As documents arriveReview and refusal checkEvery paper is checked. Gaps in funds, ties or travel history are flagged and fixed before anything is submitted.
  4. 4Within 3 working daysFile ready, appointment bookedForms and cover letter done; your the visa centre appointment is booked, subject to the slots the centre has open.
  5. 5Appointment dayBiometrics and submissionYou attend the visa centre with a file assembled in the order the officer reads it.
  6. 6DecisionDecision receivedWe track the file to the decision. Approved: your passport comes back with the visa. Refused: our professional fee comes back under the Refund Policy and we plan the reapplication.

Side by side

Three ways to file your Switzerland tourist visa. Here is what each one includes.

  • Government licence you can verify

    Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024, District Magistrate Patiala

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • One fixed, all-in fee quoted upfront

    GST included; embassy and centre fees at cost

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Professional fee back if refused

    Under the published Refund Policy

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Refusal-trigger check before filing

    Funds, ties and history checked against the refusal reasons we see most

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Cover letter written for your case

    Not a template

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Appointment or interview booked for you

    VFS, BLS or consulate, at your nearest centre

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • Named consultant on WhatsApp till decision

    The person who reads your file is the one who answers

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset
  • GST invoice from a registered Pvt Ltd

    Pro Lifeset Overseas Pvt Ltd · GSTIN 03AAOCP3999C1Z5

    Yourself
    Agent
    Lifeset

“Varies” means it depends on the agent; ask for their licence number and refund terms in writing. The full, sourced comparison

Switzerland Tourist Visa — overview

Start here

The Switzerland tourist visa is a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) for holidays, sightseeing and private visits, valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. You download the form free from the State Secretariat for Migration, then hand in the file and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre; Chandigarh, Jalandhar and New Delhi are nearest for Punjab. The Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi decides.

VFS gives 15 calendar days as the usual processing time once the Embassy has the complete file. Switzerland's checklist is strict on form: originals on A4 with the bank's stamp, ITR-V only, the photo pasted on the form, documents in order and nothing extra.

Do Indians need a visa for Switzerland, and which one?

Yes. Switzerland is not in the European Union, but it is part of the Schengen area, so an Indian passport holder needs a Schengen short-stay visa, type C, for a holiday there. The visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period, shared across all 29 Schengen countries. It is not an e-visa: you download the application form free of charge from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), complete and sign it, and hand in the file in person at a VFS Global centre.

Swiss Schengen applications from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, as from almost every Indian state, are decided by the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi. The same Embassy handles visas for Liechtenstein, which Switzerland represents, so a trip centred on Vaduz is also filed with the Swiss.

Switzerland tourist visa at a glance

VisaPaper form from the SEM website, lodged in person
Schengen short-stay visa, type C
Longest stayAcross all Schengen countries together
90 days in any 180-day period
Who decidesFor Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi
Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi
Where you applyChandigarh, Jalandhar and New Delhi are nearest for Punjab
VFS Global
Visa feeFree under 6
€90 adult, €45 child aged 6 to under 12
Usual processingFrom the day the Embassy has the complete file
15 calendar days

Embassy of Switzerland in India, SEM and VFS Global Switzerland, checked 14 Oct 2026

A tourist visa is for leisure, sightseeing and private visits. VFS spells out that gainful professional activities, even if the work is not paid, need a work permit, and longer stays that need authorisation, such as work or family reunification, use a national (type D) visa. For the rules every Schengen state shares, see our Schengen visa guide.

Where do applicants from Punjab apply?

At VFS Global. The Embassy's own table puts Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, along with almost every other state, under the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi via VFS. Switzerland's VFS centres are in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune, all open Monday to Friday. Note that there is no Swiss centre in Gurugram, so Haryana applicants use Chandigarh or New Delhi.

There are two other doors. Family members of a Swiss, EU or EFTA citizen may apply directly at the Embassy, with a mandatory appointment booked in advance, and their visas are free. Anyone else who wants to apply in person at the Embassy rather than VFS needs a prior appointment requested by email at least one month before travel; phone requests are not entertained.

At the VFS centre:

  • Biometrics. Fingerprints and a photo are taken unless your finger scans were collected within the last 59 months; in that case VFS says personal appearance is not necessary. Children under 12 give no fingerprints.
  • Courier consent. The Embassy asks every applicant to sign a "Declaration of Consent Courier". A representative or travel agent who submits for you must bring it signed.
  • Timing. Arrive 15 minutes early. A missed appointment can be rebooked only after 24 hours.
  • Who may enter. Only applicants, caregivers and people accompanying children under 18.
  • Fingertips. Mehndi, cuts or other marks can spoil the finger scans.

For a medical emergency, a serious accident or a death in the family, the Embassy offers a fast-track appointment: write to it with the reason and your desired departure date. To see how ordinary dates are opening up, check our Switzerland appointment availability page.

Which documents depend on your situation?

The common checklist is printed further down this page. The Embassy's tourist checklist then varies the proof of money and of your job:

  • Salaried

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Original introduction letter on company letterhead, signed and stamped by HR or the directorate, with your position, length of service, a "No objection statement", and the travel dates and purpose; last 3 months' salary slips; last 3 months' statements of the account your salary is credited to; ITR-V for the last 2 assessment years
  • Self-employed or company owner

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Business registration certificate, GST registration with annex A and B, partnership deed or proof of proprietorship; last 3 months' personal bank statements; ITR-V for 2 years
  • Retired

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Personal pension bank statement for the last 3 months, and proof of regular income from property or business
  • Family travelling together

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Applications filed together; only the head of the family attaches bank statements and ITR-V, with insurance and flight bookings naming every member
  • Student above 16

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Copy of the college ID card and an introduction letter from the school, college or university
  • Child not travelling with both parents

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Consent letter of the non-travelling parent or guardian, certified by a public notary
  • Child travelling alone

    What the Swiss checklist asks for
    Consent letter of both parents or guardians, certified by a public notary

For every child, add a copy of both parents' passports, or their PAN cards or driving licences.

Switzerland's handling rules are stricter than most:

  • Originals on A4. All financial documents must be originals, in A4 format, with the bank's stamp and signature. VFS repeats that personal bank statements are accepted on A4 size only.
  • ITR-V only. For income tax, the checklist accepts only the ITR-V, the verification form or acknowledgement.
  • Exact order, no staples. Documents go in the checklist's order, unstapled. The photograph is pasted on the form, never stapled or pinned, and it must be an original print 35 to 40 mm wide, not a copy or a scan.
  • Passports. Handwritten passports and those with observations on the bio-data page are not accepted. If you carry old passports too, VFS asks you to hold them together with rubber bands, not a stapler.
  • The list is the limit. The checklist says only the documents mentioned on it are accepted, and nothing can be sent later by fax or email.

How much is the Switzerland visa fee for Indians?

The visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to under 12; under-6s pay nothing. On 14 October 2026 the VFS fee tab showed ₹9,600 and ₹4,800, plus a VFS service charge of ₹3,100 per applicant, and optional courier (₹930), SMS (₹450), both together (₹1,250) or the premium lounge (₹4,600, not offered in Jaipur, Kolkata or Jalandhar). The Embassy says the visa fee is due when you apply and is not reimbursed if you withdraw the application or it is rejected. Our filing fee is shown at the top of this page, with every service on our pricing page.

How long does it take, and when should you apply?

VFS gives 15 calendar days as the usual processing time, counted from when the Embassy receives the complete application, not from your VFS visit, and not including the time the passport spends in transport. It can take longer when the Embassy asks for more documents or an interview, and at busy times of year.

When to apply:

  • Earliest: 180 days before the trip.
  • Latest: 15 calendar days before. VFS recommends at least two weeks, and earlier ahead of holiday periods.
  • Direct at the Embassy: request the appointment by email at least one month before travel.

Do not buy non-refundable flights until the visa is in your passport. Embassy decisions are its own; VFS has no role in the processing time or the outcome.

Why do Switzerland visas get refused for Indian applicants?

The refusal comes on the EU standard form with numbered reasons. On Swiss tourist files, these are the usual ones.

Insurance that does not qualify (reason 16)

The policy must come from an insurer on the approved Indian list, give at least €30,000 per person, cover repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment, and run for the entire stay. One missing day or one insurer off the list is enough to fail.

Money that does not add up (reason 3)

The SEM says visitors staying at their own expense must show at least CHF 100 per day of stay. The officer checks that the salary account statements, salary slips and ITR-V tell the same story. A big deposit just before applying, with no paper behind it, works against you.

A plan that does not hang together (reasons 2 and 10)

The flight reservation, hotel confirmations, introduction letter and form must carry the same dates and purpose. If most of the trip is in Italy or France, Switzerland is not the right country to apply to.

Doubts that you will return (reason 13)

The introduction letter is Switzerland's main test of your ties: position, length of service and an explicit no objection statement, signed and stamped by HR. Add property, family and business in India. A first trip abroad with a thin letter reads weakly.

Gaps you cannot fix later

The checklist accepts only the documents it lists and nothing by fax or email afterwards. The Embassy can ask for more, but you cannot top up a weak file once it is lodged. Complete it before the appointment.

Each numbered reason is explained on our Schengen refusal reasons page.

Tips for a stronger file

  • Get the introduction letter right. Company letterhead, original, signed and stamped by HR or the directorate, with your position, length of service, the no objection statement, dates and purpose.
  • Use the salary account. File statements of the account your salary actually reaches, as A4 originals with the bank's stamp and signature.
  • Print the ITR-V. Not the computation or the full return: the verification form or acknowledgement, for two assessment years.
  • One set of dates. Form, flight reservation, hotel confirmations, insurance and introduction letter should match day for day.
  • Name everyone. Flight reservations and family insurance must list every traveller by name.
  • Paste the photo. Glue it to the form. A stapled or scanned photo is refused at the counter.
  • Follow the order. Lay the file out exactly as the checklist runs, without staples.
  • Budget the days. The SEM's CHF 100 per day figure gives you a simple test of whether your balance covers the trip.
  • Insurance first. Buy from the approved list early, and check the insurer's age band for older travellers. More in our Schengen travel insurance explainer.

Can you appeal a Swiss visa refusal?

Yes. The SEM explains that an appeal against a visa refusal is made in writing, in German, French or Italian, with a statement of grounds, within 30 days of receiving the refusal. You, or an authorised representative such as your host in Switzerland, send it to the SEM in Bern-Wabern; without a proxy in Switzerland, you can hand it to a Swiss representation abroad. The SEM confirms receipt and asks for an advance on costs of CHF 200, payable within 30 days.

An appeal argues that the Embassy got it wrong on the file you gave. If the refusal came from a missing or weak document, a new application with the gap fixed is usually faster. Check the dates on your refusal letter with our refusal deadline tool, and see the Switzerland country page for the other Swiss visas.

Official sources

Documents you need

14 items
  • Passport

    Issued within the last 10 years, valid 3 months after your return, two blank pages. Handwritten passports or observations on the bio-data page are not accepted.

  • Photograph, pasted on the form

    White background, under 6 months old, 35 to 40 mm wide, an original print. Stapled, pinned, copied or scanned pictures are not accepted.

  • Application form

    Free from the SEM website, completed and signed. For a minor, signed by the legal guardians, with proof of custody where needed.

  • Introduction letter from your employer

    Original on letterhead, signed and stamped by HR or the directorate, with position, length of service, a no objection statement, travel dates and purpose.

  • Travel insurance from the approved list

    At least €30,000 per person, covering medical repatriation, urgent care and hospital treatment for the entire Schengen stay.

  • Flight reservation

    With the names of all travellers, plus intra-Schengen flights, train itinerary or car rental where relevant.

  • Proof of accommodation

    Hotel confirmations, package tour bookings or advance payments for the stay in Switzerland and other Schengen states.

  • Salary slips and bank statements

    Employed: last 3 months' salary slips and statements of the salary account, as A4 originals with the bank's stamp and signature.

  • ITR-V

    The Income Tax Return Verification Form or Acknowledgement for the last 2 assessment years. No other tax document is accepted.

  • Self-employed or company owner

    Business registration, GST registration with annex A and B, partnership deed or proprietorship proof, 3 months' personal statements and ITR-V.

  • Retired

    Personal pension bank statement for the last 3 months and proof of regular income from property or business.

  • Families travelling together

    Applications go in together; the head of the family attaches bank statements, ITR-V, insurance and flight bookings naming every member.

  • Students and minors

    Students above 16: college ID copy and institution letter. Children not travelling with both parents: notarised consent, plus parents' passport, PAN or licence copies.

  • Declaration of Consent Courier

    Signed by the applicant, as the Embassy requires. A representative or travel agent must bring it signed.

What it costs

All-in
Our fee
₹4,999
All-in, GST included. Paid to us.
Embassy visa fee
€90 per adult
Set uniformly by the EU for all 29 Schengen states. Paid to the embassy at cost.
VFS / appointment charge
Varies by centre
Paid to VFS (or the appointment partner) at cost.

Nothing is added to our fee. The number on the page is the number.

Item

Amount

Schengen visa fee (adult)

₹9,600 on the VFS fee tab (checked 14 Oct 2026). Due at submission; not refunded if you withdraw or are refused.

€90

Schengen visa fee (child aged 6 to under 12)

₹4,800 on the VFS fee tab (checked 14 Oct 2026). Children under 6 pay no visa fee.

€45

VFS service charge

Per applicant, GST included.

₹3,100 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Courier return (optional)

Your passport couriered back to you.

₹930 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

SMS updates (optional)

Status messages from VFS.

₹450 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

SMS and courier combo (optional)

Both services together.

₹1,250 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Premium lounge (optional)

Not offered in Jaipur, Kolkata or Jalandhar.

₹4,600 (checked 14 Oct 2026)

Appeal against a refusal (SEM advance on costs)

Only if you appeal, within 30 days of the refusal. Payable within 30 days of the SEM's request.

CHF 200

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

How long it takes

Timing
  • The embassy’s decision: Usually 15 calendar days once the Embassy in New Delhi has your complete file; transport time is extra and busy seasons take longer This is the visa post’s timeline, not ours.
  • Our part: Your file is ready to submit within 3 working days of us receiving your complete documents.

Refusal rate for Indians

2025 data

In 2025, 13.6% of Indian applications to Switzerland were not issued a visa. It is a national figure, not a prediction for your file. Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund.

Source: European Commission visa statistics, as reported by the Free Press Journal, 30 May 2026.

How the process works

6 steps

Typical processing: Usually 15 calendar days once the Embassy in New Delhi has your complete file; transport time is extra and busy seasons take longer

  1. Step 1

    Check that Switzerland is your main destination

    Count the days. If most of the trip, or its main purpose, is in another Schengen state, apply there instead.

  2. Step 2

    Download the form and build the file

    Get the free form from the SEM website, then collect documents in the exact order of the Embassy's tourist checklist, unstapled.

  3. Step 3

    Book a VFS appointment

    Choose Chandigarh, Jalandhar or New Delhi on the VFS Switzerland site, and arrive 15 minutes early on the day.

  4. Step 4

    Submit, pay and give biometrics

    Hand in the file with the signed courier consent, pay the visa fee and VFS charge, and give fingerprints unless taken in the last 59 months.

  5. Step 5

    Wait for the Embassy's decision

    Usually 15 calendar days once the Embassy has the complete file. Answer any request for documents or an interview promptly.

  6. Step 6

    Receive the passport and check the visa

    Check the name, dates, entries and days of stay on the sticker before you buy final tickets.

Frequently asked questions

14 answers
  • The SEM gives a figure: visitors who stay in Switzerland at their own expense must be able to show at least CHF 100 per day of their stay. The Embassy then checks how you show it: the last three months' statements of the account your salary is credited to, as A4 originals with the bank's stamp and signature, plus salary slips and ITR-V for two assessment years. Steady income reads better than a sudden deposit.

  • Yes, for employed and self-employed applicants, and only in one form. The Swiss checklist accepts only the ITR-V, the Indian Income Tax Return Verification Form or Acknowledgement, for the last two assessment years. Retired applicants give a pension bank statement for the last three months and proof of income from property or business instead. In a family file, only the head of the family attaches the ITR-V.

  • Yes. VFS Global runs Swiss visa centres in both cities, open Monday to Friday, and the Embassy's own table lists Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi under the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi via VFS. There is no Swiss centre in Gurugram, so Haryana applicants usually go to Chandigarh or New Delhi. The premium lounge service is not offered in Jalandhar.

  • Usually not. The decision is made on the papers you hand in at VFS. The Swiss checklist does say the Embassy reserves the right to ask for additional documents and for a personal interview. If it asks, respond quickly, because processing pauses until it has what it needs.

  • Up to 180 days before travel, and no later than 15 calendar days before. VFS recommends applying at least two weeks ahead and even earlier before holiday periods, when processing slows. If you want to apply directly at the Embassy instead of VFS, request the appointment by email at least one month before travel.

  • Only a policy from an insurer on the approved list of Indian travel insurers. It must give at least €30,000 per person, cover repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment, and run for the entire stay in the Schengen territory. For a six-month or one-year multiple-entry visa, a policy covering the first trip is enough.

  • Yes, if your fingerprints are already on record. VFS says that if your finger scans were collected within the last 59 months, personal appearance is not necessary. The Embassy asks every applicant to sign a Declaration of Consent Courier, and a representative or travel agent who submits for you must bring it signed. First-time applicants attend in person for biometrics.

  • No. The Swiss checklist states that only the documents mentioned on it are accepted, and that required documents must come with the application, not later by fax or email. The Embassy can ask you for more, or call you for an interview, but your own file should be the checklist, complete and in order.

  • You need reservations, not purchases. The checklist asks for a flight reservation with the names of all travellers, any intra-Schengen flight, train or car rental, and proof of accommodation such as hotel confirmations, a package tour or advance payments. Avoid non-refundable tickets until the visa is in your passport.

  • Yes. A Swiss type C visa is a Schengen visa, valid across the Schengen area unless the sticker limits it, within the 90 days in any 180. Liechtenstein is represented for visas by Switzerland, so applications for it go to the Swiss Embassy too. Apply to Switzerland only if it is your main destination by days or purpose.

  • Only through the canton. The SEM says that to extend a visa you contact the immigration authorities of the canton where you are staying, and it reminds visitors that they are generally allowed a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. Plan the whole trip inside the visa you ask for.

  • You can appeal or reapply. The SEM says an appeal is made in writing, in German, French or Italian, with a statement of grounds, within 30 days of receiving the refusal, sent to the SEM in Bern-Wabern by you or an authorised representative, or handed to a Swiss representation. The SEM then asks for an advance on costs of CHF 200. If a document was missing, a corrected new application is often faster.

  • No. VFS states that gainful professional activities, even if the work is not financially rewarded, require a work permit, not a Schengen visitor or business visa. A tourist visa covers holidays, sightseeing and private visits for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

  • Yes. Family members of a Swiss, EU or EFTA citizen are entitled to submit the application directly at the Embassy of Switzerland, with an appointment booked in advance, and the Embassy issues visas for family members of EU and EFTA citizens free of charge. You will need proof of the family relationship and of the citizen's nationality.

Going it alone vs filing with us

Why it matters

On your own

  • Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
  • Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
  • No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
  • Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
  • A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

  • An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
  • A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
  • Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
  • Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
  • Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.

A refusal isn't the end

Refused before?

A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a Switzerland visa has been refused, we:

  • Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
  • Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
  • Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
  • Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.

Visa refused? Our consultancy fee is refunded under the Refund Policy. Embassy and VFS fees are never ours to refund. Read the refund policy

Your Lifeset team

Licensed in Punjab · Based in Patiala

Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll help you understand your options and the fee before you decide.

Prefer us to call you?

Leave your number and travel plans

Let’s talk about your visit to Switzerland.

Leave your number and travel plans. Our team will contact you to discuss your next steps.

Call or WhatsApp me about this enquiry. We never sell your details.

Other Switzerland visas

Licence No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · DM Patiala

Talk to a licensed consultant before you spend a rupee.

Tell us your destination and situation. We will say plainly whether the visa is realistic, what it costs all-in, and what could get it refused. Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM.