General requirements for visa - VFS Global

Consulate General of Switzerland
General information for tourist, visit and business visa
Persons subject to visa requirements
The list of nationalities subject to a visa requirement may be consulted on the website of the Federal Office for
Migration FOM
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise/merkblatt_einreise.html
Persons who up to now have not been subject to the visa requirement
A)
Certain nationalities which previously were exempted by Switzerland are under the Schengen rules subject to the
visa requirements. These are:
Dominica, Fiji Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, St Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
South Africa, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago and Tuvalu.
B)
Holders of residence authorizations issued by the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and the United States of America
who are not nationals of the European Union or of EFTA states and were previously exempted by Switzerland are
now subject to visa requirements.
Travel insurance requirement
The following persons are exempted from the travel insurance requirement:
Holders of diplomatic passports on official journeys or in a private capacity
Holders of service or special passports on official journeys
Holders of a UN laissez-passer
Politicians on official or private journeys, who do not hold a diplomatic passport, provided that the existence
of sufficient coverage can be shown.
Spouse, family members and registered partner of a citizen of the European Union, EFTA states or Switzerland.
Validity of the visa
A short stay visa is issued for the duration of the stay in the Schengen area, but for a maximum of three months
within a period of six months.
A Swiss visa which is not expired remains valid for entry to Switzerland but it is not valid for travel within the Schengen
area.
Opening hours
The Visa section of the Consulate General of Switzerland in Dubai is open:
from 9:00 to 12:00, Sunday through Thursday, except public holidays.
Processing time
The processing time is generally two weeks for a short term visa (in some rare occasions can take up to two months).
However, please note that no visa applications will be accepted if the journey is planned in more than three months
or less than two weeks after the submission.
Requirements for tourist, visit and business visa
Visa applications must be submitted along with the following documents:

Consulate General of Switzerland
Application form
The application forms can be downloaded under the following address:
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise/visumantragsformular.html
One form per person (also valid for children in the passport of a parent).
Completely filled in and signed by the applicant (the legal guardian has to sign for underage children).
2 recent passport-sized pictures of the applicant. The picture should not be older than 6 months.
Passport
The original and a copy of the passport of the applicant with a copy of the UAE residence visa and all previous
Swiss or Schengen visas.
The passport must be valid for at least three months from the expiry date of the Schengen visa.
The passport should not have been issued more than 10 years ago.
Flight tickets
The electronic outward and return flight tickets (E-Tickets) or a well-readable copy of them.
Company letter of your employer
On a proper letterhead duly stamped and with the name and position of the signatory. Please note that even the
owner of the company needs a letter and that the applicant cannot sign his/her own letter. The letter must contain the
following information about the visa applicant: date of joining the company, position, salary and the dates of the approved
leave. The company has to guarantee the return of the applicant.
Trade license
A copy of the valid trade license.
Travel insurance
Valid for the duration of stay in the Schengen area with a coverage of CHF50 000.00.
Minors
If minors are travelling with only one of the parents, we need the written consent of the other parent along
with his/her passport copy.
Additional requirements for:
Business trips
Original invitation of the host
company in Switzerland (must
be sent directly to the applicant).
The invitation letter must
include:
The name and the passport
number of the applicant
The nature of the business.
The guarantee of bearing all
accommodation and medical
expenses
The assurance that the applicant
will return to the UAE
before the visa expires
If your sponsor is not a
Swiss company, also a hotel
confirmation, trade license
and bank statements for the
last three months are
needed
Tourists
Confirmed hotel reservation,
originals and copy.
Bank statements showing
the movements over the last
three months.
Household employees
If you intend to take servants on
your trip, please make sure that
the application is accompanied
with a proper sponsor letter, stating:
The purpose of the trip.
Who the person accompanies
The person responsible for
the costs
The assurance that the servant
will leave Switzerland.
Guarantee form duly filled
and signed
Add a copy of the employer’s
passport and Schengen
visa
PLEASE NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS MIGHT BE REQUESTED
Invited visitors
Original invitation letter (sent
directly to the applicant), including
the following or an
equivalent sentence: “I am fully
responsible for all expenses related
to the stay such as (hotel)
accommodation, transport and if
necessary medical expenses. I
am also responsible for the return
to the UAE on the expiry of
the visa.”
If the host is a Swiss citizen:
Copy of passport or ID
If the host is not a Swiss
citizen:
Copy of passport.
Copy of residence permit.
Bank statements of the last
three months.