When do Ukrainians need a visa to Switzerland and how to apply for it?

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa for a short-term stay in Switzerland, but a visa is required for work, study or long-term residence. Find out what requirements are imposed on applicants, how to apply, a list of documents, types of visas and much more useful information

Legal assistance on visa issues for Ukrainians

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For citizens of Ukraine who have a biometric passport, a visa for a short-term stay in Switzerland is not required. But if your goal is to study, work or stay for a long time, you should take care of obtaining the appropriate visa or residence permit in advance.

In this material, we explain in detail when a visa is required to travel to Switzerland, how to apply for it correctly and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

A memo for Ukrainians on the rules for leaving Ukraine and entering the EU 2025 is here. Rules for crossing the Ukrainian border are here.

How Ukrainians can move to Switzerland in 2025 read here.

Do you need a visa but don't know where to start?

Get a consultation from the lawyers of Visit Ukraine!

When do Ukrainians need a visa to enter Switzerland?

As part of the visa-free regime with the Schengen zone countries, Ukrainians with a biometric passport can stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days within 180 days without the need to apply for a visa.

However, a visa is required in the following cases:

- Long-term trips (over 90 days) – even if the purpose of the trip is not work or study.

- Working in Switzerland – for official employment, a permit and the appropriate visa are required.

- Studying at Swiss higher education institutions – a student visa is required.

- Family reunification, residence permit, business, etc.

Main types of long-term visas for Switzerland

Depending on the reason why you want to move to Switzerland and obtain a Swiss residence permit, you can apply for the following types of long-term Swiss visas:

- Study visas for Switzerland

You apply for a Swiss study visa if you want to study in Switzerland and have previously been accepted to a Swiss educational institution.

- Work visas to Switzerland

If you want to have permission to work legally in Switzerland, you need to apply for a Swiss work visa.

Read about the features of employment of Ukrainians in Switzerland in 2025 in this article.

- Visas for family reunification to Switzerland

You can apply for a Swiss visa for family reunification if you have a family member who is a citizen/permanent resident of Switzerland and you want to join them.

- Swiss retirement visa

If you are thinking about moving to Switzerland to spend your retirement years, you can do so by applying for a Swiss retirement visa.

The requirements and conditions for obtaining a particular type of visa depend on the purpose of your trip

To determine which visa is right for you and prepare the necessary package of documents, consult a visa lawyer at Visit Ukraine. This will help you avoid mistakes and speed up the process of obtaining the document.

How to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland?

Applying for a visa to Switzerland is a multi-stage process, so it is important to act in stages:

Step 1 – Determine the type of visa

Depending on the purpose of the trip, the type is selected: long-term visa (type D), national visa, work visa, student visa, etc.

Step 2 – Fill out the online application

Fill out the online application on the website: swiss-visa.ch.

Step 3 – Prepare the necessary documents

The standard list includes: a valid international passport, 2 current photos, health insurance, documents confirming the purpose of the trip, financial capacity (bank statements), confirmation of residence in Switzerland.

Read about the features of insurance for obtaining a Swiss visa here.

Step 4 – Sign up for the application

Documents for a visa to Switzerland for Ukrainians are submitted to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Bucharest (Romania), as the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine is temporarily closed.

Step 5 – Application submission and payment of fees

The application must be submitted in a timely manner, preferably 6 months and no less than 2 weeks before the planned date of travel. The visa fee depends on the type of visa.

Step 6 – Waiting for and receiving a visa

Processing time: up to 60 days, in some cases longer. Notification of readiness is sent to e-mail or through the visa center office.

If you need help obtaining a residence permit or work permit in Switzerland, please contact migration specialists for advice.

What documents are needed to obtain a visa to Switzerland?

List of basic documents to be submitted:

- Completed national visa application form.

- Valid passport, issued no more than 10 years ago, with two blank pages, valid for at least 3 months after leaving Switzerland.

- Certificate of no criminal record in the country where the applicant has lived for the last 3 years.

- Two photos – 35 by 45 mm.

- Medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros for the entire period of validity of the visa (including repatriation and hospitalization).

- Receipts for payment of the visa fee.

- Additional documents confirming the purpose of the trip (contract with the employer, letter of enrollment, documents from a family member, etc.).

- Confirmation of the provision of housing by a company or private individual, copy of the lease agreement.

- Bank statement confirming the availability of funds (for living at first).

The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents at any time.

Important! If your visa application is denied, the fee is non-refundable.

After completing the online application, you will receive an automatically generated email with a link to schedule an appointment online at a time convenient for you.

Forms and other documents must be submitted in person by the applicant at the Embassy premises on the day of your appointment.

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How can you avoid errors when applying for a visa to Switzerland?

Most refusals occur due to technical or formal errors. The most common of them are:

- Incorrectly filled out application form.

- Missing documents or errors in dates.

- Out-of-date certificates.

- Lack of financial evidence.

- Incorrectly selected visa type.

- Attempt to submit false documents.

Such errors lead to refusal of a visa application. To avoid them, carefully check all the information you indicate in the application form and make sure that the package of documents is complete. It is also important to monitor changes in migration legislation and respond to them in a timely manner.

Why should you contact Visit Ukraine lawyers when applying for a visa to Switzerland?

Applying for a long-term visa is often associated with bureaucratic difficulties, lack of up-to-date information, and the risk of refusal due to formal errors in the documents. Visit Ukraine lawyers will help you avoid common mistakes, properly prepare a package of documents and navigate all the legal nuances, especially if your situation is non-standard.

Turning to specialists is an opportunity to save time, nerves and get support at every stage of the application.

What can Visit Ukraine lawyers help with?

- Consultation on the type of visa in your situation.

- Verification of the package of documents.

- Assistance in filling out the questionnaire.

- Preparation for application.

- Support in case of refusal or appeal.

Get professional advice from Visit Ukraine lawyers to avoid mistakes and unnecessary expenses. Our experts will help you with obtaining a visa to Switzerland quickly and without stress.

As a reminder! In order to avoid trouble and confiscation when crossing the Ukrainian border, it is important to be aware and follow customs rules. We have already told you what exactly can be imported or exported to/from Ukraine, and which goods are subject to prohibitions or restrictions.

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