Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, holders of a biometric passport, do not need a visa for a stay in Switzerland  for a maximum duration of 3 months for visit, tourism and business purposes exclusively in a period of six months.

The following information is valid for Bosnian citizens, holders of an "old", "non-biometric" passport, living in Bosnia and Herzegovina who wish to travel to Switzerland and/or to the Principality of Liechtenstein for a maximum duration of 3 months for visit, tourism and business purposes exclusively.

• If you wish to make a visa application for a family reunification, please refer to the Section "Visa for family reunification".
• If you wish to apply for another type of visa (studies, sport competition, work, etc...) or if you are not citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, please refer to the Section "Visa for other purposes".

1. Documents to be submitted

• visa application form duly filled in, dated and signed by the applicant – the application form is free of charge and can be obtained at the counter of the Embassy or downloaded Visa Application;
• original national passport, which has to be valid for at least 3 months after the planned return from Switzerland;
• a photocopy of the passport (only page/s with personal data);
• one recent passport-sized photograph of good quality.

2.1 Business visa

• Original invitation letter from the Swiss firm together with a recent abstract (not older than 6 months) of its inscription in the Swiss commercial register (Handelsregisterauszug / extrait du registre du commerce / registro di commercio). The invitation letter has to be sent directly to the embassy by the Swiss firm by fax +387 33 570 120 or by post;
• If health insurance is not provided by the Swiss or BiH firm (written confirmation): health insurance for the duration of the stay in Switzerland is obligatory;
• For firm owners: copy of the BiH commercial register or work permit;
• For employees: confirmation of work by the employer in BiH, job-booklet (original and copy) and form M2 (original and copy);
• For truck drivers: the same documents as for employees (see above) together with BiH driving licence or international driving license (original and copy);
• For bus drivers: the same documents as for truck drivers (see above) together with a copy of the concession that the employer holds.

2.2 Tourist visa / visit visa

• Invitation letter from the host with a copy of the Swiss permit (B/C) or Swiss passport copy
• Family list legalised by the municipal administration (original);
• For owners of houses or flats: copy of registration or confirmation of ownership;
• For landowners: legalised copy of the land register of BiH;
• For firm owners: firm registration or work permit;
• For employees: confirmation of work by the BiH firm, job-booklet (original and copy) and form M2 (original and copy);
• For pensioners: latest payment slip from the pension’s fund (original and copy);
• For the unemployed: confirmation by the employment office
• For applicants who finance their stay in Switzerland themselves: statements of the personal bank accounts of the last 3 months (originals and copies);
• For university students: confirmation of the faculty (original) and study-booklet (original);
• For pupils: confirmation of the school (original);
• For children under 18 years of age who travel alone or with only one parent: approval by both the parents legalised by the court (original) or approval of the parent who does not accompany the child.
• Health insurance: in order to avoid your host in Switzerland having possible financial difficulties in case of an accident or an illness (up to 30’000.- EUR), it is mandatory  to contract a health and travel insurance policy for the duration of your stay in Switzerland.

If the host in Switzerland bears the cost of the visit: the applicant gets a “Declaration of sponsorship” (Verpflichtungserklärung/ Déclaration de prise en charge/ Dichiarazione di garanzia ), which has to be filled in and sent to the host in Switzerland. The host then has to sign this “Declaration of sponsorship” and to submit it to the competent Swiss cantonal or communal authority for approval; the visa can be issued approx. 10 days after this approval (average duration of the whole procedure: 4 to 6 weeks).

2.3 Transit visa

• Necessary visa(s) and/or documents allowing the entry into the destination country (original and copy);
• Tickets or confirmed reservations for the travel by plane, bus or train. For transit by car: driving licence and motor vehicle registration certificate (original and copy).

3. Notice

• The Embassy of Switzerland is entitled to ask for additional information if judged necessary or to refuse the issuance of a visa (please take into consideration that this information sheet is not exhaustive);
• The issuance of a business, tourist or visit visa does not allow the applicant to work or to be involved in activities that generate profits in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
• Permanent residents in an EFTA or in an EU country who hold a national passport from a state recognised by Switzerland do not need a visa to enter Switzerland for a tourist stay up to 90 days. The passport has still to be valid for at least 3 months after the planned return from Switzerland.
• The Swiss Embassy would like to stress that only the employees on the counters of the Embassy are entitled to give information on visa issues and visa processing. Other persons offering services like filling out visa application forms or any other services regarding submitting visa request, are not authorised by the Embassy. The Embassy recommends to refuse such services.

4. Visa Fee (not refundable in case of refusal)

• Visa for an adult (up to 1 year validity): 70.00 KM
• Visa for children between 6 and 12 years (up to 1 year validity): 35.00 KM
• National Swiss visa (family reunion, work permit, etc.): 118.00 KM
• Photocopy: 1.00 KM / page
• Phone calls to Switzerland (if necessary): 2.00 KM / min.

 
For any further information, please contact the Visa Section of the Embassy:

Embassy of Switzerland
Visa Section
Josipa Stadlera 15
BIH - 71000 Sarajevo

Tel.: +387 33 272 440 - from 15:00 to 16:30, Monday to Thursday (no phone information on Friday)
Fax: +387 33 570 120