Entry and residence in Switzerland for EU/EFTA nationals

You are an EU/EFTA national and hold a valid and recognised identity document. In this case you do not need a visa to enter Switzerland.

For a stay of more than 90 days, a residence permit is required from the cantonal migration office responsible for the place of residence in Switzerland. The application for a residence permit, together with the required documents, must be submitted directly in Switzerland to the competent cantonal migration office. Within 14 days of your arrival in Switzerland and before taking up employment, EU/EFTA citizens must register with their commune of residence and apply for a residence permit.

Other nationalities with Schengen residence permit

According to Swiss law (Verordnung über die Einreise und die Visumerteilung, VEV, Art. 9), third state members in possession of both a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen member state or a valid type D visa and a recognized and valid travel document are exempt from visa requirements.

Please refer to the overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality in which the visa requirements and corresponding exemptions are listed by country in alphabetical order.

For questions regarding your future residence permit in Switzerland, please contact the competent cantonal immigration authority directly.

If the above mentioned situation does not apply to you, please contact the competent Swiss representation:

Where to apply for a national visa?

Other nationalities

For other nationalities, please refer to the list on the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

SEM – Overview of ID and visa provisions according to the nationality (Annex 1, List 1: nationality)

If you are obliged to hold a visa, please submit your application in duplicate and refer to the information on the webpage:

Where to apply for a national visa?

If you are not obliged to hold a visa, you are allowed to enter Switzerland without visa. However you are obliged to register within 14 days on arrival in Switzerland at the competent cantonal authority of your place of residence.

Additional information

SEM – Stay of more than 90 days (de, fr, it)

SEM – FAQ Frequently asked question