are you planning to study in Switzerland?
here is everything you need to know about securing a Switzerland student visa!
summary
1. Students must apply for a Swiss Student Visa, long-stay Visa, and residence permit by presenting proof of enrolment into a Swiss university.
2. Students must submit the original copies of their documents, along with copies translated into either German, French, Italian, or Romansh.
3. With a residence permit (Permit B), students can stay for up to 1 year. Extension is available.
4. Students can only work while studying after staying in Switzerland for 6 months..
Switzerland Student Visa
To be eligible, you must:
Be accepted into a Swiss higher education institution with proof of enrollment.
International students who want to study in Switzerland must apply for a Switzerland Student Visa, which is a type of national Visa.
If you are staying in Switzerland for more than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit, known as Permit B.
However, you must first apply for a Switzerland long-stay Visa, also known as a National or D-Visa. This Visa is issued to third-country nationals who move to Switzerland for study and work purposes, as well as to be with family. The necessity of the D-Visa application depends on your nationality.
Exemptions
EU/EFTA students don't need a Visa. You can apply for a residence permit within 14 days of arriving in Switzerland.
You must include in your application:
- Proof of enrollment at a university.
- Health insurance.
- Proof of financial capability to pay for your living costs.
If you come from these countries, you are exempt from applying for a D-Visa: · Schengen countries. You can learn more about the countries here.
- Future Schengen member countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania)
- Andorra
- Brunei
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- Japan
- New Zealand
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Vatican City
Please note that you are still required to apply for a residence permit regardless of your nationality if you plan to stay in Switzerland for more than 90 days.
What You Need
01.
Proof of enrollment at your university
02.
Proof that you have paid for the first year of your enrollment
03.
Copies of your previous educational certificates.
04.
Personal essay. Include your future plans or professional development plans.
05.
Mandatory documents for every Swiss Visa application
06.
Application for a D-Visa (3 forms)
07.
Signed application forms
08.
A passport that is valid at least 3 months after your planned exit from Switzerland. Your passport must have at least 2 empty pages
09.
3 copies of pages 1-4 of your passport, the last page, issue, expiry page, and copies of all your previous Visas.
10.
4 passport-sized and biometric pictures.
11.
Financial proof in the form of bank statements or letter.
Note: You must provide 3 copies of your original documents and translated copies in either German, French, Italian, or Romansh.
When To Apply
International students / from outside the Switzerland:
- As the entire procedure takes some time to complete, it is advisable to schedule an application appointment 6 months prior to the commencement of your studies
Visa Application Procedure
You must apply for your Student Visa at the Swiss representation (embassy/consulate) in your country. Please refer to the following steps for your application:
- Schedule an appointment at the Swiss embassy/consulate in your country
- Download, fill in your details, and sign the application form
- Submit your form and documents to the embassy/consulate.
- Pay the Student Visa fee
Fees
*Please refer to the Swiss embassy/consulate in which you submit your Visa application, or contact [email protected] for more information.
Medical Insurance
- You must apply for a medical insurance when you apply for your Visa. The insurance must be valid for the entire duration of your stay, and cover at least €30,000 of medical expenses in all the states of the Schengen area
Duration of Stay
- With a Switzerland Student Visa/residence permit (Permit B), you can stay in Switzerland for up to 1 year. If your studies last longer than the given duration, you can extend the permit by submitting your updated financial proof.
Extended Stay
After graduating, you can apply for a residency permit (valid for 6 months) to look for a permanent job.
To apply, you must present:
- Proof of your course completion.
- Proof of your course completion.
- Proof that you are financially capable to fund your extended stay
English Language Requirements
- Your university will require proof of language proficiency, which will be sufficient for your Visa application. However, the embassy may request for a language evaluation (oral/written) in the form of a short interview at the consulate.
-
Here are common language tests (English) accepted by universities:
· IELTS Academic
· TOEFL iBT
· PTE Academic
Permit B / Biometric Card
As a student studying in Switzerland, you will receive a Swiss residence permit (Permit B) in the form of a biometric card.
To obtain your residence permit, you must:
- First receive a Swiss Student Visa to enter Switzerland
- Register your arrival within 14 days of arrival at the Residents Registration Office.
- Obtain your residence permit from the cantonal (the small territorial division of Switzerland) migration office in the location where you will be living. It can take up to 8 weeks to receive the permit
Working With A Student Visa
- You can only start working after living in Switzerland for 6 months. You must also acquire a work permit from your employer.
- As a student, you are allowed to work up to 15 hours a week (Part-time) and Full-time during the holidays.
