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.

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.

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, foreign citizens must register with their commune of residence and apply for a residence permit.

Entry into Switzerland for Belgium, Dutch and Luxembourg citizens

As part of the visa-free traffic Belgium, Dutch and Luxembourg citizens are entitled to enter Switzerland for tourist reasons up to 90 days in a period of 180 days with the following travel documents: 

• valid passport or passport expired for less than five years
• valid identity card 

Attention: airlines as well as bus companies usually require valid travel documents.

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 apply for it and refer to the information on the webpage:

Where to apply for a Schengen visa?

If you are not obliged to hold a visa, you are allowed to enter Switzerland resp. the Schengen territory and stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period without any visa.

Additional information

SEM – FAQ Frequently asked questions