Published on 4 March 2026
Which documents should I submit with a national visa application?
The application will be forwarded to the competent cantonal authorities in Switzerland for a decision. The responsible representation can only issue the visa after approval by the competent authorities. The total processing time is approximately 8-12 weeks. This time is an approximation only and may vary considerably depending on the canton responsible and the elements of the application.
The responsible representation does not provide information during the procedure. Therefore, please contact the cantonal migration authority responsible for your place of residence:
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:
Detailed information can be found on the German page.