Application procedure

1. Persons requiring a visa must submit their visa application to the Swiss consulate that is responsible for the area where they live. Travel documents and any other requested documents which explain the reason for the journey must be submitted along with the application. The consulate homepage provides detailed information about the required documents and the relevant application forms. All documents, letters or certificates that are not in German, French, Italian or English must be submitted with a translation.
2. If the consulate requires a letter of sponsorship, the foreign visitor must complete the relevant form and submit it to the sponsor.
3. The sponsor completes and signs the form and submits it along with the required documents to the cantonal or communal authorities in charge.
4. The letter of sponsorship will be checked by the relevant cantonal or communal authorities and is entered into the Central Migration Information System.
5. The results of this check will be presented to the consulate without delay, after which the consulate will decide whether to issue the visa.

If the visa is denied, the applicant can appeal to the Federal Administrative Court in Berne within 30 days after notification by requesting the decision for a fee from the Federal Office for Migration.