Swiss Business Visa
Swiss business visa.
Schengen C-visa — what you need to know.
Switzerland is a Schengen Associate State. The Swiss business visa is a Schengen Type C short-stay visa, valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 27 Schengen states. EU/EFTA nationals and approximately 60 other nationalities (including US, UK, Canada) are visa-exempt. Goldblum & Partner provides invitation letters for clients visiting Zug for company formation consultations.
90 days
Max stay per 180-day period
~15 days
Processing time
Schengen area
Valid across all 27 states
60+
Visa-exempt nationalities
Schengen C-Visa
What is a Swiss business visa?
Schengen framework, 90-day rule, and key facts
Switzerland is a Schengen Associate State. The "Swiss business visa" is a Schengen Type C short-stay visa — not a distinct Swiss national visa category. It is governed by Regulation (EU) 810/2009 (Schengen Visa Code) and applied by Switzerland under the terms of the 2004 Schengen Association Agreement. A visa issued by a Swiss diplomatic mission is valid throughout all 27 Schengen states.
Schengen C-visa — key parameters
Switzerland is a Schengen Associate State. The "Swiss business visa" is a Schengen C-visa issued by Swiss diplomatic missions. It is valid throughout all 27 Schengen states, not only in Switzerland. Legal basis: Regulation (EU) 810/2009 (Schengen Visa Code) + AIG Art. 5 + VZAE Art. 4.
The 180-day period is rolling, not calendar-based. Count back 180 days from any given day: the total Schengen-area days in that window must not exceed 90. All Schengen states count — not only days spent in Switzerland.
Applications are submitted at the Swiss diplomatic mission in the applicant's country of residence or lawful stay. FDFA (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) operates the consular network. Biometrics (fingerprints + photograph) are collected at first application.
The Swiss embassy normally processes Schengen visa applications within 15 calendar days of receipt of a complete application file. During peak periods, processing may extend to 30 days. Applicants should apply well in advance of travel.
The Schengen visa fee is set by the Schengen Visa Code fee schedule and applied uniformly across Swiss diplomatic missions. The standard fee is EUR 80 for adults. Reduced fees or waivers apply in certain cases (minors, diplomatic/service passport holders). Verify current fee at sem.admin.ch.
Schengen Visa Code Art. 15 requires proof of travel and medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen Area with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000. Note: the Visa Code denomination is EUR, not CHF. The insurance must cover the entire intended period of stay.
A Schengen C-visa (and a visa-exempt short stay) both prohibit employment, self-employment, or any remunerative activity in Switzerland. Violation is subject to administrative removal and entry ban. Employer sanctions: up to CHF 1,000,000 (AIG Art. 117). Working in Switzerland requires a residence permit B.
SEM is the federal authority responsible for Swiss immigration and visa policy. The cantonal migration offices (Migrationsamt) are the first-instance authorities for residence permit applications, but short-stay Schengen visas are processed by Swiss diplomatic missions under SEM oversight.
Nationalities that do NOT need a visa
- All EU/EEA member-state nationals (bilateral free movement — no time limit for short stays)
- United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea
- United Kingdom (bilateral CH–UK agreement — 90 days visa-free post-Brexit)
- Switzerland is Schengen-associated: the SEM exemption list mirrors the EU Schengen exemption regulation
- ETIAS pre-travel authorisation (launching 2025/2026): visa-exempt non-EU nationals including US and UK citizens will need ETIAS before each Schengen trip (VERIFY launch date)
- Verify current exemption status for UAE, Qatar, and other GCC nationals at sem.admin.ch — some GCC countries have been added to the Schengen exemption list in recent years
Nationalities that do need a Swiss business visa
Nationals of countries not on the Schengen visa-exemption list must apply for a Schengen C-visa at the Swiss embassy or consulate in their country of residence before travelling. This includes most South Asian, Southeast Asian, African, and some Middle Eastern nationalities. Check the current exemption list at sem.admin.ch — the list is updated periodically as Switzerland follows the EU's Schengen exemption regulation.
Key Data
Swiss Business Visa — At a Glance
Entry visa for business meetings and short-term activities
90 days
Maximum stay (Schengen)
Within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.
Schengen
Visa type
Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area — one visa covers most of Europe.
15+ days
Processing time
Apply at the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
Required
For non-Schengen nationals
EU/EEA and some other nationals may enter visa-free for short business visits.
Required Documents
Swiss business visa application
documents checklist
Required documents — standard list
Valid passport
Valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended stay, issued within the past 10 years, with at least 2 blank pages
Completed Schengen visa application form
Signed by the applicant; forms available at the Swiss embassy or online at sem.admin.ch
Biometric photograph
Passport-size photo, white background, taken within the last 6 months — or biometrics collected in person at the mission
Invitation letter from Swiss company
On company letterhead, signed by an authorised signatory, specifying the purpose of visit, dates, and confirming financial responsibility or that the applicant is self-funding. Goldblum & Partner issues invitation letters for clients visiting for company formation consultations.
Proof of hotel or accommodation booking
Hotel confirmation or accommodation letter for the full duration of stay
Travel and medical insurance
EUR 30,000 minimum coverage, valid throughout the Schengen Area (Schengen Visa Code Art. 15)
Return flight booking
Confirmed round-trip ticket demonstrating intent to return to the country of residence
Bank statements
Three months of bank statements demonstrating sufficient funds to cover the stay. Swiss authorities do not publish a per-day figure — adequate coverage for accommodation, transport, and daily expenses is the standard.
Proof of employment or business ownership
Employment letter from current employer or business registration documents if self-employed in the home country. Establishes ties to the country of residence.
Clean criminal record
Police clearance certificate from the country of residence, typically required by Swiss missions for stays longer than 30 days
Permitted activities on a Swiss business visa
- Attending business meetings, negotiations, and contract signings (as representative of a foreign entity)
- Attending conferences, seminars, symposia, and trade fairs
- Site inspections and due diligence visits
- Client and investor meetings
- Short-term training provided by a Swiss company (provided it does not constitute employment)
- Product demonstrations and client presentations
- Company formation consultations — attending notarial appointments for Swiss AG or GmbH incorporation
- Banking and compliance onboarding visits
Not permitted on a Schengen business visa
- xEmployment in Switzerland (any remunerative work)
- xSelf-employment or freelance work for Swiss clients
- xActing as a director or officer of a Swiss company in a salaried capacity
- xPerforming services under a Swiss service contract
- xAny activity that generates income from Swiss sources
Long stay (90+ days): the national D-visa pathway
If you intend to stay in Switzerland for more than 90 days — for example, to oversee the incorporation of a Swiss company, attend extended banking onboarding, or begin working as a director — you require a national D-visa (long-stay visa, Type D) rather than a Schengen C-visa. The D-visa is issued by Swiss diplomatic missions and is a precursor to the Swiss residence permit B. It does not by itself authorise gainful employment — work authorisation is part of the B permit application processed by the cantonal migration office and SEM.
FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Precise answers to the most common questions about forming a company in Switzerland. For specific advice on your structure, book a free consultation.
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Baarerstrasse 25 · 6300 Zug · Switzerland · Est. 2007