Switzerland is part of the European Schengen visa scheme. Applicants residing in West Africa who wish to enter Switzerland require a visa.

The visa section of the Swiss Embassy in Abidjan is competent for the visa for all applicants residing in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone.

Abidjan visa section working hours:

• Submission of visa applications:
  Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 12:00
• Visa collection:
  Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 09:30 to 10:00
• Phonecalls for further information:
  Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 13:30 to 16:00

Processing time: 

The visa application has to be submittet at least three months before the expected departure. Processing time:

• for short stay visas (max 90 days): up to 15 days, in certain cases even more;
• for long stay and short stay work visas: minimum 8 - 12 weeks 

Visa applicants have to apply in person at the Swiss Embassy in Abidjan; with the following exceptions:

• Applicants residing in Burkina Faso and Liberia (official and ordinary passport)
• Applicants residing in Guinea and Sierra Leone (official passport)
• All applicants that received a Schengen visa from the Swiss Embassy in Abidjan in the last two years.

For the above mentioned categories, the visa applications have to be deposited at the Consular Agency of the respective country of residence. The visa application will then be sent to Abidjan for processing.

The Swiss representation does not assume any liability for the loss of documents submitted by mail.