Visa on appointment only

To schedule, and/or cancel appointments call the Visa Call Centre (011) 269 12 20 press 7 from Monday to Thursday, between 08:00 and 10:00 hrs. This rule is applicable to applications for all types of visa.

Remember to make an appointment in time. In peak seasons there can be a waiting list up to four weeks.

For any other visa enquiries, please dial (011) 269 12 20 press 8 from Monday to Thursday, between 14:00 and 16:00 hrs and on Fridays from 11:00 to 12:30 hrs.

Where do I apply for a visa?

For a visit to one Schengen State only, the visa application must be lodged at the Embassy/Consulate of that particular member state. If the visit includes more than one destination, visa applications must be lodged at the Embassy/Consulate of the member state whose territory constitutes the MAIN destination of the visit(s) in terms of purpose or the length of stay.

You can apply to the Swiss Embassy only if you are a resident of Sri Lanka or the Maldives and Switzerland is your only or principal destination.

How to apply for a visa

• Please note that there are different visa categories. Please find further information below under “general information” and on the link side bar on the right.
   
• Applicants are required to appear personally to lodge their visa applications. Travel agencies and other individuals cannot act on behalf of an applicant.
   
• Exception to the rule: If an applicant is a resident of the Maldives and had been issued a Schengen Visa by the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo in the past, he or she can submit the application by post. Please contact the Embassy for further instructions.
   
• Before doing so, an appointment with the Visa Section needs to be arranged: Please, call the visa call centre (011) 269 12 20 press 7.
   
• You can call from Monday to Thursday, between 08:00 and 10:00 hrs.
   
• Prepare the application as requested!
   
• Fill in the visa application form and sign it.
   
• You can obtain the application form for free at the Embassy or you can download it from the website of the Federal Office for Migration:
  
   Visa Application Forms 
   
• Enclose all required documents in original along with a set of copies.
   
• Check PDF-File “Checklist – Requirements” (click on the corresponding link on the right side of this website).
   
• Documents in Sinhalese or Tamil must be presented with an official English translation. Documents sent separately cannot be considered for application.
   
• Add a recent passport photo.
   
• Check size, colour and format.
  
   Guidelines for Passport Photos (pdf, 461 Kb) 
   
• Please note, that only complete applications can be accepted.
   
• Be aware that your entry may still be refused at Schengen border if you do not meet all the other admission requirements. A visa is just ONE of the requirements for admission into the Schengen area.

Monday-Thursday: 08:30-11:30 hrs
(only on appointment)
The visa section is closed on Fridays
as well as on weekends and on Embassy public holidays.

How long does it take to get my visa?
Processing Time:
A Schengen Visa can be applied for up to three months before the start of the intended trip. To avoid disappointment, please submit the completed visa application, with all appropriate supporting documents and copies as requested, together with the applicable visa fee, at least 4 weeks prior to the departure. In general, processing will take a minimum of 7 working days. But this process may take up to 20 working days or longer if the Embassy requires additional information or if you have to provide a "Declaration of Guarantee" of the host in Switzerland.

How much does my visa cost?
The handling fees at the Embassy are as follows (valid from 02.04.2012)

C - Short Stay Schengen Visa (up to 90 days)
Adult (from 12 years old): LKR 10'600.00
Children between 6 to 12 years old: LKR 6'300.00
Up to 6 years old: free of charge

D - Long Term or National Visa + postage (to be sent to Switzerland for decision)
Adult (from 12 years old): LKR 11'600.00
Children between 6 to 12 years old: LKR 7'300.00
Up to 6 years old: LKR 1’000.00

My visa application got refused
The possibility to appeal:
Appeal against the decision of the Embassy is to be sent to Switzerland either by the applicant through this Embassy or by the sponsor directly to the Federal Office of Migration in Bern/Switzerland. 

Please note that according to the Swiss Federal Act, the appeal procedure has changed with effect from 19.05.2010 as per the following conditions:

1. appeal must be lodged within 30 days of the decision of refusal
2. a written objection in German, French or Italian against the decision of refusal
3. new application plus 1 set of relevant documents
4. visa appeal fee will be LKR 21'800.00 plus postal fee of LKR 1’000.00 (LKR 22'800.00 in total)
5. processing time for a decision will be approximately 6 to 8 weeks

General Information

From 5th April 2010, the Visa Code took effect, harmonizing regulations between the Schengen States. You will find the General Information for Schengen Visas and the Schengen common requirements for short stay and transit visas in the link bar on the right side of this page. 

The following countries are members of the Schengen Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

A “Schengen Visa” is required to visit one or more of these Member States. This visa is valid in all Schengen States for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period for a visit, tourism or business, but not for employment or family reunification purposes.

Sri Lankan and Maldivian nationals (all type of passports' holders) are required to apply for a visa to enter the Schengen area.

Sri Lankan official passport holders will be issued a Schengen Visa, which is not valid for travelling to Denmark and Estonia.

Other nationals kindly refer to the “ID and Visa Provisions for Entry to Switzerland” found on the following link (see link on the right side of your screen).
 
Types of visa

1) Schengen Uniform Visa

It is a valid visa for the entire territory of the Schengen states, with the purpose of transit or intended stay. A uniform visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries.

Multiple-entry visas may be issued with a period of validity between six months and five years, where the following conditions are met:

• The applicant proves the need or justifies the intention to travel frequently and/or regularly, in particular due to his occupational or family status, such as business persons, civil servants engaged in regular official contacts with Member States, and EU institutions, representatives of civil society organisations travelling for the purpose of educational training, seminars and conferences, family members of citizens of the Union, family members of third-country nationals legally residing in Member States and seafarers;
   
• The applicant proves his integrity and reliability, in particular the lawful use of previous uniform visas or visas with limited territorial validity, his economic situation in the country of origin and his genuine intention to leave the territory of the Member States before the expiry of the visa applied for.

2) Airport Transit Visa

An airport transit visa shall be valid for transiting through the international transit areas of the airports situated on the territory of Member States. Maldivian travellers and Sri Lanka Diplomatic passport’s holders transiting through Member States’ airports are exempted from this requirement.

3) Long Term or National Visa (D-Visa)

The Visa type D is issued for stays that exceed the duration of three months or serve purposes such as Employment for more than eight days, family reunion, studies etc.). A D-Visa is a national visa. The application is submitted to the Embassy of Switzerland and subsequently sent to the competent cantonal authority in Switzerland for decision. As a result the procedures of the issuance of such a visa can take up to three months and in case of family reunion up to five months depending on the need of verification civil status documents.
 
Final Annotations

• Applications can be lodged earliest three (3) months before the planned trip!
• Visas are never issued on the day of application!
• The procedure of an application may take up to four weeks e.g. in peak seasons!
• In specific cases where further clarification is required the procedures may take up to 60 calendar days.
• In all cases, the fee, the application form/s, photograph/s, copies of passport/s and copies of submitted document/s will not be returned to the applicant.
• Visas once issued cannot be changed. A change requests a new application.
• A Schengen Visa recommends the entry into Schengen area, however, final approval lies within the competence of Border Control. A visa recommends the entry it does not guarantee it.