Since 12 December 2008 Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Treaty.

The territory covered by the Schengen Treaty contains the following states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

• Lativan citizens, holders of a Latvian passport 
• Latvian non-citizens, holders of a Latvian “alien’s passport” 
• Lithuanian citizens, holders of a Lithuanian passport  
• Estonian citizens, holders of an Estonian passport
• Foreign citizens with residence in Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia, holders of a permanent or temporary residence permit

are allowed to enter Switzerland without visa, regardless of the reason of their stay, for a maximum stay of three months.

Important note for holders of a Latvian passport: Latvian passports issued between 01.07.1992 and 30.06.2002 are no longer accepted for the entry into Switzerland.

Foreign citizens living in Latvia and holding one of the following residence permits are allowed to enter Switzerland without visa:

• Pastāvīgās uzturēšanās atļauja (permanent residence permit, green)
• Termiņuzturēšanās atļauja (temporary residence permit, pink)
• Uzturēšanās atļauja (residence permit, pink, issued since 01.05.2004)
• Nepilsoņa pase (alien’s passport, purple)

Foreign citizens living in Lithuania and holding one of the following residence permits are allowed to enter Switzerland without visa:

• Leidimas laikinai gyventi Lietuvos Respublikoje (temporary residence permit for the Republic of Lithuania - card or sticker) 
• Leidimas nuolat gyventi Lietuvos Respublikoje (permanent residence permit for the Republic of Lithuania - card) 
  Europos bendrijų valstybės narės piliečio leidimas gyventi (residence permit for the citizen of an EU-member state – card) 
• Asmens grįžimo pažymėjimas (return permit for return to the Republic of Lithuania only – bluish) 
• Akreditacijos pažymėjimas „A“ (accreditation permit category A – yellow – limited) 
• Akreditacijos pažymėjimas „B“ (accreditation permit category B – yellow – limited)

Foreign citizens living in Estonia and holding one of the following residence permits are allowed to enter Switzerland without visa:

• Tähtajaline elamisluba (Temporary residence permit)
• In case an alien, who is a family member of the citizen of the EU, applies for a residence permit to stay with his/her family member in Estonia the Citizenship and Migration Board issues a special residence permit:
  El kodaniku perekonnaliikme elamisluba (Residence permit of EU citizen family member)

Foreign nationals subject to the visa requirements and holding a valid Schengen visa will also be allowed to enter Switzerland – within the validity of the visa – as long as the visa has been issued with unrestricted validity (Schengen States). The passport has to be valid for at least three months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland.

Latvian non-citizens as well as foreign citizens of a non-EU or non-EFTA-state need a national visa for the entry into Switzerland for one of the following purposes:

• Studies in Switzerland 
• Employment in Switzerland 
• Family reunion

Visa applications have to be submitted in person. Persons without residence permit for Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia have to apply for a visa at the Swiss representation in their country of residence.

Visa Fee
The visa fee is LVL 41.50 and must be paid no matter whether the visa has been granted or not. The reimbursement of the visa fee is not possible.

In general, the following documents have to be submitted:

• A passport with a validity of at least three months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland
• 3 application forms, duly filled in and signed by the applicant
• 3 copies of the passport
• 3 recent passport photographs (in colour, size 3,5 x 4,5 cm, bright background, frontal view, face must fill 70-80% of the photograph)
• Latvian/Lithuanian/Estonian residence permit
• Diplomas and school certificates, translated into a Swiss language or English
• Curriculum Vitae, in a Swiss language or English
• Motivation letter, in a Swiss language or English
• Certificates of language courses (if available)
• Confirmation/immatriculation letter from the school or university in Switzerland
• Confirmation of payment of school tuition
• Proof of financial means (CHF 1’850.00 per month) for lodging, etc.
• A written confirmation that the student will leave Switzerland upon completion of the studies
• Oral language test at the Regional consular center Baltic States. Fee: LVL 45.00 in addition to the visa fee
• Postage fee of LVL 3.00 in addition to the visa fee

Processing time of visa application is 4 – 7 weeks.

The Regional consular center in Riga reserves the right to request additional documents.

• A passport with a validity of at least three months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland
• 3 application forms, duly filled in and signed by the applicant
• 3 copies of the passport
• 3 recent passport photographs (in colour, size 3,5 x 4,5 cm, bright background, frontal view, face must fill 70-80% of the photograph)
• Latvian/Lithuanian/Estonian residence permit
• Original work contract
• Postage fee of LVL 3.00 in addition to the visa fee

Processing time of visa application is 4 – 7 weeks.

The Regional Consular Center Baltic States in Riga reserves the right to request additional documents.

• A passport with a validity of at least three months beyond the intended stay in Switzerland 
• 3 application forms, duly filled in and signed by the applicant 
• 3 copies of the passport 
• 3 recent passport photographs (in colour, size 3,5 x 4,5 cm, bright background, frontal view, face must fill 70-80% of the photograph)
• Latvian/Lithuanian/Estonian residence permit 
• Documents of civil status (please contact the Regional Consular Center Baltic States in Riga for further information)
• Postage fee of LVL 3.00 in addition to the visa fee

Processing time of visa application is 4 – 7 weeks.

The Regional consular center Baltic States in Riga reserves the right to request additional documents.

These regulations do not apply to citizens of EU/EFTA-states, who benefit from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.

For the entry into the Principality of Liechtenstein the same conditions apply as for the entry into Switzerland.

For additional information, please consult the Website of the Federal Office for Migration in Switzerland or contact the Regional consular center Baltic Statets in Riga: tel. +371 67 33 83 53, Monday-Friday, 09:00-11:30.

The fees in LVL depend on the exchange rate and may change.