Do you have a layover in Switzerland to reach your destination country? In such a scenario, you must be asking the question- Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? A transit visa is a short-term visa that a person typically needs when they are transiting through one country to enter their destination country. Would you like to know if Indian nationals are exempt from the visa requirement? Read our blog to find out.
This Blog Includes:
- Do Indian Citizens Need Transit Visa for Switzerland?
- Requirements to Transit Through Switzerland Without a Visa
- Do Indian Citizens Need a Transit Visa for Connecting Flights?
- Can I Change Airlines at Switzerland Airport without a Visa?
- Do I Need a Transit Visa If I’m Not Leaving the Airport?
- Do I Need a Transit Visa if I Have a Layover in Europe?
- What is the Switzerland Transit Visa Application Process?
- What are the Documents Required for a Switzerland Transit Visa for Indian Citizens?
- What is the Swiss Transit Visa Cost for Indians?
- What is Transit Visa Switzerland Processing Time?
- How Long Can You Stay in Switzerland Airport Without a Transit Visa?
- What to Do When You Reach Switzerland?
- 5 Things to Know About Switzerland Transit Visa for Indians:
- List of Other Countries that Do Not Need a Transit Visa for Swizerland
- Can Indians Go to Switzerland Without a Visa?
- FAQs
Do Indian Citizens Need Transit Visa for Switzerland?
No. Indian nationals do not have to apply for a Swizerland transit visa. India is one of the countries that do not need the Transit visa (Type A). This means if you are having a layover in Swizerland, and meet the Switzerland government’s requirements a transit visa does not have to be applied.
Requirements to Transit Through Switzerland Without a Visa
Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? No. You do not need a transit visa if you meet all of these requirements. The Requirements listed below are provided by the Embassy of Switzerland (New Delhi):
- You have a valid passport and do not leave the airport transit area
- Your connecting flight is within 48 hours, Moreover, the destination you are travelling to is outside the Schengen area.
- Additionally, you have a valid visa, and a passport required to reach the final destination/country
- You have a valid flight ticket to the final destination. You must have already booked this ticket before you reach the transit area.
Do Indian Citizens Need a Transit Visa for Connecting Flights?
Indian citizens do not need a transit visa for Switzerland. This means for a connecting flight a transit visa is not required. However, you must ensure the following:
- Your connecting flight is within 48 hours
- You are travelling outside the Schengen area
- Your connecting flight is with the same airline. This is to ensure that no new luggage check-in is needed. Switzerland does not permit airline change at the airport. (For this, you need a Schengen visa)
- You must also ensure that you have a valid passport, a visa, and an airline ticket to enter the destination country.
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Can I Change Airlines at Switzerland Airport without a Visa?
Switzerland does not permit you to change your airline at the airport. Indian nationals do not need a transit visa for Switzerland. However, this doesn’t mean that they are allowed to change airlines at the airport. Therefore, you must ensure,
- You do not need a new baggage check-in.
- To change airlines you will have to enter the Schengen area. Therefore, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa.
Do I Need a Transit Visa If I’m Not Leaving the Airport?
Now you know the answer to this question- Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? This means that you do not need a transit visa if you are not leaving the airport. However, you must meet the following conditions:
- You have a valid passport, flight ticket, and a visa for the destination country
- Your connecting flight is within 48 hours. You must also be travelling outside the Schengen area
Do I Need a Transit Visa if I Have a Layover in Europe?
Generally, yes. You need a transit visa if you have a layover in any of the European countries like Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, etc. A transit visa (Type A) is a type of Schengen visa. The visa allows you to have a layover/stopover in one country to reach the destination country. A transit visa typically is given for certain hours to certain days.
However, specific countries can choose to exempt certain nationalities from a transit visa requirement. For example. Swizerland has exempted Indian nationals from a transit visa requirement. Apart from India, nationals of Bhutan, South Africa, and other certain other countries are allowed to transit through the Swiss territory without a visa.
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What is the Switzerland Transit Visa Application Process?
Good news! Indian nationals do not need a transit visa for Switzerland. That is if they meet all the requirements to transit through Switzerland without a visa. Therefore, there is no transit visa application. Once, you reach the airport you can wait for your connecting flight. Ensure that you leave Switzerland before 48 hours. The Swizerland authorities do not permit you to stay longer than that.
What are the Documents Required for a Switzerland Transit Visa for Indian Citizens?
Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? The answer is no. Indian nationals do not need a transit visa for up to 48 hours of layover in Switzerland. Therefore, no transit visa is available for Indians, no documents are required for a transit visa, and there is no transit visa application process. Those who want to leave the airport must have already applied for a Schenegen visa(Type-C).
What is the Swiss Transit Visa Cost for Indians?
Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland?. Indian nationals do not need a transit visa for Switzerland. Therefore, no transit visas and no transit fees.
Particulars | Transit Visa Fees for Indians |
Swizerland Transit Visa Fees for Indians | No Transit Visa. Hence, no fees |
However, the Type A transit visa may apply to people from other nationalities. If a transit visa applies to your nationality, the following fees must be paid. The fees charged are as per the age group:
Age Group | Transit Visa Fees (ZAR) |
Adults | 1800.00 |
Children aged from 6 to 12 | 900.00 |
Children up to the age of 6 | Free |
Schengen visa for citizens of countries with which Swizerland has a Visa Facilitation agreement | 2650.00 |
What is Transit Visa Switzerland Processing Time?
Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland?. No. Since there is no transit visa issued for Indians, there is no processing. If you meet all the visa requirements you can have a layover. Ensure you have a valid visa, passport, and flight ticket to the destination country, and you leave Swizerland within 48 hours.
Citizens of nationalities that require a Transit Visa to Switzerland, can apply for the same at an Embassy or consulate of Switzerland in the home country. The processing time in this case will take around 15 days, The visa processing will not take longer than 45 days.
How Long Can You Stay in Switzerland Airport Without a Transit Visa?
You can stay at the Swizerland airport for the following duration without a transit visa:
Particulars | Duration of Stay |
Duration Indian nationals are permitted to stay at the airport without a transit visa | 48 Hours |
What to Do When You Reach Switzerland?
Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? No. Indians do not need a transit visa for Switzerland. Therefore, once you have reached the airport you can wait there for your connecting flight. You are not allowed to leave the airport. Therefore, ensure that you stay inside the airport. You may have to show the authorities the following documents for the layover/stopover-
- Valid visa for the destination country
- Your valid passport
- Travel ticket to the destination country
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5 Things to Know About Switzerland Transit Visa for Indians:
These are some important things you must know about Switzerland
- As an Indian national you do not need a transit visa if you are not leaving the airport
- You need to get the travel tickets to the destination country before you reach Switzerland
- You need to have a valid passport and a valid visa to the destination country
- No airport at Swizerland will permit you to change flights where a new luggage check-in is allowed
- To visit Switzerland for a short term you need to get a Schengen visa (Type C) or a visit visa.
- The final decision to carry a passenger to the destination remains with the airline.
List of Other Countries that Do Not Need a Transit Visa for Swizerland
Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? The answer is no. Citizens of these nationalities are also permitted to enter Switzerland without a transit visa.
Nationalities | Transit Visa Requirement |
South Africa | No |
Botswana | No |
Angola | No |
Malawi | No |
Lesotho | No |
Mozambique | No |
Mauritius | No |
Namibia | No |
Eswatini | No |
Zimbabwe | No |
Zambia | No |
Bhutan | No |
Note- If you are a third-country national holding a D visa or a residence permit from a Schengen member state you do not need to meet the transit visa requirements.
To learn how to check if you need a transit visa for Switzerland, watch this video:
Can Indians Go to Switzerland Without a Visa?
No. Indian nationals need a visa to go to Swizerland. A visa is mandatory except if you are transiting through Switzerland. Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? No. Indians do not need a transit visa. However, for longer stays or to leave the airport a visa is essential.
- A Schengen Visa (C-Type) – You can apply for a Schengen visa for tourism, to visit your family or friends, to undertake short-term business activities, or to get medical treatment in the country. This visa will permit you to stay for up to 90 days within any 180 days in Swizerland.
- Swizerland National Visa (D visa)– This visa is issued for long-term work or study purposes. This visa will permit you to stay in the country for longer than 90 days within a year. You can apply for a residence permit to stay longer.
FAQs
If you are an Indian you do not need a Switzerland transit visa. However, you must ensure that your connecting flight is within 48 hours. You also cannot change flights that require a new baggage check-in.
As per the Embassy of Switzerland in India, Indian nationals do not need a transit visa for up to 48 hours of layover in Switzerland. However, they must have a valid passport, visa, and travel document to reach the destination country.
A tourist visa for Switzerland from India is a Type C visa. This visa will permit you to stay in the country for up to 90 days within any 180 day period. You can explore the country. However, you are not permitted to undertake work.
The Swizerland tourist visa processing time is 15 days. In certain exceptional cases, your visa application processing can be extended to 45 days. That is, if futher verification is required.
No. There is no Switzerland transit visa available for Indians. Indian nationals can transit through Switzerland without a visa. However, you must leave the airport within 48 hours and must have a valid passport, a ticket to the destination country, and a visa for the destination country. Moreover, the destination county must be outside the Schengen area.
Switzerland does not grant visas on arrival for Indian nationals. Therefore, you need to apply for a Schengen visa or a National visa and get the same prior to your travel,
The Switzerland transit visa is a type of Schengen Visa. It is called a Type A visa. You can get this visa if you are transiting through Switzerland to reach a destination country. Indian nationals do not have to get a transit visa. They are exempt from the transit visa requirement if they leave the airport to the destination within 48 hours.
We hope you now have the answer to your question- Do Indian citizens need Transit Visa for Switzerland? Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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