Citizens of Nigeria, Chad and Niger are required to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland.

The processing of an approved Schengen Visa application will take at least seven working days. Applicants are advised to submit their applications at least 14 days before departure.

Swiss visas issued before the actual implementation of the Schengen-Dublin agreement will remain valid but
will only allow people to enter Swiss territory.

For information regarding the visa procedure it is recommended to consult the website of the Federal Office for Migration (FOM).


Visa requirements:

Citizens of Nigeria, Chad and Niger are required to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland.

Visa applications for citizens of Nigeria may be submitted to the Visa Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Abuja from Monday to Thursday, from 09.00 a.m. till 11.00 a.m. Citizens of Chad have to apply to the respective Swiss Consular Representation in N'Djaména. Visa applicants usually have to submit the documentation to the Embassy or the Consular Representation in person.

Application forms can be obtained at the Embassy of Switzerland in Abuja, at the Swiss Consular Representation mentioned above, or by downloading and printing the "Visa Application Form", which can be found hereinafter in PDF format. Information regarding the various visa categories and the requirements, which have to be fulfilled in order to obtain a visa, is available from the corresponding information leaflets at the bottom of this page.

General information :

In accordance with the agreement of 6 November 1963 between Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Swiss entry regulations also apply to applications for entering the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Each application is checked individually and no guarantee can be given that a visa will be issued. The Embassy cannot be held responsible for costs involved when a visa is refused. Please note that in certain cases the application has to be submitted to the authorities in Switzerland. In such cases, it may take some weeks until a decision is taken (up to 12 weeks).

Visiting hours for visa in Abuja: Monday to Friday from 09.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m.
All visa applications must be submitted at the Embassy of Switzerland in Abuja, no applications will be accepted at the Honorary Consulate in Lagos.

Fridays : Collection only, no visa submissions are accepted.

Check the requirements by clicking on the links on this page for specifics visas (business/seminar, tourist, visitors or student) You may also contact the Visa Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Abuja by e-mail only.

Find out whether or not you need a Visa to enter Switzerland

Foreigners who do not wish to engage in a gainful activity in Switzerland may stay for a period of up to three months without a residence permit.

• Visitors who travel repeatedly to Switzerland but stay less than 3 months each time must apply for a permit if their total stay exceeds 6 months within a period of 12 months.
  
• Persons who do not hold a national passport of their country of residence but are in possession of a refugee document should contact the Embassy to obtain information as to how a visa may be obtained.
  
• If a visa is required, the fee of XOF 38'000.-- is payable in cash only (cheques and credit cards are not accepted).
  
• Nationals who do require a visa should take into consideration that there are various types of visa. These are briefly outlined below.
  
  Tourist Visa
  For persons spending their vacation in Switzerland, staying at a hotel or rented flat, or visiting Switzerland on a coach tour.
  
  Visitor's Visa
  For persons visiting relatives or friends living in Switzerland.
  
  Business Visa
  For persons wishing to meet their Swiss business partners.
  
  No vaccination certificates are required for Switzerland.
  
  To find out whether or not you need a visa for Switzerland, please consult the Web Page of the Swiss office of migration.