Short-stay visa (C) — tourism & visiting: Indian citizen in India → Switzerland
Indian citizens need a Schengen short-stay visa for Switzerland — apply at the Switzerland visa application centre and give biometrics.
Uniform Schengen short-stay visa for tourism or visiting, applied for through Switzerland as the main destination.
- Validity
- The consulate decides how long it lasts. A first or occasional visa usually just covers your trip; the more you travel (with a clean record), the longer a multiple-entry visa you can get — up to 5 years (the EU visa cascade).
- Entries
- Single, double or multiple entry — shown on the visa as 1, 2 or MULT
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period — this cap applies even with a 5-year visa
When to start
Start 30 days–6 months before your travel date.
Apply to Switzerland only if it is your main destination (longest stay).
Submit at least 15 days before travel and no earlier than 6 months beforehand. The Swiss New Delhi centre is the world's busiest Schengen consulate — apply as early as possible.
The Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6–12; a separate VFS service fee applies.
Biometrics and document submission are at VFS Global centres across India (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai and more). Book and attend in person.
Standard processing is about 15 days, extendable to up to 45 days if a closer look or extra documents are needed.
After a decision, collect your passport from the visa application centre.
What you'll need
- Valid national passport — Issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after your scheduled return, with at least two blank pages. Handwritten passports are not accepted. ✓ verified
- Two passport photos — Two pictures, white background, taken within the last 6 months, 35–40 mm wide (not copied/scanned). One pasted on the form, one clipped to the passport's last page. ✓ verified
- Visa application form — Completed and signed twice by the applicant (by the legal guardian if a minor). ✓ verified
- Personal covering letter — Original cover letter setting out your travel plan. ✓ verified
- Employer introduction letter — Original on company letterhead, signed and stamped by HR/directorate, stating your position, length of service, a no-objection statement, and the dates and purpose of the trip. ✓ verified
- Travel medical insurance — Covering the entire stay in the Schengen territory, minimum €30,000 / US$50,000 / CHF 50,000 per person, including repatriation and emergency treatment. ✓ verified
- Flight reservation — Round-trip flight booking with the names of all travellers; add intra-Schengen flight/train/car-rental proof if relevant. ✓ verified
- Proof of accommodation — Confirmation of hotel reservation, package tour or advance payments covering your stay. ✓ verified
- Proof of financial status — Originals, A4, bank-stamped. Employed: last 3 months' salary slips + salary and personal bank statements + personal ITR (ITR-V) for the last 2 assessment years. Self-employed, retired and student/unemployed applicants have their own variants. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
Where you'll apply in India
Apply in your districtApplications in India are submitted at VFS Global centres and decided by the Swiss missions (Embassy in New Delhi and consulates).
Getting a slot — book early · community-reported, checked 2026-06-13
- Slots are released in batches with no fixed public schedule — most often early morning local time, on Monday mornings, and around the 1st of the month.
- For popular consulates (e.g. France, Italy and Spain in big cities), a fresh batch can be gone within minutes — be registered and logged in before you look.
- Cancellations free up slots throughout the day, so check daily even when it shows ‘no availability’.
- Because of this, apply as early as you are allowed — up to 6 months before travel. Waiting until 1–2 months out often means no slots are left at all.
Fees
Gotchas to watch
- The Swiss New Delhi centre is the single highest-volume Schengen consulate worldwide — book the moment slots open.
- The 90 days are counted across ALL Schengen countries combined in any 180-day window.