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Visa Information / Services
for visits to Switzerland
(including Schengen countries)
(Status: 02 June 2009)
Switzerland is now part of the
Schengen Area.
The following information is
mainly applicable for ordinary passport holders of the “Republic of
China” and the “Republic of China (Taiwan)”:
Types of visa / basic requirements / visa fees:
Short term (period of up to 90 days)
a) Tourist
Ø Schengen
visa application form
(duly completed and
personally signed)
Ø
Original passport and copy of main page of passport
(passport
validity of at least 6
months)
Ø
Copy
of ID card
(A4-size paper)
Ø
Two
passport pictures
(good quality, colour,
35-40mm, white background)
Ø
Employment certificate of Taiwanese company or recent bank statement
Ø
Copy
of flight reservation
Ø
Household certificate for minors travelling with their parents
Visa
fee: NT$ 2’900
(children below 6 years are
free of charge)
b) Collective tourist
(group of 5-50 people travelling together)
Requirements for visas to tourist groups through travel agency
Ø
Letter
by travel agent
(bank endorsement)
with details of group leader declaring the
responsibility
for the whole group’s return to Taiwan, taking over all travel and
eventual
repatriation
cost
Ø
Complete travel itinerary
(flight and hotel reservations)
Ø
List
of all participants
Ø
Schengen visa application form
(duly completed and
personally signed)
Ø
2
passport pictures
(good quality, colour,
35-40mm, white background)
Ø
Original passport
Ø
Copy of passport and ID card (on
an A4 – size paper)
Ø
The
original tour leader license with one copy
(if the tour leader
already have a valid Schengen visa,
please enclose
photocopies of her/his passport and visa)
Visa
fee:
NT$2,900.- / each person
c)
Visitor
For applicants
invited by a person in Switzerland who acts as their host, providing
accommodation and possibly taking care of other expenses
Ø
Schengen visa application form
(duly completed and personally
signed)
Ø
Original passport and copy of main page of passport
(passport
validity of at least 6
months)
Ø
Copy
of ID card
(A4-size paper)
Ø
Two
passport pictures
(good quality, colour,
35-40mm, white background)
Ø
Employment certificate of Taiwanese company or recent bank statement
Ø
Copy
of flight reservation
Ø
Household certificate for minors travelling with their parents
After submitting all the required documents, the applicant will
receive a financial guarantee letter which has to be sent to the
host in Switzerland for verification of the finances. The visa will
only be issued after financial approval has been received from
Switzerland
(processing time: 2 – 4 weeks)
Visa
fee: NT$ 2’900 (children
below 6 years are free of charge)
d)
Business
Ø
Schengen visa application form
(duly completed and
personally signed)
Ø
Original passport and copy of main page of passport
(passport
validity of at least 6
months)
Ø
Copy
of ID card (A4-size
paper)
Ø
Two
passport pictures
(good quality, colour, 35-40mm, white background)
Ø
Employment certificate of Taiwanese company
Ø
Invitation letter from Swiss company
Ø
Copy
of flight reservation
Visa
fee: NT$ 2’900
e)
Student
Ø
Schengen visa application form
(duly completed and
personally signed)
Ø
Original passport and copy of main page of passport
(passport
validity of at least 6
months)
Ø
One
copy of ID card
(A4-size paper)
Ø
Two
passport pictures
(good quality, colour, 35-40mm, white background)
Ø
Recent bank statement
Ø
Copy
of flight reservation
Ø
Confirmation letter from Swiss school
Visa
fee:
NT$ 2’900
Long-term (period of
more than 90 days)
f) Student
Ø
3
Schengen visa application forms
(duly completed and personally signed)
Ø
Original passport and 3 copies of main page of passport
(passport
validity of at least 6
months)
Ø
3
copies of ID card
(A4-size paper)
Ø
4
passport pictures
(good quality, colour, 35-40mm, white background)
Ø
3
copies of school enrolment receipt
Ø
3
copies of highest graduation certificates
Ø
3
copies of a guarantee statement of leaving Switzerland after studies
Ø
3
copies of TOEFL or IELTS test
(not older than 1 year)
Visa
fee:
NT$ 2’900 (extra:
postage charge NT$ 300)
g) Resident
Ø
3
Schengen visa application forms
(duly completed and
personally signed)
Ø
Original passport and 3 copies of main page of passport
(passport
validity of at least 6
months)
Ø
3
copies of ID card
(A4-size paper)
Ø
4
passport pictures
(good quality, colour, 35-40mm, white background)
Ø
3
copies of a paper that justifies permanent move to Switzerland
(marriage
certificate with
a Swiss national, work contract with a Swiss
company, household register for a child of a Swiss citizen etc)
Visa
fee: NT$ 2’900
(postage charge: NT$ 300)
Spouses and children of Swiss nationals are free of charge.
Additional information
Apply with:
Trade
Office of Swiss Industries (Visa Section)
31F,
333 Keelung Road, Sec. 1
Taipei
Phone: 02/2720 1001 Fax: 02/2757 6984
e-mail: visa@swiss.org.tw
Opening hours for visa services: Monday-Friday from 0900-1130
Application procedure
Applicants must apply at their country of residence and apply with
the
representative office of the country where they plan to spend most
of their time during their stay in Europe. If they spend an equal
amount of time in different countries, they should make their
application at the representative office of the country where they
enter the Schengen area first. Applicants must bring all required
documents along. Visa application forms for minors need to be signed
by parents/legal guardians.
Documentation
The
Trade Office of Swiss Industries reserves the right to ask for
additional documents if needed.
Requirements/visa fees are subject to changes.
The
above information is mainly for ROC passport holders. Other
nationalities who require visas for Switzerland/Schengen Area are
requested to check details. Please do not hesitate to contact TOSI
in case of uncertainties.
Processing time
The
visa processing time usually takes 3 days for short-term visas
(up to 90 days).
It is recommended to apply approximately 3 weeks before the planned
entry date.
The
visa processing time will take between 6-8 weeks for long-term visas
(more than 90 days).
It is recommended to apply at least 2 months before the planned
entry date.
Urgent visa: in urgent matters a visa may be issued on the same day
of application
(as an exception only)
and is subject to a 50 % surcharge.
Schengen Area
The
Schengen Area comprises most of the EU member states
(Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but a member of Schengen):
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The
Schengen agreement includes common policy on the temporary entry of
persons, the harmonisation of external border controls and police as
well as judicial cooperation. It facilitates travel for individuals
by eliminating systematic checks at common borders of signatory
states.
ROC passport holders with residence outside of Taiwan:
·
Holders of a ROC passport and a
valid Swiss permanent residence card are permitted to
enter the whole Schengen area without a visa.
·
Holders of a ROC
passport and a residence authorisation issued by the United Kingdom,
Ireland, Canada and the United States of America
(green card)
need a
visa to enter
Switzerland and the Schengen area.
·
As
a general rule, ROC passport holders with residence in other
countries apply in their
respective country of residence.
Further information
You
may consult “Frequently asked questions” with regards to Swiss
Schengen visa at the following link of the Swiss Federal Office of
Migration for further information:
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise/schengen-visum.html
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