VR Team | Mar 14, 2020 | 0 comments

How to Apply for Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia in 5 Easy Steps – A Complete Guide

Of all the Schengen countries, Switzerland is an amazing destination. Cities, like Basel, are full of museums and there is an annual art fair. Bern has a lovely old town and a vibrant nightlife. There are mountain resorts in Zermatt where you can go trekking or take a scenic train ride. Whatever you end up doing there, you will love Swizterland! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Switzerland visa from the Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney, Australia, Switzerland visa appointment booking, processing time at the Switzerland visa application centre, flight itinerary for a Switzerland visa, hotel bookings for a Switzerland visa, Schengen travel insurance for a Switzerland visa application, and Switzerland visa application process at the consulate in Sydney.

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/sydney-skyline-water-australia-3664762/

Switzerland Schengen Visas

In 2018, Swiss embassies and consulates around the world received 556,520 visa applications and rejected 41,230. The Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney received 1,119 applications and rejected 1.

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Stats

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Australia

If you are an Australian citizen, you don’t need a visa for Switzerland as long as your trip doesn’t last longer than 90 days. If you are a non-Australian citizen, but you are living in Australia permanently, you do need to apply for a visa to be able to enter and stay in Switzerland regardless of the length of your trip.

You can apply in Australia by submitting your application to the Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney.

Types of Schengen visas offered at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney

There are 3 types of visa available and the one you need to apply for will depend on the reason for your trip and the duration of your stay in Switzerland.

Schengen visa – type C – for tourism, business, visiting family or friends for up to 90 days
Airport Transit visa – type A – if you are changing planes en route to your final destination and not leaving the international zone of the airport
National visa – type D – for over 90 days for study, employment or family reasons etc

How Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa in Australia

The consulate processes visa applications within 15 days and you can apply up to 90 days ahead of your trip. You should aim to apply AT LEAST 15 days ahead, but the earlier the better!

Here are 5 easy steps to follow to help you apply for your visa:

Step 1: How to complete your application

Go to the consulate’s website and click on: “Visa and entry to Switzerland” then “Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland”:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form

Then, click on: “Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days”:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form1

Next, “Which documents should I submit with a Schengen visa application”:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form2

On the next page, you’ll see a link for “Requirements for tourist visa”:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form3

Click on the link for the online application or go to www.swiss-visa.ch:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form4

You will be directed to the consulate’s online system. Choose the country you are applying from – in this case – Australia:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form5

Read the instructions and click on “Online application”:

Switzerland Schengen Visa from Australia Application Form6

After you have completed all your information, you can submit your application electronically. Don’t forget to print it off as you will need to hand it over the consulate when you go for your appointment.

Step 2: How to make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application centre is generally free and can be done yourself. However, if you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
Receive appointment confirmation in email

Book Visa Appointment For Any Country

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

Go to the consulate’s website and click on: “Visa and entry to Switzerland” then “Visa – Entry to and residence in Switzerland”
Then, click on: “Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days”
Next, “Which documents should I submit with a Schengen visa application”
On the next page, you’ll see a link for “Requirements for tourist visa”
Click on the link for the online application or go to www.swiss-visa.ch
You will be directed to the consulate’s online system. Choose the country you are applying from – in this case – Australia
Read the instructions and click on “Online application”
Complete your information and continue through the screens
Once you have submitted your application electronically, you will be sent a link by email inviting you to make a convenient day and time for your appointment

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Before you begin to prepare your documents, you first need to know what the requirements are for your type of visa. If you go to the consulate’s website, you will find a list of documents that you need!

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

Online application (www.swiss-visa.ch)
Two recent passport photographs
Passport (valid for at least three months beyond the stay, with at least two blank pages)
Copy of your passport (page with your personal data and picture)
Proof of visa status in Australia – Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
Flight reservations from/to Australia, including a detailed itinerary
Proof of travel insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 30,000.00, covering urgent medical treatment or hospitalization, repatriation
Hotel reservation or other type of accommodation
Proof of residence e.g.bank statement, driver’s license, invoice
If married or in a partnership, provide a marriage certificate or registered partnership agreement
Proof of sufficient funds for your planned trip (including recent bank statements for the last three months)
If being invited to Switzerland by a person or a company/organisation/event organiser you need to provide a letter of invitation
Recent letter from your employer confirming your employment stating your job role
Prepaid, self-addressed registered/express return envelope or a prepaid courier satchel. Please make sure to copy your tracking number

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
Submit the travel details and make the payment online
Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: A guide to your visa appointment

Don’t be late for your appointment. It’s wise to arrive a few minutes early, so you can gather your thoughts and relax beforehand. Remember all the required documents because if you submit an incomplete application, it may be rejected. Also, it’s a good idea to dress smartly – don’t turn up in shorts and a t-shirt

The visa officer may ask you questions about your application to clarify any of the information that you have given. This is simply to make sure they have all the facts to make a fair decision, so answer honestly.

Typical questions include:

How long are you going to Switzerland for?
What is your job?
How much do you earn?
Will you return to Australia before the expiry of your visa?
Have you been to the Schengen Area before?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

Type of visa	Fee
Schengen visa – up to 90 days	99 AUD/€60
National visa – over 90 days	See the consulate’s website
Child between 6-12 years of age	59 AUD/€35
Children under the age of six	Free

You should check with the consulate which payment methods are available to you. Please note, even if your application is rejected or you withdraw your application, this fee will not be refunded.

If this is your first time applying for your visa, you will have to provide biometric data which is a scan of your fingerprints and a photo.

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once the consulate has made a decision, they will send your passport to your home address.

The decision will be either:

Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason and you can appeal the decision

Common rejection reasons include:

No invitation letter – if you are being invited to Switzerland by someone, you must provide an invitation letter
Passport was issued in the last 15 years – your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. If not, you must get a new one before applying for your visa
Proof of residence not provided – if you were not born in Australia and you are applying for a visa from Australia, you must provide proof of residence
Lack of funds – you must be able to prove that you can afford your trip. You can do this by providing evidence such as the last 3 bank statements

Reasons For Schengen Visa Rejections

Ways to contact the Consulate General of Switzerland in Sydney?

Address: 101 Grafton Street, Cnr Grosvenor Street, Tower 2, Level 23, Bondi Junction, NSW 2022 Australia

Phone: +61 2 8383 4000

Fax: +61 2 9369 1334

E-mail: sydney.visa@eda.admin.ch

Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am to 12 pm

Conclusion

To apply for a Schengen visa for Switzerland in Australia, follow these simple steps:

Complete your application
Make an appointment
Prepare your documents
Attend your appointment
Receive your visa

Once you get your visa, the worry is over! You’ll soon be in Switzerland.

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.