Switzerland business visa
A trade fair in Basel, a round of negotiations in Zurich, a short training stint with a Geneva partner — the Switzerland business visa covers all of it. It is a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) for Indian passport holders travelling for meetings, negotiations, conferences, trade fairs or short business training. It permits stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period and, once issued, opens the whole Schengen area of 29 countries. Since 2016, every Swiss visa filed in India has been decided by the Visa Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi; the Consulate General in Mumbai no longer plays any part in the process.
You file through VFS Global, the Embassy's outsourcing partner, at centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Lucknow and Kochi. Route your application through Switzerland when it is your main destination — where you will spend the most days — or, when the trip splits evenly, through your first point of entry into the Schengen area. Expect a decision in roughly 15 days from the moment the Embassy receives your file, occasionally stretching to about 45; the call is the Embassy's alone.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holder legally residing in India, applying under the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Switzerland, New Delhi (through the VFS Global centre for your state of residence).
- ✓Switzerland is your main destination (longest stay), or your first point of entry into the Schengen area when time is split equally between countries.
- ✓A clear business purpose backed by an invitation from a Swiss company or partner — meetings, negotiations, a conference, a trade fair or short training; the visa does not permit paid employment in Switzerland.
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds for the trip — Swiss authorities expect at least CHF 100 per day of stay.
- ✓Demonstrable ties to India (ongoing employment or business, family, assets) showing you will return.
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering the entire Schengen stay with a minimum of EUR 30,000 cover, from an insurer on the Embassy's approved list.
Visa options for Switzerland
Schengen Type C business visa (single or double entry)
Standard short-stay visa for a specific business trip such as meetings, negotiations, a conference or a trade fair, up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Multiple-entry business visa (MEV)
For frequent business travellers with a sound Schengen travel history; under the EU Visa Code the Embassy may grant validity of up to 5 years (commonly 1, 2 or 5 years), with each stay still capped at 90 days in any 180-day period.
Documents typically required
- ✓National passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months beyond your scheduled return from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages (handwritten passports are not accepted).
- ✓Completed and signed Schengen (Type C) visa application form.
- ✓One recent photograph, white background, 35–40 mm wide, not older than six months, pasted on the application form (not stapled).
- ✓Invitation letter from the Swiss business partner or company, signed and stamped, giving the inviter's full details (name, address, email, phone), the purpose and dates, and a day-to-day schedule of the meetings or training.
- ✓Introduction letter from your Indian employer or your own company on letterhead, signed and stamped, stating your position, length of service, the purpose and dates of travel, and whether the employer/company covers the expenses.
- ✓For business owners / self-employed: business registration certificate, GST registration (with annexes A & B), partnership deed or proof of proprietorship.
- ✓Personal income-tax return (ITR-V acknowledgement) for the last two assessment years and the last three months' personal bank statements (original, in A4, stamped and signed by the bank).
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds (Swiss authorities reckon at least CHF 100 per day of stay).
- ✓Flight tickets with the names of all travellers.
- ✓Travel medical insurance covering the entire Schengen stay with a minimum of EUR 30,000 cover, issued by an insurer on the Embassy's approved list.
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
The Swiss Embassy runs a strict checklist through VFS Global: only the documents listed for the business category are accepted, though it reserves the right to ask for additional documents or a personal interview. Whichever VFS Global centre you use, the file is decided by the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi — so apply through the centre for your state of residence.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No — and be wary of anyone who does. The decision rests solely with the Embassy of Switzerland, and no consultant can guarantee a Schengen visa. What we can do is assess your case honestly and build the strongest possible application. Over the last 2-3 years our applications have had a 97% success rate.
Which Swiss mission and VFS Global centre handles my application?
Every Swiss visa filed in India is decided by the Visa Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi, wherever you submit. You hand in your file at the VFS Global centre for your state of residence (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata and others); VFS Global forwards it to the Embassy but has no say in the outcome.
When should I apply through Switzerland rather than another Schengen country?
When Switzerland is your main destination — the country where you will spend the most days. If your days are split equally between two countries, apply through whichever one you enter the Schengen area through first. Once issued, the visa lets you travel the whole Schengen area within the 90-days-in-180 limit.
How long does processing take and how long can I stay?
Reckon on about 15 days from the moment the Embassy receives your file, though busy stretches can push it to around 45. A business Type C visa allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen area.