Indian Visa For Swiss Nationals
Swiss citizens wishing to travel to India can enter on tourist or business visa. These visas available for a duration of up to three months and are issued through the embassy of India in Bern for Swiss nationals applying from inside India and through Mission of India in Zurich for those applying from outside India.
Thousands of Swiss nationals flock every year to India on a tourist visa, business visa or an employment visa. If you are wondering why Swiss nationals want to visit India, here’s a list of the top 5 places in India that the Swiss love.
The Embassy of India to Switzerland grants various types of visas and services to the general public. Swiss nationals can seek visa related information from this website.
Indian Citizen can apply for a visa to visit Switzerland as a tourist, for business or for any other purpose. Switzerland is one of the most popular European tourist destinations with hotels being spread all over the country. Switzerland Visa is not required by Citizens of India to visit the country from 15th August 2008 onwards.
An overview of the procedures involved in applying for an Indian visa, including how to apply, how much it costs and the different options available.
Indian Visa For Swiss Nationals
Swiss travelers are required to obtain a visa before entering India. Electronic visas were introduced to India in 2014, enabling nationals of 166 countries to apply online for a tourist, medical, or a business eVisa, including Swiss citizens.
Applying for the India visa for Swiss citizens is a simple and fast process that can be completed within approximately 15 minutes from anywhere in the world, providing the applicant has an internet connection.
India offers new things to see and do on every turn. It is a country so vast and diverse with natural beauty, otherworldly architecture, detailed design, lush landscapes, over 20 World Heritage sites, backwaters, deserts, mountains, and religious ceremonies as well as food and culture.
What Visa Do I Need to Visit India from Switzerland?
Depending on the purpose of the visit, Swiss citizens can apply for an electronic tourist visa, business visa or a medical visa.
The India tourist visa for Swiss citizens is valid for 1 year from the date of issue, allows two entries with stays lasting up to 90 consecutive days from the date of entrance.
The India business visa for Swiss citizens has the same validity period. However, the time allowed to stay in India with a business visa is longer, up to 180 consecutive days, counting from the date of entry.
Whereas, the India medical visa for Swiss citizens, is a triple-entry visa, valid for 60 days from the date of arrival and allows stays of 60 consecutive days.
What Documents Do the Swiss Need to Get an Indian Visa?
Except for the online application, there are a number of documents required to be submitted for the electronic visa.
India visa requirements for citizens of Switzerland include the following:
- Passport, at least six months of remaining validity from the date of intended arrival
- Two blank passport pages for stamps
- Return plane ticket or onward journey ticket
- Proof of sufficient financial means during the stay in India
- Scanned Bio page of passport showing clear photography and personal details (name, date of birth, nationality, expiry date, etc.)
- Debit or credit card for the visa fee payment
- Recent front facing photograph with a white background
- Valid email address
The digital photography that is to be uploaded with the rest of the visa application documents must meet the following criteria:
- White background
- Clear full face, centered, eyes open, front view
- No borders
- Height and width must be equal
- JPEG Format
- A minimum size of 10 KB up to a maximum of 1 MB
Whereas, the scanned bio page of the passport must be in PDF format, with its size varying from a minimum of 10 KB to a maximum of 300 KB.
Additional required documents may also include:
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate if travelers are coming from affected countries
- Health insurance
All travelers must apply at least 4 days in advance. However, the maximum timeframe to apply for the Indian electronic visa is up to 120 days in advance.
How Long Does It Take for an Indian Visa to Be Approved?
The application for the India visa for Swiss citizens must be submitted at least 4 days prior to the intended trip.
It may take 2 to 4 business days to receive the approval for the India visa application. In case of approval, the traveler will receive the electronic visa on the email address provided. The approved visa should be printed and brought to the airport upon arrival. It is best to keep a copy of the approved electronic visa at all times during the stay in India.
Travelers should double-check the information and documents provided in case of mistakes, which in turn may prolong the process of approval or may even risk the rejection of an application altogether.
The Indian eVisa cannot be extended or converted and is also not valid for visiting restricted or protected areas within Indian territory.
How Can Swiss Citizens Apply for an Indian Visa?
Applying for an India visa from Switzerland is a simple and fast process by simply filling in the online application form, completing the visa fee payment and attaching the required documents. It eliminates the need to make appointments and attend interviews at embassies or consulates. The process of applying online does not take more than 15 minutes in total.
To get the visa approval, it usually takes up to 4 business days. The visa confirmation and status will be emailed to the email address provided in the application form. Upon approval, travelers can plan on entering India through 28 airports and 5 seaports.
It is mandatory to travel with the same passport that has been used to apply for the online electronic Indian visa.