student visa in switzerland
Are you looking for a study visa in Switzerland? Many students are finding it difficult to get a student visa in Switzerland. They have to go through an intense application process that not everyone is able to pass. For some people, applying for a student visa is the ultimate solution to their predicament, however others don’t find it necessary and think about other alternatives.
More and more students are looking for the best option to study abroad. On a regular basis, they ask me if they should apply for an international student visa or a student residence permit in switzerland.
A complete guide on how to get a student visa in Switzerland—from the very basics to advanced strategies. Whether you’re just starting your research or are about to make an appointment with the Swiss consulate, this article is for you.
If you are planning to study in Switzerland, you will need a student visa. The requirements for obtaining a student visa vary depending on your country of origin and the length of your planned stay.
The most important thing is to plan ahead: make sure that you apply for your visa at least three months before you leave so you don’t risk missing out on one of the best experiences of your life!
To apply for a student visa, you’ll need to fill out an application form (available online) and submit it with supporting documents like proof of enrollment, proof of financial means and health insurance coverage. You will also have to pay the application fee.
If you’re approved for a student visa, it will be valid for up to one year from its issue date (or until your course ends). It may be renewed once if necessary.
Switzerland is an amazing country to study in.
There are many universities in Switzerland and they offer quality education in all fields. The Swiss government has been promoting the idea of studying abroad for a long time, which has helped it become a popular destination for students from all over the world.
The University of Basel is one of the oldest universities in Switzerland and has been ranked as one of the best universities in Europe by QS World University Rankings 2020. It offers various undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in different subjects including engineering, medicine, business management, architecture, law, humanities and social sciences.
In order to study at this university as an international student, you need to apply for a student visa for Switzerland or a residence permit for studies at least three months before your course begins. If you would like to stay longer than six months after completing your program or attending an internship or research project at the end of your studies then you will also need to apply for an extension of your residence permit during this time period.
Steps to get a student visa for Switzerland
- Accept a university offer: You may also need to pay a deposit or fee to secure your place.
- Book an appointment with a Swiss embassy or consulate: This is for your visa interview and to present your application form and documents to an official. Not all nationalities will be required to do this.
- Attend your interview: Provide the requested documents, including a visa application form.
- Receive a decision: This may take up to 12 weeks.
- Apply for a residence permit: You have 14 days after your arrival in Switzerland to register for your residence permit at a cantonal migration office. Your permit may take some weeks to be created, so you might be provided with a temporary document.
Student dependents with a National Visa D
Any spouse or dependent children you have may be able to join you in Switzerland under family reunification. Family members can also work.
As a student, you will have to show that you can financially support your family in addition to you, and have ample accommodation for them.
Switzerland student visa requirements
At various points throughout the student visa and residence permit process, Swiss immigration may ask for some of the following documents:
- Valid passport
- Confirmation of enrollment at a recognized Swiss educational institution
- Proof of finances and the ability to support yourself while in Switzerland
- Proof of healthcare insurance
- Motivation letter outlining why you want to come to Switzerland to study and how this will be beneficial to your career
- Copies of previous educational certificates and diplomas
- A signed letter confirming that you will leave Switzerland at the end of the course
Swiss student visa processing time
It can take between 8 and 12 weeks to process your visa, so it’s well worth starting your application as soon as possible.
Try to start at least three months before you need to travel, but ideally, you should start your application as soon as you receive your offer from a Swiss university.
Working whilst studying in Switzerland
Studying in Switzerland as an international student also means you can work up to 15 hours a week part-time during term time and full-time in university holidays — this is providing you have been in Switzerland for more than six months.
If you are working towards a PhD in Switzerland you can also work part-time up to 15 hours but you don’t need to have been in Switzerland for six months to start.
Employers need to organize a student visa work permit for you, and you need to continue being a full-time student and make sufficient progress on your program.
What to do if your Switzerland visa is rejected
If your Swiss student visa has been rejected because your application was incomplete, the best course of action is to try again making sure you provide all the information required. Visa application fees are non-refundable, so it’s worth checking you have supplied everything before you send it off.
If your visa gets refused but you don’t agree with the decision, you can make an appeal within 30 days of receiving the outcome. You must reply in writing, explaining why it is that your visa shouldn’t have been refused, with proof.
How to get a residence permit in Switzerland?
After arriving in Switzerland, you have 14 days to register at your cantonal migration office. If you’ve acquired a long-stay category D visa, then you’ll also need to apply for a residence permit at your cantonal migration office. You should do this within the first 90 days of your stay, and you’ll need to provide your ID, Swiss visa details, and proof of Swiss address.
A successful application will result in a B residence permit, valid for only a year, but you can renew it multiple times. This may take a few weeks to arrive, and you’re not allowed to leave the country during this period.
Besides enjoying a night out, other things you can sort during this time are registering for health insurance and opening up a Swiss bank account.
Switzerland immigration policy
Being one of the countries with the highest number of immigrants in the west has raised many political debates in recent years, with Switzerland having to limit EU migration and introduce stricter conditions to get residence permits.
Right now, European Union (EU) citizens and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations can freely travel to Switzerland; however, they need to meet certain criteria in order to stay. Usually, citizens of these countries have to apply for a visa to come to Switzerland, as well as apply for a residence permit to stay for more extended periods.
Moreover, Switzerland is one of the 26 Schengen Area countries that allow passport-free travel between countries.
After Study Finishes and Visa Expires
You’ve completed your studies, but you love Switzerland so much that you don’t want to leave? No worries, you can extend your residency permit for six more months to look for a full-time job. During this period, you’re allowed to work for 15 hours a week. To apply, all you have to do is provide your cantonal migration office with the following documents:
- Certificate/proof that you’ve finished your courses
- Evidence you can financially support yourself
- Evidence that you can live somewhere suitable
You can also apply to extend your residence permit if you want to continue to study in Switzerland for postgraduate studies, but you must have an official offer. The maximum extension period, in this case, is two years.
Work and Study
Working while studying is an option for many foreign students in Switzerland. While some universities don’t recommend that as it can be distracting and affect your academic work. Other schools facilitate job searches with job boards and other advisory services.
- The working hours for students are limited during the school year and there are a few requirements that you fulfill.
- International students can work up to 15 hours a week
- During semester holidays international students can work up to 100%.
- Students from outside the EU/EFTA countries may start working only 6 months after starting their degree program.
There you go—the steps of obtaining a student visa in Switzerland. Good luck!
Conclusion
There are many reasons for wanting a student visa in Switzerland. To begin, the country offers several attractive amenities to international students of all kinds from near and far. As an added bonus, the Swiss student visa requirements are relatively simple, although the process will take between two and three months to complete. Whether you choose Touriago or any other company to help you with your visa, you’ll need to provide them with a bundle of stuff like a valid passport, registration at university, proof of sufficient funds for your stay in Switzerland as well as additional documents depending on your current situation and nationality.
As a result of reading travel blogs, as well as spending time on TripAdvisor, we have found that blogging has opened up our eyes to a lot of ideas that we had never thought about before. For example, you could have a list of what to pack with you when travelling to a country that is probably very different from your own (if you are from America for example!). Blogging can also be used as an effective source of tourism, where you can encourage visitors to come and visit the country you live in.