student work permit in geneva

Considering studying in Geneva? Your first question is probably “How do I get my student visa?” Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Are you a student looking for a reliable and affordable service for getting your residence permit in Geneva? We offer Visa Assistance for students of all nationalities, providing them with a work permit. If a student wants to extend their stay in Geneva or Switzerland, the first thing they should do is apply to extend their visa before it expires.

The Swiss Government introduced the permit C over 20 years ago and it has changed life for thousands of young foreign people who wish to study in Switzerland. The Swiss Confederation has introduced the student work permit B which allowes young people to undertake part-time work while living in Switzerland.

Geneva is a city where the best things in life are free. It’s also a city where the best things are not free. If you’re planning to study in Geneva, this means your student visa and work permit will cost you some money.

A student visa allows you to stay in Switzerland for up to 12 months, during which time you can study at a university or school. A student visa costs about 160 Swiss francs (CHF), and you must apply for it with an accredited university or school that has already granted you admission.

A work permit is only required if you plan to work part-time while attending classes at an accredited university or school. The cost of obtaining a work permit varies depending on whether it is obtained before or after arriving in Geneva. For example, if you apply for a residence permit before arriving in Switzerland, the fee will be around 800 CHF; however, if you apply after arriving in Switzerland, it will cost around 1,400 CHF.

Who needs a student visa in Switzerland?

Residents from the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) do not need a visa to take up studies in Switzerland. You will only need to prove that you have been accepted onto a course with a registered institution. If you are staying in Switzerland for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a Swiss residence permit from your local canton. Read more in our guide to EU/EFTA citizens moving to Switzerland.

If you are not an EU/EFTA citizen, you will need a Switzerland student visa to study in the country. Residents of certain non-EU/EFTA nations can come to Switzerland for short study courses or training without a visa, as long as they don’t stay in the country for more than 90 days. You can find information on individual countries on the SEM website.

Types of student visas in Switzerland

There are two types of Switzerland student visa:

• The Schengen “C” visa – allows you to stay in Switzerland for up to 90 days so it is perfect for short courses, seminars, summer schools, or language schools.
• The National “D” visa – a long-term study visa that can be used for anything lasting longer than three months, such as degree courses or PhD studies.

Short-term C student visas in Switzerland

If you plan to study in Switzerland for three months or less, you can get a Schengen C visa to cover you for the duration of your stay.

Requirements

You will need to be accepted onto a recognized study course in Switzerland. In addition to this, you will need to purchase health insurance coverage and show that you can support yourself financially during your time in Switzerland.

How to apply

You should apply for a visa through the Swiss embassy or consulate in your home country. You’ll need to complete an application form and submit supporting documentation, in French, German or English, so you may need to translate your documents.

You will need to provide the following along with your visa application:

• Valid passport/travel ID
• Proof of adequate financial resources to cover your costs while you’re in Switzerland
• Healthcare insurance
• Confirmation of booked courses, including fees paid
• If you’re under 18, a birth certificate and authorization to travel if coming to Switzerland alone, or copies of parents’ visas if they will be accompanying

The visa takes around 10-15 days to process.

Visa costs

Switzerland student visa costs are CHF 88. You may have to pay extra (up to 50% above the standard price) if you need the visa fast-tracked or outside of normal working hours. You’ll have to pay along with the application.

Visa length

The C visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. As it’s a Schengen visa, it normally allows the holder to travel around the Schengen Area for as long as it is valid.

You cannot come to Switzerland on a C visa and change it to a long-stay visa after you’ve arrived. Even if you are from a non-EU country exempt from needing an entry visa, you will still need to apply for a residence permit before you arrive if you plan to stay longer than 90 days. If your circumstances change once you are in Switzerland, you should contact your cantonal immigration office.

Long-term D student visas in Switzerland

This Swiss study visa entitles you to come and study any course that lasts for longer than three months.

Requirements

You will need to have an offer to study at a recognized University or educational institution. You can find links to Swiss universities through CRUS (German website for the Rectors Conference of the Swiss Universities). In addition to this, you will need to show that you have the necessary qualifications and attributes to undertake the course you are applying for, sufficient means to support yourself financially, and health insurance coverage for your stay.

For some courses, you may also be asked to sit a language test to make sure that you will be able to follow lessons.

How to apply

You should apply for your Switzerland student visa at the Swiss Embassy or consulate in your home country once you have been accepted onto a study course. Processing times for the D visa are typically 8-10 weeks, so it’s advisable to give yourself 3-6 months to apply.

In addition to submitting the visa application form, you will need to provide:

• Valid passport/travel ID
• Proof of adequate financial resources to cover your costs while you’re in Switzerland, such as copies of bank statements or a letter from the bank
• Proof of healthcare insurance which includes cover for accidents
• Personal study plan with information on the purpose of your studies and your motivation for doing them
• Confirmation of enrolment at a recognized Swiss educational institution and of any course fees paid
• Your CV
• Copies of previous educational certificates and diplomas
• A signed letter confirming that you will leave Switzerland at the end of the course

Visa costs

Your Swiss student D visa will cost you CHF 88. You may have to pay extra (up to 50% above the standard price) if you need the visa fast-tracked or outside of normal working hours. You’ll have to pay along with the application.

In addition to this, you will need to pay for your Swiss residence permit which you will require to stay in Switzerland for longer than 90 days. Costs are around CHF 160.

Visa length

Swiss student visas are initially valid for one year, however, they can be extended for the duration of your study if you are enrolled for a longer course such as a degree. You can apply for a visa extension at your cantonal immigration office. Typically, you’ll have to provide evidence that you are still enrolled in the course and haven’t dropped out.

Working During and After the Study Program:

The students from EFTA/EU are allowed for studying and working in Switzerland for fifteen hours each week without needing a work permit while they Study in Switzerland. The students of other countries face stricter regulations. Only some highly qualified individuals are eligible for the work permits while others need to wait for six months after arriving in the country. In terms of work permits after study in Switzerland, students are allowed to remain in the country for six months after completion of the degree to look for jobs. The Switzerland Visa for a work permit is given to successful job applicants.

• If you find an employer offering you a job, they will apply for your permit for a Swiss Work Visa.
• During the job-hunt after the studies are over, one can work for 15 hours a week as a part-time employee.
• A language test may be required, also the financial proof that you can sustain yourself in Switzerland during your stay.
• A residency proof for the residency permit extension, where you will be staying in Switzerland once your studies are over. The extension can be done for only 6 months.
•  As said, the duration of the Stay Back in Switzerland will be 6 months after graduation.
• Work Permit will be valid as long as you are employed with a Swiss Employer.
• If you want to become a Permanent Resident (PR in Switzerland), you must have lived in Switzerland for 10 Years.

Conclusion

If you have ever wondered how to get a student work permit in Geneva or had a question about whether you could get one and started to look for an answer, then you have probably found yourself lost among many sites and pages. I have read the most important articles, posts and pages that tell you what to do and where to go to get a student work permit in Geneva. This information is important because it can help out foreigners who want to come live in Switzerland and at the same time do an apprenticeship or internship in Geneva or anywhere else in Switzerland.

We believe that you will agree that the website has been developed to a very high standard. It remains easy to navigate, clear and effective throughout. The addition of catalogues contribute enormously to the website giving far more information than previously available. We hope that you found the site as interesting and dynamic as we did and discover it should be an invaluable tool for both current and future tourism students.