Visas to study in Switzerland
For stays of 90 days or less:
Students coming from a member country of the ALCP (Free Movement of Persons Agreement)*:
These students are allowed to enter Switzerland and stay in the country due to the agreement of free movement of persons. So you have the possibility to enter Switzerland just with your valid passport or identity card.
To enter Switzerland:
- Passport or identity card
- No visa required
Students coming from a country NOT member of the ALCP (Free Movement of Persons Agreement)*
Tourist visa required for some nationalities ( Overview of ID and Visa provisions for entry into Switzerland)
For stays of more than 90 days
Students coming from a member country of the ALCP (Free Movement of Persons Agreement)*:
You are allowed to enter Switzerland and stay in the country due to the agreement of free movement of persons. So you have the possibility to enter Switzerland just with your valid passport or identity card, and you can inquire your authorization to stay in the country directly at your commune of residence.
To enter Switzerland:
- Passport or identity card
- No visa required
Permit of residence in Switzerland:
You have to apply for the permit of residence either at the foreigners’ office of the commune where you will be living, or (if you are not in Switzerland yet) at the population service of the canton where you’ll be staying.
Announce of arrival in Switzerland:
The student has to announce their arrival in Switzerland to the population service of the commune where they will be staying within 8 days after they arrived.
Documents to provide:
1. Report of arrival for students coming from a member country of the ALCP
2. Valid identity documents (e.g. passport)
3. Proof of financial means, namely all documents concerning revenues and fortune
4. Confirmation of definite registration with a school and of the length of studies at this school
Announce of departure from Switzerland:
The departure of the student has to be announced to the service of the population of the commune of residence
Students coming from a country which is NOT member of the ALCP (Free Movement of Persons Agreement)*:
To enter Switzerland :
The student has to apply for a student visa at the Swiss embassy in their country
Permit of residence in Switzerland:
The permit of residence has to be requested at the service of the population of the canton in Switzerland where the student intends to do their studies. The application for this permit has do be done at the same time as the application for the student visa at the Swiss embassy!!! The student has to wait for the answer to their application for a residence permit in their country.
Documents to provide:
1. Form « Application for a temporary residence permit for study purposes in the canton of Vaud»
2. Confirmation of studies from the school - Proof of payment of school fees for the first 6 months
3. Letter of motivation
4. Curriculum vitae
5. Confirmation of language knowledge
6. Financial means (student has to fill out the form of SPOP which is included in the form « application for a temporary resident permit »)
7. Previous Swiss residence permit
8. Written undertaking to leave Switzerland at the end of the planned studies
9. Guardianship of a minor
10. Grant holder
11. Identity documents
Announce of arrival in Switzerland:
The student has to announce their arrival in Switzerland to the population service of the commune where he will be staying within 8 days after he arrived.
Documents to provide:
1. Report of arrival for students coming from country which is NOT member of the ALCP
2. Copy of the identity documents (e.g. passport)
3. Copy of the proof of financial means (namely all documents concerning revenues and fortune)
4. Confirmation of definite registration with a school and of the length of studies at this school
Announce of departure from Switzerland:
The departure of the student has to be announced to the service of the population of the commune of residence
*The following countries have signed the Agreement on free movement of persons (ALCP):
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom.
