Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation (Latin: Confoederatio Helvetica, hence its abbreviation CH), is a country in Europe. The Swiss Confederation is a federal directorial republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities, called Bundesstadt ("federal city"). The country is situated in Western and Central Europe, where it is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km2 (15,940 sq mi). While the Alps occupy the greater part of the territory, the Swiss population of approximately 8 million people is concentrated mostly on the Plateau, where the largest cities are to be found; among them are the two global and economic centres of Zürich and Geneva.
Tourists are drawn to Switzerland's Alpine climate and landscapes, in particular for skiing and mountaineering. As of 2011, tourism accounted for an estimated 2.9% of Switzerland's gross domestic product.
Tourism begins with British mountaineers climbing the main peaks of the Bernese Alps in the early 19th century (Jungfrau 1811, Finsteraarhorn 1812). The Alpine Club in London is founded in 1857. Reconvalescence in the Alpine climate, in particular from Tuberculosis, is another important branch of tourism in the 19th and early 20th centuries for example in Davos, Graubünden. Because of the prominence of the Bernese Alps in British mountaineering, the Bernese Oberland was long especially known as a tourist destination. Meiringen's Reichenbach Falls achieved literary fame as the site of the fictional death of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (1893). The first organised tourist holidays to Switzerland were offered during the 19th century by the Thomas Cook and Lunn Travel companies.
Official statistics of tourism were planned since 1852, but were only realized from 1934, and continued until 2003. Since 2004, the Federal Statistical Office had discontinued its own statistics, but collaborates with Switzerland Tourism in the publication of yearly "Swiss Tourism Figures". In the year 2011 as a total number of 4,967 registered hotels or hostels, offering a total of 240,000 beds in 128,000 rooms. This capacity was saturated to 41.7% (compared to 39.7% in 2005), amounting to a total of 38.8 million lodging nights. 14% of hotels were in Grisons, 12% each in the Valais and Eastern Switzerland, 11% in Central Switzerland and 9% in the Bernese Oberland. The ratio of lodging nights in relation to resident population ("tourism intensity", a measure for the relative importance of tourism to local economy) was largest in Grisons (8.3) and Bernese Oberland (5.3), compared to a Swiss average of 1.3. 56.4% of lodging nights were by visitors from abroad (broken down by nationality: 16.5% Germany, 6.3% UK, 4.8% USA, 3.6% France, 3.0% Italy).
The total financial volume associated with tourism, including transportation, is estimated to CHF 35.5 billion (as of 2010) although some of this comes from fuel tax and sales of motorway vignettes. The total gross value added from tourism is 14.9 billion. Tourism provides a total of 144,838 full time equivalent jobs in the entire country. The total financial volume of tourist lodging is 5.19 billion CHF and eating at the lodging provides an additional 5.19 billion. The total gross value added of 14.9 billion is about 2.9% of Switzerland's 2010 nominal GDP of 550.57 billion CHF.
The major airport of Switzerland is at Zurich, main railway connections are to Geneva, Zurich and Basel. The main connection across the Alps is via the Gotthard tunnels (road and railway).
The most visited Swiss tourist attractions are first, the Rhine Falls, second, the Berne Bear exhibit (both for free), and third, with over 1.8 million paid entries: Zoo Basel.
Apply Switzerland Visa from India
Indian citizens can apply for Switzerland Visa from India. Read documents requirement, eligibility criteria and fill the application form. Indian nationals apply online, select visa type and obtain visa fast and easy. Get complete visa assistance by our customer executives viz; form filling, your visa category, instructions, etc. for different countries.
Tourist Visa Requirements:
- Visa application (completed and signed by the holder of the passport submitted).
- Indian Passport with a validity of at least three months beyond the date of intended stay with two blank pages. Passports valid for more than 10 years will not be accepted as the main required travel document.
- Copy of the valid visas (if any).
- Your previous passport if available.
- Clear photocopy of the first and last page of the passport.
- Two recent passport size colour photographs (35 x 45 mm in width) with a plain light background (white or off-white), close-up 70-80% of the photograph. Photographs taken with a digital camera must be high quality colour and printed on photo-quality paper. One photograph to be pasted (please do not staple) on the visa application form. The second one to be attached with a paper clip to the form (should not be pasted or stapled). Scanned and color photocopies will not be accepted.
- A covering letter on a business letterhead from your employer/company stating your position and the length of your service and no objection certificate for the planned trip to Switzerland/Schengen countries, mentioning the dates and the purpose of the trip.
- If an applicant is submitting the applications of his/her family, then all applications must have a copy of the covering letter.
- Evidence of sufficient financial means and proof of accommodation in Switzerland/Schengen Countries (e.g. hotel confirmation, bookings of the entire stay, receipt of paid package tour). A copy of the confirmed return ticket to India or confirmation of reservation.
- A copy of the confirmed return ticket to India or confirmation of reservation.
- Visas for UK and U.S.A to be obtained first in case the applicant visits any of these countries before Switzerland/Schengen Countries.
- Personal & company's Income Tax Returns for last 2 years.
- Latest 3 months personal & company's bank statements should have the bank seal.
- Business registration certificate/Partnership Deed/Proof of proprietorship.
- For employees:- Latest 3 months salary slips and salary bank account statements with bank seal.
- For children (under 18 years of age) travelling alone, an authorisation letter signed by both parents with their passports or a notarised affidavit signed by both parents is required.
- A copy of the identity card and no objection certificate from the school, institute or college for the planned trip to Switzerland mentioning the dates of the trip.
- A copy and original marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages of the concerned State, duly legalised by the competent State Home Ministry or names of spouses endorsed on the passports.
- If you have been refused a visa by an Embassy or High Commission in the last 2 years: Refusal notice or a written explanation about reason for trip and refusal is to be submitted.
- Overseas Medical Insurance policy.
- Minimum coverage of 30,000 Euro per person.
- Coverage of all expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and / or emergency hospital treatment.
- The insurance has to cover the entire stay in Schengen territory.
- Applicants who wish to apply for a six months or one year multiple entry visa are not obliged to provide a 365 (180) day coverage. It will be sufficient to submit an insurance policy covering the first journey. In addition to that a declaration for covering further journeys accordingly needs to be filled and signed by the applicant.
- We provide Travel Medical Insurance for Schengen Visa.
- The submission and collection of your visa application and passport from Visas of The World can be done either by the applicant himself/herself or through any authorized person who bears an original authorization letter signed by the applicant and a photo-ID.
- The visa is processed through Visas of The World in New Delhi.
For visitors:- Apart from the above mentioned documents, an Invitation Letter by the Host in Switzerland mentioning the name of the Applicant/s , the duration of their stay and taking guarantee of expenses, should be provided. A copy of the Host's Swiss passport or (if he/ she is not a Swiss) Residence Permit and Indian passport (first & last page) should also directly be sent to the Embassy by fax. (Fax No.91-11-26870652).
Family Visit:- A Guarantee form, issued by the Embassy should be sent to the Sponsor in Switzerland. He/ she needs to approach the Cantonal Police for Foreigners for the visa. If approved, the Authorities will send the approval directly to the Embassy. A copy will be sent to the Sponsor. Visa is issued according to the confirmation of entry and exit on the air ticket and according to valid neighbouring visas. Processing time is 3 working days.
Honeymoon couples:- The original Marriage Certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages of the concerned State and duly legalized by the competent State Home Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs is needed. Alternatively, the names of spouses should be endorsed in the passports. The Wedding Invitation Card as well as 5 marriage photographs with couple and family (will be returned) are also to be submitted along with the visa application.
For Events:- An Invitation by the Event Host in Switzerland mentioning the Name of the Applicant, the duration of his/ her stay and guaranteeing to bear the expenses (if it be the case) is required. One such copy is to be attached with application and another should be directly sent to the Embassy by fax by the Invitee in Switzerland.
Please Note:
- Children under 6 years are exempt from the payment of visa fee.
- Students interview / Language Gradation is charged INR 5300/- (in addition to visa fee).
- Postal/ Referral fee of INR 400/- would be charged for certain visa applications i.e. student, dependent, formal decision etc. (in addition to visa fee).
Business Visa Requirements:
- Visa application (completed and signed by the holder of the passport submitted).
- Indian Passport with a validity of at least three months beyond the date of intended stay with two blank pages. Passports valid for more than 10 years will not be accepted as the main required travel document.
- Your previous passport if available.
- Clear photocopy of the first and last page of the passport.
- Copy of the valid visas (if any).
- Two recent passport size colour photographs (35 x 45 mm in width) with a plain light background (white or off-white), close-up 70-80% of the photograph. Photographs taken with a digital camera must be high quality colour and printed on photo-quality paper. One photograph to be pasted (please do not staple) on the visa application form. The second one to be attached with a paper clip to the form (should not be pasted or stapled). Scanned and color photocopies will not be accepted.
- A letter from your employer stating your position, your length of service, the reason for your visit and, if your expenses are being covered by your employer.
- A copy of the invitation letter from the host organization on its business letterhead has to be sent directly to the embassy on +91 11 26870652 or by e-mail at visa@ndh.rep.admin.ch.
- Visas for UK and U.S.A to be obtained first in case the applicant visits any of these countries before Switzerland/Schengen Countries.
- If you have been refused a visa by an Embassy or High Commission in the last 2 years: Written explanation about reason for trip and refusal.
- Overseas Medical Insurance policy.
- Minimum coverage of 30,000 Euro per person.
- Coverage of all expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and / or emergency hospital treatment.
- The insurance has to cover the entire stay in Schengen territory.
- Applicants who wish to apply for a six months or one year multiple entry visa are not obliged to provide a 365 (180) day coverage. It will be sufficient to submit an insurance policy covering the first journey. In addition to that a declaration for covering further journeys accordingly needs to be filled and signed by the applicant.
- We provide Travel Medical Insurance for Schengen Visa.
- A copy of the confirmed return ticket to India or confirmation of reservation.
- Copy of Hotel confirmation is required.
- Personal and company's Income Tax Returns (for the last 2 years) and bank statements for the latest 3 months with bank seal.
- For employees:- salary slips, salary bank account statements (latest 3 months) with bank seal and personal income Tax Returns for the last 2 years.
- Business correspondence.
- Qualification certificates, company's registration, partnership deed, proof of proprietorship etc.
- Processing time is minimum 7 to 10 working days.
- The submission and collection of your visa application and passport from Visas of The World can be done either by the applicant himself/herself or through any authorized person who bears an original authorization letter signed by the applicant and a photo-ID.
- The visa is processed through Visas of The World in New Delhi.
