Being a landlocked country and located in Central Europe, Switzerland is a small nation known for its mountainous terrain and beautiful landscapes. About two-thirds of its territory remains covered by mountains, which is the reason why the country’s population is measly around 8.6 million. And even though Switzerland has multiple official languages, German remains the most widely spoken language.
Since 1815, Switzerland has remained a neutral country, which is one of the major reasons why it has remained prosperous and well-developed with a high standard of living. The country’s economy primarily depends on its service sector, which includes the tourism and banking industries, ultimately making it the third-richest landlocked nation in the world. The service sector accounts for more than 70 per cent of Switzerland’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), followed by manufacturing at around 27 per cent and agriculture at around 1 per cent.
Switzerland’s economy also depends on its exports, as it is a leading exporter of high-end clocks and watches. As a result, some of the most well-known luxury watch brands, such as Rolex and Swatch, have set up manufacturing units in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland. And surprisingly, Asia is the largest importer of Swiss watches, accounting for 55 per cent of all watch imports from the country.
If you are planning to visit Switzerland – whether on a short trip or a long vacation – obtaining a necessary visa is a must-have document. Once you have applied for your visa application, you can use our extensive guide to track its progress, giving you a clear idea of when you will receive your processed application.
How Indians Can Check Their Visa Status
If you are an Indian citizen and are looking to opt for a Switzerland visa, then keep in mind that the Switzerland Government has established the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi, India, in conjunction with VFS Global, to not only create the visa application process but also to check its status.
Interested applicants are required to apply for visas via VFS Global centres located in India since the Swiss government does not allow direct online visa applications from India. Once the visa application is submitted to VFS Global, the same will be forwarded to the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi, India, where it will take another 10-15 working days for it to be processed. So, if you have already applied for your Switzerland visa via VFS Global, then you can check its status by simply following the recommended steps below.
- Begin the visa status-checking process by visiting the official website of VFS Global here.
- Proceed to click on “Apply For A Visa > Start Now”.
- In the next step, click on “Track Your Application > View More” and then click on the internal embedded link provided.
- A new web page will open where you will be required to state your application “Reference Number” as well as your “Date Of Birth,” as mentioned in your application.
- Once done, click on Submit,” and your application status will be shown automatically on your screen.
How to Contact For Help?
The ideal way to get in touch directly with the visa authorities is to contact the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi, India, via phone at +91 11 4995 9500. Phone lines are open from Monday to Friday, between 2 PM and 4 PM (excluding public holidays). Additionally, you can also get in touch with the visa authorities in Switzerland via phone at +41 584 844 869.
Apart from that, you can also get in touch with the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi, India, via email at newdelhi.visa@eda.admin.ch.
Overview of Visas
Based on the length of stay and purpose of travel, the Swiss government offers a limited category of visas for visitors or foreigners. To learn more about them, be sure to take a look at the following list in detail.
Schengen Visa (For Stay Up to 90 Days): Applicants who are looking to enter Switzerland only for a short stay that is up to 90 days but limited to a maximum of 180 days will be eligible to opt for the Schengen Visa. The purpose of travel can be in the context of tourism, short-term language studies, visits to friends and/or relatives, participating in sporting or cultural events, taking part in a conference, etc.
National Visa (For Stay More than 90 Days): People who are planning to enter Switzerland for a stay that is more than 90 days but within the maximum 180-day period will have to apply for a National Visa. However, it should be known that the processing of the visa will be subject to the migration authority located at the applicant’s place of residence. Also, the purpose of travel can be family reunification, long-term study, marriage in Switzerland, etc.
Airport Transit Visa: A transit visa will be required by people from certain countries who are looking to stay within the international transit area of an airport in Switzerland and have no intentions of entering Schengen territory.
Labour/Work Permit Visa: If a foreign employee decides to work for an employer situated within Switzerland, then a labour or work permit visa will be required. However, such a visa will only be provided after all the requested authorisations have been delivered.
