How do you apply for a visa for Switzerland if you live in the United Arab Emirates?
You apply through VFS Global in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The government fee is EUR 90. Official processing time: A decision is generally taken within 15 days of the application being accepted; in exceptional circumstances it may take longer, for example up to 30 or 60 days.
Key facts
| Fact | What it is |
|---|---|
| Government fee | EUR 90Checked 14 November 2026 against State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
| Where you apply | VFS Global: Abu Dhabi, DubaiChecked 14 November 2026 against Embassy of Switzerland in the UAE (FDFA) |
| Official processing time | A decision is generally taken within 15 days of the application being accepted; in exceptional circumstances it may take longer, for example up to 30 or 60 days.Checked 14 November 2026 against State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) |
| Refusal rate | 21.3% (2025)Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Recent rule change | The Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational: it registers non-EU short-stay travellers, including fingerprints and facial images, at the external borders of 29 European countries and replaces passport stamping. (from 10 April 2026)Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
Documents for this route
These are the documents this route asks for on top of the usual list.
- UAE resident permit valid for another 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen area; for GCC citizens, a UAE ID card valid for 3 months after that date
- Original company letter from the employer on letterhead with contact details, stamped, with the signatory's name and position, stating the company, position, joining date, salary and dates of leave, and confirming that employment continues after the trip; company owners need one too, not signed by themselves
- Trade licence: self-employed persons submit the original; where the sponsor is not a commonly known Swiss or multinational company, also hotel confirmations, the trade licence and bank statements for the last 3 months
- Applicants under a spouse's or parent's visa: NOC letter from the residence visa sponsor
- Travel health insurance issued in the United Arab Emirates (or Bahrain), covering the whole stay in the Schengen area, with at least EUR 30,000 of medical and hospital cover and repatriation; credit card insurance is not accepted
Related pages
Sources
- https://www.schweiz-vereinigtearabischeemirate.eda.admin.ch/dam/en/eda-cms/9n8VuK3cHbR7/202603_VISAC_Checklist_Tourism_private_household.pdfEmbassy of Switzerland in the UAE (FDFA), read 14 November 2026
- https://www.schweiz-vereinigtearabischeemirate.eda.admin.ch/en/application-schengen-visa-procedureEmbassy of Switzerland in the UAE (FDFA), read 14 November 2026
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise/faq.htmlState Secretariat for Migration (SEM), read 14 November 2026
Changes to this page
No changes since this page was published on 14 November 2026.
Who checked this page
Facts checked by Imran AK. Reviewed by Manu KP. Last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Every fact comes from an official page and is checked by two people.