Do I need a Schengen visa?

Services

Contact the responsible Swiss representation or consulate when you want to register or unregister as a resident, when you need a new passport, have moved or wish to apply for citizenship. The entire selection of services offered can be found in the dropdown menu to the right. The contact details of the responsible Swiss representation are shown on the corresponding page.

Swiss citizens who get into difficulties abroad, also can ask for advice and help from the Swiss representative.

The magazine for the Swiss Abroad appears six times a year and provides information about what is happening at home and the activities of Swiss associations abroad. It also answers administrative questions.

Online desk FDFA

Using the FDFA’s online consular services while abroad.

The relevant Swiss representation abroad can answer any questions concerning the FDFA’s online desk.

My nationality	Obligation to hold a visa (yes/no)
Japan	no

For Japanese citizens - Entry regulations to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein

Japanese citizens do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. However, in the following cases, an assurance of a residence permit must be obtained from the competent cantonal migration office before entering Switzerland:

For stays exceeding 90 days (please see National visa for a stay of more than 90 days),
For employment lasting more than eight days per calendar year, or
From the first day of employment in the main and secondary construction sectors, hospitality industry, cleaning services in businesses and households, surveillance and security services, itinerant trade, erotic industry, or landscaping and gardening.

The assurance of the residence permit is issued directly by the cantonal migration office. The Embassy of Switzerland in Tokyo is not involved in this process.

Regulations for passport:

* Must be valid at least 3 months after your scheduled depart from the Schengen countries

* Must be issued within 10 years

Liechtenstein: The entry and passport regulations are the same as for Switzerland.

Other nationalities

For other nationalities, please refer to the list on the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

SEM – Overview of ID and visa provisions according to the nationality (Annex 1, List 1: nationality)

If you are obliged to hold a visa, please apply for it and refer to the information on the webpage:

Where to apply for a Schengen visa?

If you are not obliged to hold a visa, you are allowed to enter Switzerland resp. the Schengen territory and stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period without any visa.