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Where to apply for a Schengen visa?

My place of residence 

My visa application should be submitted to

South Africa – all citizens and foreign nationals

VFS Global Call center: + 27 (0) 12 425 3017

 

Angola

Switzerland is represented by:

French Embassy in Luanda

Botswana

Switzerland is represented by:

German Embassy in Gaborone

Lesotho – All citizens and foreign nationals

VFS Global Call center: + 27 (0) 12 425 3017

 

Malawi – All citizen and foreign nationals

Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria (only with prior appointment)

Visa section

Malawi – Holder of Diplomatic, Official and service passport

Switzerland is represented by:

Embassy of Norway

Mauritius – Foreign nationals

Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria (only with prior appointment)

Visa section

Mozambique

Switzerland is represented by:

German Embassy in Maputo

Namibia

Switzerland is represented by:

German Embassy in Windhoek

Eswatini – All citizen and foreign nationals

VFS Global Call center: + 27 (0) 12 425 3017

 

Zambia

Switzerland is represented by:

Embassy of Sweden

To submit visa applications: VFS Global Call center: +164 668 58474

Zimbabwe

Switzerland is represented by:

French Embassy in Harare

Important information for visa applicants living in Zimbabwe

Effective 1 January 2024 Switzerland will no longer be represented by the Embassy of France in Harare. As of 1 January 2024, all visa applications for a Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days should be submitted to VFS Global. VFS Global can be contacted for appointments starting 11 December 2023. Appointments are only available from 1 January 2024 onwards.

National visa applications for a stay of more than 90 days have to be submitted at the Regional Consular Centre Southern Africa in Pretoria, South Africa.

Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)

  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes

  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries

  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Angola

     

  • visa applications of holders of an ordinary passport who have the intention to travel to Switzerland for an official reason including the participation at international conferences and who are not citizens of Angola

Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)

  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes

  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries

  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Botswana

Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)

  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes

  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries

  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Mozambique

Exceptions which have to be submitted to the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)

  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes

  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries

  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Namibia

Exceptions which have to be submitted to Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)

  • visa applications for short stays linked to studies or a study program

  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes

  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries (Citizen of D.R Congo, Eritrea, Irak and Somalia should first contact the Visa Section of the Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria)

Exceptions which have to be submitted to Regional Consular Center Southern Africa in Pretoria:

  • visa applications for short stays linked to a gainful activity (including chauffeurs and journalists)

  • visa applications for short stays linked to studies or a study program

  • visa applications for short stays for medical purposes

  • visa applications for short stays lodged by citizens of certain countries

  • visa applications lodged by holders of diplomatic, service or special passports, who are not citizens of Zimbabwe

Issuing time

As a general rule, a decision is taken by the visa section within 15 calendar days (a shortened or acceleration of the process is not possible). In individual cases this period may be extended.

Please note that no visa information (progress, addition documents, collection date, expediting, etc.) is given by phone or email to the applicant or 3rd parties, after the visa application has been submitted to VFS Global.

Representation agreement

If a State does not have its proper visa section in a country or region, the delivery of a Schengen visa can be delegated to another Schengen State member with an agreement between both countries concerned.

The agreement allows the appointed representation to represent and handle Schengen visa applications within its own competence without consulting the other represented State.

Country / Region Schengen State represented by Switzerland
South Africa - Provinces Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape  Slovak Republic 

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Last update 23.11.2023