C


C

Country
(Countries in italics: not recognized by Switzerland)
National passports and other travel documents authorizing entry into Switzerland Visa required for stays of up to 90 daysB) Visa required for stays of more than 90 daysC)
Cambodia see A) Yes V Yes V
Cameroon see A) Yes V 
M*: D, S
Yes V 
F: D, S
Canada see A) No V1 Yes V
Cape Verde see A) Yes V Yes V
Central African Republic see A) Yes V Yes V
Chad see A) Yes V Yes V
Chile see A) No V1 Yes V
China (People’s Republic of China)
also see Hong Kong and Macao
see A) Yes V 
M: D
Yes V 
F: D
Colombia see A) No V1 Yes V 
F: D, S, SP, OP
Comoros see A) Yes V Yes V
Congo (Brazzaville) see A) Yes V Yes V
Congo (Democratic Republic) see A) Yes V Yes V
Costa Rica see A) No V1 Yes V  
Côte d’Ivoire see A) Yes V
M: D, S
Yes V
F: D, S
Croatia
(Schengen)
ID No   No  
Cuba see A) Yes V 
M: D, S, SP
Yes V 
F: D, S, SP
Cyprus
(futur Schengen member)
ID  
CYP-1
No   No  
Czech Republic (Schengen) ID No   No  

 

  1. Third-country nationals (non EU/EFTA), regardless of their visa obligation status, wishing to enter the Schengen Area for a short-term stay (without exercising a gainful occupation) not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period must be in possession of a recognised travel document that meets both of the following two requirements:
  • The travel document is valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area; and
  • it was issued within the last 10 years (the date of issue only concerns entry into the Schengen Area).

The travel document’s date of issue is the determining factor, regardless of any decision made by the authorities to extend the period of validity.

The two conditions mentioned above do not apply to travel documents of third-country nationals who hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen country, 

List of residence permits issued by Schengen Member States (PDF, 926 kB, 06.03.2024)
(Annex EU-2 to Visa Handbook I)

or to persons who were issued a valid category D visa for a long-term stay by a Schengen country (national visa, considered as equivalent to a residence permit[1]). In such cases, the travel document must be valid at the time of entry and remain valid for the entire duration of the planned stay in Switzerland or in any other Schengen country.

Please find travel documents entitling the holder to cross the external borders in the following document:

Table of recognised travel documents
(Annex EU-10 to Visa Handbook I)

To ensure that the most recent documents are available at all times, reference is made to the website of the European Commission. The documents can be found at the bottom of the page under "Related documents": (Travel documents issued by third countries and territorial entities (Part I); Travel documents issued by Member States (Part II); Travel documents issued by international organisations and other entities subject to international law (Part III); List of known fantasy and camouflage passports).

  1. The maximum duration of short stays within the Schengen Area is 90 days in any 180-day period. The entry and departure dates are also used in the calculation of the duration of stay.
  2. For stays in Switzerland of more than 90 days, a residence permit is required. In principle, this residence permit has to be filed before entering Switzerland at the cantonal migration office. The same applies also to nationals of countries who are exempt from the obligation to hold a visa for stays of more than three months. 

______
[1] Temporary stay permits shall not be considered as equivalent to a residence permit, since these documents are only issued for the time period required to review an initial application for a residence permit or an application for asylum.

Last modification 01.01.2023

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