How to get a Switzerland visa from Botswana

• Switzerland issues a tourist visa to individuals who are travelling for tourism or sightseeing purposes.
• If you want to visit friends and families, attend cultural exhibitions or festivals then you are also eligible for this visa.
• To apply for a Swiss tourist visa, submit a correctly filled and signed visa application form along with two passport-size colored photographs.
• The passport should be taken less than 6 months from the application date and should be glued not stapled to the form.
• Children under 18 years of age are to present their original birth certificate, ID cards/ passports of parents or legal guardians, and copies of parents visas.
• A Botswana national passport issued within 10 years of the visa application with at least three months validity left from the intended date of departure from Switzerland will be required.
• South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Namibia have to apply for a Swiss visa at the South African embassy website.
• It takes about 10 days for the visa to be processed. Nonetheless, applications should be submitted 90 days before the travel date to Switzerland.
• Employed applicants are to present a signed letter from their employer in Botswana addressed to the Swiss embassy stating the purpose of the trip, duration of state and monthly wages of the individual.
• A photocopy of hotel bookings should be provided for those with no hosts in Swiss while individuals that intend to stay with friends or families should present a cover letter from the host.
• The cover letter should state the relationship between the invitee and the invited. It should also contain the address and contact details of the invitee.
• Tourists are to provide details of the pre-paid tour with proof of payments to the tour guide.
• Switzerland tourist visa allows for a 90 days maximum stay and permits single, double or multiple entries.
• All applicants are to have medical insurance worth Eur 30,000 and valid through the duration of their visit.
• Sufficient funds (approx. CHF 100.00 per day for Adults and approx. CHF 30.00 for students) will be required.

• Business visa is issued to foreign nationals who intend to travel for commercial and trade activities.
• It is also issued for the purposes of conferences, seminars and exhibitions.
• If you are travelling to attend a conference, pre-registration is required and the proof of reservation and payment will have to be presented during an application.
• All documents must be complete and photocopied. The embassy will not make copies on behalf of the applicant.
• Round trip reservation and trip itinerary is required. It should include entry and exit dates and flight number. Applicants are advised not to buy an actual ticket until the visa has been approved so a dummy ticket would do.
• An invitation letter from the host company in Switzerland stating the purpose and duration of the trip should be presented.
• If the host company/organization will provide funds for the trip, it should be stated in the invitation letter.
• In the case that the company will not cover the costs, the applicant should provide a recent bank statement bearing the original bank stamp and applicant details. This will serve as proof of sufficient funds.
• Applicants applying for a 1-year multiple-entry visa should provide the details on how frequent the meetings between the Switzerland company and the individual will be.
• Employed applicants must present a letter from their employer stating that the employer is aware of the trip and approves of it.
• Self-employed applicants should submit an original certificate of business registration and income tax revenue (ITR).
• For official visits a Note Verbal from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation or any other relevant South African Ministerial Department is required.
• All visa applications should be done through the Switzerland embassy in South Africa.
• If you have an official invitation letter from an International Organizations (UN, WHO, WTO, BIS, ITU, ILO, etc) to attend a conference, your visa is free of charge.
• However, other adult applicants are to pay a fee of USD$64 (970 ZAR) for a visa.
• Visa fees are non-refundable.

The months of April-June and September-October are considered the best time to visit Switzerland. These seasons are called the 'shoulder' seasons and the weather is usually warm and pleasant. Tourists also visit less during this period.

Even though Switzerland is a European country, it is not part of the European Union and as such does not use the Euro. The official currency of Switzerland is Swiss Franc (or Franken or franco, depending on the language area) and its symbol is CHF, placed immediately before the amount with no space in between.

To avoid a bill of hundreds of thousands, it is advisable to get a Switzerland pre-paid public phone. The phones are usually cheap and have a GSM standard of 900/1800Mhz bands. There are lots of network providers in the country but Swisscom mobile network coverage is the best, close to 100% by area, even in the mountainous, and non-populated areas.