How to get a Switzerland visa from Zambia

• The Swiss tourist visa is available for Zambians traveling to Switzerland for tourism.
• The Switzerland tourist, visit or business visas all fall under Category C Visa. They are all Schengen short-stay visas.
• A short-stay visa could allow for single entry, double-entry or multiple entries. This is dependent on the type of visa you apply for and your reasons for applying.
• The short-term Swiss Schengen tourist visa is valid for 90 days.
• A foreign national who wants to enter and reside in the territory of Switzerland must be able to attest to having at least 100 CHF or 92.34 euros to spend each day of their stay in Switzerland.
• Travelers backpacking through Switzerland should budget at least 70-108 CHF (60-100 euros) per day.
• The mid-range budget for daily spending in Switzerland is 230-270 CHF (211-247 Euros) while the luxury budget is 490+ CHF (450+ Euros).
• Retired applicants are required to bring their pension statements from the last six months.
• If your trip to Switzerland is being sponsored, you will need to submit the sponsor's bank statements, salary slips and a copy of their passport. Yow will also need a signed letter from your sponsor stating their intention to sponsor your trip and stay in Switzerland.
• If you are traveling in the mountains, it is nice to keep an eye on weather reports and forecasts. This is because the weather can be unpredictable and at times very extreme.
• Vaccinations for the following are recommended for travel to Switzerland:
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Meningitis
• Polio
• Measles
• Mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• Pneumonia.

• The Swiss business visa is for business-oriented Zambians visiting Switzerland to improve business relationships with partner companies.
• An invitation letter is required from the Swiss company you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit.
• A letter is needed from your employer stating/allowing your business travel.
• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies, proof of such events must be provided.
• A business bank statement for the latest 6 months is to be provided.
• Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint-stock companies), Trade License (first issued and present renewal), and Proprietorship/Partnership documents are all required.
  
• Regarding the applicant’s expenses during stay in the Schengen zone, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.
• To avoid delay when submitting your application form, you are advised to hold the equivalent of 60 euros in your country's currency.
• If you are to submit the application to the Switzerland embassy in Zambia, you should hold the equivalent of the application fee in Zambian Kwacha.

• The medical visa enables Zambians to visit Switzerland in order to receive medical treatment while they are in the country.
• A medical report from your local doctor should be provided. The report should include your diagnosis and the reason the treatment is best gotten in Switzerland.
• The date of your appointment and your medical situation should be stated in the attestation from the hospital in Switzerland.
• If you have a pre-existing health condition, you should buy medical travel insurance before visiting Switzerland. You must tell the insurance company about any pre-existing health conditions you have, to make sure you can get the cover you need.
• You may need a personal license to take controlled/prescribed medicines from Zambia to Switzerland.
• You are required to have travel health insurance covering hospital costs, accidents service provided by doctors and medical transport and rescue.
• If you are employed, a letter from your employer is required. Your employer should state in the letter that he is aware of your leave. Your position and how long you have been employed in the company should be clearly stated.
• For those retired, a document showing pension statements and other forms of financial support should be provided.
• Payment receipt of medical fees should be tendered during the visa application process.
• Minors must ensure that they possess the original copy of their birth certificate. If they are traveling alone or with one of their parents, a document of consent which is signed by both parents of the minor should be provided.
• At the end of your treatment, you are expected to leave the country immediately.

• Zambians looking to study in Switzerland are eligible for the Swiss student visa.
  
• You have to decide what you want to study before starting your student visa application process. After being accepted at a Swiss university, you will get an acceptance letter required for visa application.
• An original Zambian passport with a validity of at least three months beyond the planned stay is required.
• A letter of acceptance issued by a Swiss university must be provided.
• Proof of payment of the registration and tuition fees (original and copy) is required.
• A letter is required from the institution in case all expenses for the study will be covered by scholarship or loan.
• A letter of motivation is also necessary.
• Switzerland recognizes two types of student visa:
• Type C visa – for short courses (summer schools, language schools) that last only for three months.
• Type D visa – for courses that last longer than three months.
• If you apply for a Type D visa and plan to stay in Switzerland longer than three months, you will have to arrange to get your residence permit from the cantonal migration offices within 14 days after your arrival.
  
• Proof of sufficient financial means for coverage of living costs in Switzerland for the duration of schooling is required. Students are required to provide evidence of having 21,000 CHF or 19,200 EUR at the beginning of each year of studies.
• International students can take up part-time work for up to 15 hours a week during the semester and they can work full-time during holidays. But you have to have lived in Switzerland for six months before you can take a job as a student.
• It is better to schedule the appointment for a visa interview as early as 6 months before your planned day of travel to Switzerland, but no later than ten weeks before.
• There are no specific language(including Switzerland official languages Romansh) requirements for a study visa for Switzerland. On the other hand, universities will require proof of language proficiency when you apply.
• In some cases, the embassy will want to evaluate your language knowledge based on a short interview at the consulate or even an oral and written test.
• Unless the application form and all required documents are in French, German or English, you will need a certified translation of all documents into one of these languages.

• The official visa is for government officials who are visiting Switzerland to foster the relationship between Zambia and Swiss governments.
• A diplomatic note from the Zambian government is required. The note should contain your position in government, duration, and purpose of your visit to the country.
• A copy of the original invitation letter should be provided.
• Applicants of this Swiss visa are Heads of State, Consular officers, ministers, and African Union representatives.
• Asides Head of States, if your purpose of visiting Switzerland is non-official, the Swiss visa appointment will not be issued to you.
• If you are traveling with a minor, the original copy of the minor’s birth certificate should be presented during the Swiss visa application process.
• You can attend conferences and meetings while you are in the country.
• Holders of this visa are not allowed to take up a course of study or be paid for services they render in the country.
• Diplomats cannot receive payment for the services they render in the country.
• A valid means of identification of the applicant is mandatory.

The women wear long-sleeved jackets, silk aprons, and straw with ribbons dangling from the brim. Gold lace caps are also a traditional female costume. In Unterwalden, the women wear silver ornamented dresses. In the Alpine areas, the men wear traditional leather shorts (lederhosen) with leather boots.