Visa Information

Holders of a valid passport (or, in the case of EU member countries, a valid ID card) from the following countries do NOT need a visa to enter Switzerland:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA

Participants from all other countries need to apply for a visa at the nearest Swiss embassy. (Note: Individuals from any country who do already have a Schengen visa valid for the time period of the conference, do not need another visa for Switzerland).

Find the contact information of the Swiss consulate in charge of your visa here.

 To apply for the visa you need

  • Passport valid for at least 3 or even 6 months after your departure date from Switzerland (depending of country of origin)
  • Invitation letter from IAESTE Switzerland
  • Two passport size photos
  • Visa application form 
  • Confirmation of your return flight reservation
  • Travel Insurance (find more information below)
  • Other documents might be required in some countries: It's important that you contact the consulate as soon as possible in order to get information about what other documents are required.

You will receive the invitation letter from IAESTE Switzerland as soon as you got approval from the GS to participate at the conference and sent us the required information.

Please help us to try to avoid visa problems by applying for the visa well in advance! Ideally you should apply for your visa 3 months before the conference.

 Travel Insurance

Information from the Swiss Federal Office of Migration concerning Travel Insurance:

The competent authorities require any person visiting Switzerland to have travel insurance that covers the costs of emergency rescue, repatriation for medical reasons or emergency medical assistance, as well as emergency hospital care in case of accident or sudden illness during the stay. The minimum insurance coverage has to be CHF 30,000.
The travel insurance has to be taken out with an insurance company which
a. has its head offices or a branch in Switzerland, in the Principality of Liechtenstein or in an EU or EFTA State;
b. is authorised to issue travel insurance policies by the supervisory body competent for its head offices.

List of the insurance companies authorised in Switzerland