Published on 4 March 2026

Authorized Visa

For applicants whose work or residence permit request was submitted directly in Switzerland and has been authorized by the cantonal migration office, or national D visa applications submitted to a Swiss representation which have now been authorized in Switzerland (you have a ZEMIS/SYMIC number or authorization PDF).

• Authorized long-term stays (over 90 days)

  If the authorized stay is for more than 90 days, please submit your application by mail to the Swiss representation responsible for your place of residence.

  Which representation will issue my national D visa?

  Required documents:

  • Original valid passport or travel document (must be valid for at least 3 months past the arrival date, been issued within the past 10 years and have at least 2 blank visa pages)
  • Copy of passport or travel document (photo, data and signature pages only)
  • One loose European size passport color photo according to requirements.
  • One copy of the ZEMIS/SYMIC authorization form
  • Visa fee
  • A prepaid, self-addressed return envelope with a tracking number (XpressPost or Courier). Keep the customer receipt for tracking the envelope.There is no in-person pick up of this type of visa. All passports are returned by post only.

• Authorized short-term stays (less than 90 days)

  If the authorized stay is for less than 90 days within 6 months (also applies to work authorizations for 120 days within 12 months), the entry visa is issued in the form of a Schengen C visa. You must submit your application in person at the Swiss representation responsible for your province, unless your fingerprints were collected within the last 59 month for a previous visa (*).

  Where to apply for a Schengen C visa?

  Required documents:

  • Original valid passport or travel document (must be valid for at least 3 months past the arrival date, been issued within the past 10 years and have at least 2 blank visa pages)
  • Copy of passport or travel document (photo, data and signature pages only)
  • One loose European size passport color photo according to requirements
  • One copy of the ZEMIS/SYMIC authorization form
  • Visa fee
  • A prepaid, self-addressed return envelope with a tracking number (XpressPost or Courier). Keep the customer receipt for tracking the envelope. There is no in-person pick up of this type of visa. All passports are returned by post only.

  (*) the application can be submitted by mail. However, it cannot be determined whether the quality of the biometric data allows copying of the fingerprints from a previous visa until the application is processed. For that reason a personal appearance might still be required.

• Processing time

  The time needed for a visa request to be processed may vary from case to case. It is therefore strongly recommended to take the necessary steps well in advance, so that the visa can be issued in the time required.

  Visa for persons who have already received an authorization from a Swiss cantonal authority or from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM): One to three business days.

  Please note: there is no in-person pick up of this type of visa. All passports are returned by post only.