Visa guidelines
These guidelines help students from European partner universities to apply for their visa. The process can take up to three months. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the correct visa.
You do not need to apply for a visa if you hold a valid and recognized travel document and meet either of the following criteria:
- You are an EU or EFTA citizen.
- You are a non-EU or non-EFTA citizen holding a residence permit or D visa for a Schengen country, which is valid during your exchange semester.
If you are unsure whether you need a visa, consult the external page website of the State Secretariat for Migration, also refer to the list of external page travel documents and external page visa requirements, or check directly with the respective Swiss embassy or consulate abroad.
Visa processing can take up to three months, so it is essential to begin your application as soon as you receive your confirmation of acceptance.
The Student Exchange Office cannot influence the duration or outcome of the visa procedure and cannot advise on visa matters. All questions regarding the visa must be addressed directly to the relevant authorities.
As soon as you receive your confirmation of acceptance from the Student Exchange Office, follow the steps below.
1. Prepare your documents
- external page Application form: "National (type D) visa application form" for stays exceeding three months. Fill it out and indicate the exact dates as in the "Confirmation of acceptance as a mobility student at ETH Zurich".
- Proof of sufficient financial means: PDF "Proof of sufficient financial means" sent to you via email.
- Passport copy: A passport copy with a validity of at least three months over the planned duration of your stay
- Confirmation of ETH: PDF "Confirmation of acceptance as a mobility student at ETH Zurich" sent to you via email.
- Additional documents: Check with the external page Swiss embassy or consulate that covers your place of residence if additional documents are required.
The Immigration Office can ask students aged 30 and over to substantiate their reasons for the continued education and mobility stay.
2. Submit your application
- Submit your complete application at the Swiss embassy or consulate covering your place of residence.
- Verify submission procedures with the embassy or consulate (e.g. in-person or by post) and check if an appointment is required. Appointments may have long waiting times.
3. After the submission
- The embassy or consulate will forward your application to the responsible Immigration Office of the canton Zurich.
- The Immigration Office may request additional documents or information.
- You will be notified when your visa is ready for collection at the embassy or consulate.
4. Fees
Visa and residence permit fees may amount to as much as 400 Swiss francs. They are set by the authorities responsible, according to your student status.
- Inquire early about the visa procedure if you plan on living in a canton other than Zurich.
- You may be required to provide proof of sufficient financial means.
- If you will be studying at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel, you must also consult the information on visa, work and residence permit in the special Download D-BSSE fact sheet (PDF, 173 KB) provided.
- Do not enter Switzerland with a tourist visa.
- Do not enter Switzerland before the start date stated on your official confirmation of acceptance. This also applies if your visa authorisation allows you an earlier entry into Switzerland. The reason is potential issues with your residence permit.
- The visa is not the same as the residence permit. The visa only allows you to enter Switzerland. Therefore, the period indicated on your visa may not necessarily correspond to the duration of your exchange stay in Switzerland.
- Since you are expected to stay longer than three months (90 days) in Switzerland, you have to obtain a residence permit after your arrival in Switzerland. You will receive instructions on how to apply in due time.