This page provides information for Chinese travelers planning to travel both to Switzerland and the Schengen Area during the same trip.

Under an international treaty known as the Schengen Agreement, only one visa is needed for travelling within the countries member of this Agreement.

These countries are known as the Schengen Area. It covers most but not all European countries. For details, see below about the Schengen Agreement in general.

Switzerland has joined the Schengen Agreement and has started delivering Schengen visas to Chinese travelers as of 12 December 2008.

As a result Chinese travelers do not need two separate visas anymore (a Swiss and a Schengen one) as they did in the past.

For the latest news, read the media release of 28 November 2008 of the Embassy of Switzerland in China. [en] [cn]

Whether you need to apply to the Swiss consulate or to the consulate of one of the other Schengen State you plan to visit depends of a number of factors, in particular the main purpose of your trip.
What such "main purpose" is subject to the appreciation of the Schengen Area authorities and may not match your assessment. In case of doubt, consult with the consulate or contact us.

For more details about the Schengen Agreement in general, browse the dedicated webpage and related weblinks on the website of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [en] [de] [fr]

For applying for a Swiss/Schengen Visa, go back to the Swiss Visa page.

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