Visa

Before travelling to Switzerland, it is recommended that you take the time find out about the rules for entry and arrival in the country.

Start early the process: do not wait for the last minute

  • Coming to Switzerland as Student with an EU or EFTA passport

    You do not need a visa to enter Switzerland.

    In all cases for a stay of over 90 days within a six-month period, you have to register with the local Migration Office (SPOMI) for a student Residence Permit. 

    EU /EFTA: EU = European Union / EFTA = European Free Trade Association (including: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland)

  • Coming to Switzerland as a Student with a Non-EU or Non-EFTA passport

    The following applies to study visits lasting longer than 90 days:

    Before entering Switzerland

    You will need a student visa. You can obtain the visa application form from the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country of residence. Please note that it takes at least 12 weeks for the visa to be issued. With a tourist visa, you may neither study in Switzerland nor enter the country and later apply for a student visa.

    For the visa application, you must submit at least the following documents:

    1. The confirmation of enrolment letter from the International Relations Office.
    2. A letter in which the student undertakes to leave Switzerland after the end of the study period.
    3. A list of courses you wish to take at the University of Fribourg or the study contract.
    4. A short summary with the schools attended and the certificates, description of the current studies, languages learned, and if applicable internships and/or professional engagements. This summary should also must include the objectives of your study visit. In it, you should mention that you do not wish to obtain a Swiss diploma or Swiss university degree, but that your stay is part of your degree at your home university.
    5. A proof of financial resources: CHF 21’900.- for the whole academic year or CHF 10’950.- for one semester. This proof of fiancial means must be confirmed by an account statement issued by a Swiss bank or by a bank in the country of origin that has a representative office in Switzerland. Please consult the list of officially accredited banks “Authorised banks and securities dealers” by the FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority).

    The Embassy or Consulate may also request additional documentation.

    Note: Students may be requested to prove their foreign language level by prensenting an official language certificate (English, French, German) and an interview at Swiss Embassy. Please contact the Swiss Embassy or Consulate for further information.

    Attention: The above documents are only accepted in French or in German (except for the document "list of courses/study contract/learning agreement" which may be in English) and have to be authenticated by the Swiss representation according to the Immigration Office of the Canton of Fribourg (SPOMI).

    Please leave sufficient time to get the documents translated.

     Important Additional Information:

    Your application is submitted to the Swiss diplomatic representation, which forwards it to the Immigration Office of the Canton of Fribourg (SPOMI). In certain cases, the application documents have to be sent to the State Secretariat for Migration SEM.  In both cases, the administrative fees will be charged.

    Depending on the exchange or scholarship programme, these administrative costs of CHF 95-CHF 130 are advanced by the International Relations Office which pays the invoices on behalf of the applicant. However, the applicant undertakes to repay these fees upon arrival in Fribourg.

    EU /EFTA: EU = European Union / EFTA = European Free Trade Association (including: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland)

  • Researchers

    Before travelling to Switzerland, it is recommended that you find out about the rules for entry and arrival in the country.

    • EU/EFTA nationals: no visa is required to enter Switzerland.
    • Nationals of countries which are not members of the European Union: a visa is required for any stay of more than 90 days.

    Contact the Swiss diplomatic mission in your home country (embassy, consulate general, consulate) AT LEAST 3 MONTHS before your departure to find out about the regulations for entering Switzerland and to apply for a visa. Once you have been admitted to the University of Fribourg (Unifr), the International Relations Office will issue a certificate or proof of registration for your visa application. 

    Your application is submitted to the Swiss diplomatic mission, which sends it to the canton of Fribourg’s immigration department (SPOMI). In certain cases, the application will have to be sent to the Secretary of State for Migration, or SEM. In both cases, the administrative costs will be charged to you.

    Under the exchange or scholarship programme, these administrative costs of CHF 95-CHF 130 are advanced by the International Relations Office which pays the invoices on behalf of the applicant, who pledges to refund them on arrival in Fribourg.

    EU /EFTA: EU = European Union / EFTA = European Free Trade Association (including: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland)

Useful links

Swiss representations

and+ website