Student Visa Application for Switzerland

EU students do not require a visa for entering Switzerland or studying in Geneva. You are only required to have a European Union ID card or passport. 

If you are a student who comes from one of the EEA countries or EFTA countries, you are required to have a passport. 

Students who are coming to Switzerland from non-EU countries are required to apply for a visa prior to their arrival to Switzerland. SSBM will help you with the process. 

SSBM will provide you with all necessary documents that you will need to complete and take to the Swiss embassy in your country.

• Passport
• Certificate of Enrollment at SSBM Geneva
• Bank Certificate (stating a minimum amount of CHF 30.000.00 in bank account) 
• CV
• Letter of Motivation
• Address of Accommodation in Switzerland
• Two Passport Size Photos
• Copy of Diploma 
• Copy of Transcript of Records
• Acceptance Letter (provided by SSBM)
• Admission Letter (provided by SSBM)
• Return Statement (stating your departure from Switzerland after your studies are completed)
• Completed D Form

In case you are not sure if you need to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland, please check HERE and choose your country of nationality from the drop-down menu at the top.

Applications for a study visa must be submitted to the Swiss Embassy, proceeding in further to the Swiss Cantonal authorities.  The whole process takes up to 4 months.

You should apply for your student visa as soon as you receive your acceptance package.

STEP 1

Make sure you are accepted by SSBM Geneva and have paid at least 30% of the total tuition fee (all fees except the application fee will be refunded in case of “Autorisation habilitant les représentations suisses à délivrer un visa” refusal).

Once SSBM Geneva verifies that this tuition fee has been paid, it will immediately issue a receipt of transaction to the student. This receipt is required by the Swiss Authorities to indicate that the student is serious about his/her intentions to study in Switzerland.

Note: No Visa application will be considered by the Swiss Authorities until this receipt of payment has been issued.

Before we consider your application, you have to settle the application fee in the amount of 200 EUR (non-refundable).

Please find the link to settle the application fee in the text below:

https://apply.e-ssbm.com/applicationfee

Once we receive the payment of your application fee we will proceed with the processing of your application.

STEP 2

Contact the nearest Swiss Embassy or Consulate to your home or place of residence to find out what exactly they require for students from your country and make an appointment with them.

Please contact the SSBM Geneva Admissions Office if you are required to present attestations from the school for any reason.

STEP 3

Prepare the following to present as well as any supplementary paperwork that is required by your local Embassy/Consulate:

• A fully completed and signed application form. Applications, which are not duly completed, dated and signed, will not be accepted.
• Download student visa application form by clicking HERE
• Four recent passport photos per applicant (strict requirements please consult the details on the embassy webpage).
• A copy of the applicant’s valid passport.
• A copy of confirmation/acceptance letter from SSBM Geneva.
• A copy of confirmation of payment of SSBM Geneva tuition fees.
• Proof of financial resources: a) A letter of commitment from your financial guarantor plus his/her recent bank statement, or b) Recent bank statements of the applicant if he/she does not need a guarantor.
• Copies of previous diplomas and school certificates.
• A Curriculum Vitae/Resume (biographical data, schools attended, etc.).
• A letter of intent: indicating the reasons for the applicant’s decision to pursue studies in Switzerland and his/her plans for the future (dated and signed).
• Written commitment to leave Switzerland at the end of the planned studies (dated and signed).

Apply for your visa in the format required by your embassy. Be sure that you give all the required paperwork. Visas will be refused if the application is incomplete.

For any further information, and check for the required documentation (the above might be subject to change), please check HERE.

STEP 4

After submission there follows a waiting period of typically 2-4 months before the student will hear back from the Embassy or Consulate.

Once the visa is issued, the student will be contacted and instructed on how to pick up their visa and on the necessary steps for future admission into Switzerland.

STEP 5

As soon as the student receives confirmation and instructions from the Embassy or Consulate, he/she should immediately make their travel arrangements to come to Switzerland and he/she has 3 months time to pick up the Student Visa from the Canton Vaud.

Please note that the visa has a specific date of entry, which cannot be negotiated.

It is not SSBM Geneva responsibility to assure the receipt of the Student Visa from the Canton Vaud once the student is entered in the Swiss territory.

After submission there follows a waiting period of typically 2-4 months before the student will hear back from the Embassy or Consulate.

Once the visa is issued, the student will be contacted and instructed on how to pick up their visa and on the necessary steps for future admission into Switzerland.