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Student visa for Switzerland
Money to show for the visa: CHF 21,000 for twelve months (canton of Zurich). Work while you study: 15 hours a week in term, starting six months after your course begins. Checked against the official pages on 24 September 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- CHF 21,000 for twelve months (canton of Zurich)
- Visa fee
- CHF 50-100 at the embassy, plus cantonal permit fees
- Work while you study
- 15 hours a week in term, starting six months after your course begins
- Stay after you graduate
- 6 months to look for a job
Set by each canton, not nationally. Geneva asks for CHF 20,000 for a year of study. Check the canton where your university is.
Canton of Zurich Migration Office, checked 2026-09-24
For Zurich, the University of Zurich lists CHF 95 to the Migration Office and CHF 162 for registration on arrival.
University of Zurich, checked 2026-09-24
Your employer applies, and your university must confirm the work will not delay your studies. Full time in holidays.
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked 2026-09-24
From the end of your course at a Swiss higher education institution. The job must match your qualifications.
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), checked 2026-09-24
Worth knowing: Funds and permit fees are set by each canton, and students cannot work at all in their first six months.
The visa
You need a national (D) visa to enter, then a residence permit for study from the cantonal migration office where your university is. The canton decides, not a federal authority, and requirements vary.
Fees. For Zurich, the University of Zurich lists CHF 50-100 at the Swiss embassy or consulate, CHF 95 to the Migration Office, and CHF 162 for registration on arrival. ETH gives slightly different figures for the permit itself (about CHF 144 for non-EU students plus about CHF 40 for registration), which reflects how fees differ by office and permit stage. Budget roughly CHF 300-400 in total and check your canton's fee table.
The money is set by the canton.
- Zurich: the cantonal Migration Office treats CHF 21,000 for twelve months as sufficient. The University of Zurich states it can be shown through a Swiss bank account in your name or a guarantee declaration from a Swiss resident.
- Geneva: the cantonal office asks for CHF 20,000 for a year of study, or a regular income of at least CHF 2,500 a month, shown by bank statements or a sponsor's financial support form.
For other cantons, such as Vaud (EPFL, Lausanne), Basel, Bern or St. Gallen, check the cantonal migration office or your university's international office. Do not assume the Zurich figure applies.
Other documents. Non-EU applicants in Geneva must also provide a CV, a motivation letter, a detailed study plan, a criminal record extract and a written commitment to leave Switzerland after your studies. Many cantons ask for similar documents.
Timing. The University of Zurich tells students to contact the Swiss representation at least three months before they plan to enter, and notes that the visa is generally valid from only two to three weeks before the semester starts, however early you applied. Never enter on a tourist visa: it cannot be converted into a residence permit once you are in Switzerland. After arrival, you register within 14 days and have your biometrics taken.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
No student visa is needed: citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland may live and study in Switzerland. For more than three months you normally register your residence after you arrive, and show that you are enrolled, insured and can support yourself.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of Switzerland that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: zh.ch · uzh.ch · sem.admin.ch · ge.ch · ethz.ch · ethz.ch. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
Government scholarships to study in Switzerland
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships see the official page for dates
Which of these are open to your nationality
By nationality
From Algeria
From Armenia
From Azerbaijan
From Bangladesh
From Brazil
From Cameroon
From Canada
From China
From Colombia
From Egypt
From Ethiopia
From Georgia
From Ghana
From India
From Indonesia
From Iran
From Iraq
From Japan
From Jordan
From Kazakhstan
From Kenya
From Lebanon
From Malaysia
From Mexico
From Morocco
From Nepal
From Nigeria
From Pakistan
From Philippines
From Russia
From Saudi Arabia
From Senegal
From South Africa
From South Korea
From Sri Lanka
From Syria
From Tanzania
From Tunisia
From Türkiye
From Uganda
From Ukraine
From United Arab Emirates
From United States
From Uzbekistan
From Vietnam
From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a Switzerland student visa?
CHF 21,000 for twelve months (canton of Zurich). Set by each canton, not nationally. Geneva asks for CHF 20,000 for a year of study. Check the canton where your university is. (Canton of Zurich Migration Office, checked 2026-09-24).
How much is the student visa fee for Switzerland?
CHF 50-100 at the embassy, plus cantonal permit fees.
Can international students work in Switzerland?
15 hours a week in term, starting six months after your course begins.
Can I stay in Switzerland after I graduate?
6 months to look for a job.
Do EU citizens need a student visa for Switzerland?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and study in Switzerland without a student visa. For a stay of more than three months they normally register their residence after arriving.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.