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Entering Switzerland on a foreign passport for study purposes
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The Swiss Government
regulations (Reference: OLE ruling dated October 6, 1986, Art.32) |
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Scholars and students may be authorised to stay in Switzerland if:
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the applicant is not accompanied by other members of
his/her family; |
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the applicant has the intention to attend a
university or an educational institution offering higher
education; |
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the school programme and the duration of the studies
are specified clearly; |
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the director of the school certifies that the
applicant is able to follow the courses; |
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the person seeking to enter Switzerland on a foreign
passport provides proof of his financial means to cover
anticipated expenses in connection with his or her intended
study period in Switzerland. |
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1. BSL
Applicants who seek to enter Switzerland on a passport of any of the
countries mentioned below must be in possession of a STUDY VISA issued
by a Swiss Embassy or Consulate before entering Switzerland
for the purposes of studying:
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Europe:
CYPRUS, TURKEY AND ALL THE EASTERN COUNTRIES
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Africa:
ALL THE COUNTRIES
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Asia:
ALL THE COUNTRIES,
except for students from: Brunei, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore
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Oceania:
ALL THE COUNTRIES;
except for students from: New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Solomon
Islands, Rep. Kiribati and Tuvalu Islands
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America:
ALL THE COUNTRIES, except for students from: Antigua and Barbados,
Bahamas, Dominica, Granada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent
and Grenadines
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This list may be changed at any time. It is thus advisable to consult a
Swiss Embassy or Consulate on the latest position regarding section 1.
above.
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 Applicants from all countries
require a STUDY PERMIT to stay in Switzerland for the purpose of
studying. The STUDY PERMIT is applied for on arriving in Lausanne. BSL
prepares all study visa and permit applications for its potential
students.
The Swiss authorities may require up to three months to process a study
visa application from the date such application is submitted to
the Swiss Embassy/Consulate.
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2. Provided a valid STUDY VISA
has been obtained the prospective student may then enter Switzerland and
commence his or her studies. It should be noted that a TOURIST VISA
does
NOT satisfy the above requirements and does NOT authorise a
student with a foreign passport to study in Switzerland. Upon his or her
arrival in Switzerland, the student is required to present himself or
herself with the following documents at the" Bureau des Etrangers " in
the town in which he or she takes up residence: (Note: If studies are
pursued in the canton of Vaud, it is required that the student resides
in this canton):
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Passport - with study visa if required |
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Questionnaire A/B - obtainable from the school or the
"Bureau des etrangers" |
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Student Questionnaire - obtainable from the school or
the "Bureau des etrangers" |
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School attestation - issued by BSL, in accordance
with article 32 of the OLE ruling, dated October 6,1986. |
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2 photographs - passport format, recent, and
identical. |
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Financial guarantee - this can be in the form of:
Bank attestation certifying that sufficient funds are
available to cover the fees, travel, and living expenses for the
duration of the studies OR Parents' guarantee (sponsorship
agreement) to guarantee the payment of the applicant's study and
living expenses for the duration of the studies. Their
signatures have to be certified by the local authorities, Swiss
or foreign.
OR Bursary guarantee, Swiss or foreign. In the case
of a private or government bursary, the allocated amount must
always be indicated.
OR Private guarantee. A form for this purpose is
available at the "Bureau des Etrangers"
OR the sponsorship agreement may be used. The
guarantor must live in Switzerland and provide financial proof
that is adequate to cover the student's anticipated study and
living expenses. The guarantor's signature must be certified by the
local authorities.
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The fee for a STUDY PERMIT is from CHF 200" for the first year.
The permit will not be issued unless all documents are submitted as
required.
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Working in Switzerland
Fulltime students may legally work during the time they are studying in
Switzerland. |
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