If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Switzerland visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Switzerland may ask you to show CHF 100 per day (CHF 30 for students). Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Switzerland, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Switzerland can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Switzerland can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: CHF 100 per day (CHF 30 for students). (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Switzerland
Main international airports in Switzerland: Zürich (ZRH), Genève (GVA).
If Switzerland is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Switzerland is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Switzerland's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Zürich (ZRH) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Switzerland no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Switzerland in depth: Schengen without the EU customs union
Switzerland is in Schengen but not in the EU or its customs union. That means no passport checks on the border with France, Germany, Italy or Austria, but customs officers can still stop you to check goods, cash and purchases. Keep your passport with you even on a day trip.
The EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is a special case: it lies in France and has a Swiss sector and a French sector, so the exit you take decides which country you land in. Zurich and Geneva are the main entry airports for long-haul flights.
The minimum amount Switzerland asks for is CHF 100 per day (CHF 30 for students with proof of enrolment). Liechtenstein has an open border with Switzerland, uses the Swiss franc and is usually reached from Zurich.
Good to know about Switzerland
- Days in Switzerland count toward your Schengen 90/180 limit.
- Geneva Airport has a French and a Swiss sector; both are in Schengen.
- Liechtenstein has no airport: you get there via Switzerland or Austria.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Switzerland add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Switzerland after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ETIAS for Switzerland?
Yes, once it starts, if your nationality is visa-exempt. Switzerland is one of the 30 countries that will require it.
Do US citizens need a visa for Switzerland?
No. US citizens can visit Switzerland visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Switzerland?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Switzerland, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Switzerland?
CHF 100 per day (CHF 30 for students). Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
- European Commission: reference amounts (08/06/2026)
- European Commission: who should apply for ETIAS
- State Secretariat for Migration (Switzerland)
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.