Where to apply for a Schengen visa?
Following a regular public procurement procedure conducted by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, a new contract has been awarded to VFS Global for the operation of Visa Application Centres, effective 1st July 2025.
With the start of the new contract, some important updates will be introduced.
Applicants will be required to complete the visa application form online before scheduling an appointment.
Visa application acceptance through VFS Global will continue without interruption, and all appointments booked before 1st July will remain valid.
Updated VFS service fees will come into effect on 1st July and will be published on the VFS Global website.
For any further information, you may continue to reach VFS Global through the existing contact channels listed on the website.
What are the Schengen visa requirements?
Official passport holders
Applications can be lodged directly at the Visa Section counter of the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Shanghai and Guangzhou with prior appointment.
Family Members of Swiss or EU/EEA Citizens
Family members (spouses and minor children) can submit their visa application directly at the Swiss representation with prior appointment.
Hong Kong
If you are a resident of Hong Kong or Macau please refer to our Consulate General of Hong Kong directly.
Kindly note that the application has to be submitted at the Schengen representation of the country of your main destination. Tourists who spend equal time in several Schengen states are required to apply for the visa at the representation of the country where they enter the Schengen area.
Since 12.10.2015 all diplomatic representations of the Schengen member states in Hong Kong have to capture the biometric data (finger scans and facial image) of persons applying for a Schengen visa. The data will be kept in the Visa Information System (VIS) for 5 years.
If no scan of your fingerprints has been captured yet, personal appearance when applying for a Schengen visa is mandatory.
You will still have to appear in person to give your fingerprints in case the previously collected fingerprints prove to be of insufficient quality.
Personal appearance and fingerprint scan is not necessary for children under the age of 12.
The Swiss representation reserves the right to ask the applicant to appear in person if a personal interview is required.
Kindly bring all required documents along with you (for information please refer to the different leaflets on this page). Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
Please be advised that supporting documents from Mainland China (e.g. bank statements, proof of employment, travel insurances or itineraries) will not be accepted and that applicants with such documents will have to be referred to a Swiss representation in Mainland China even if the applicant holds a valid residence permit or visa for Hong Kong or Macau.
In order to schedule an appointment to submit your visa application at the Consulate General, you must contact VFS Global.