Business Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Switzerland Business Visa (Schengen Short-Stay Type C) from India. Complete fees, documents, and application guide.
- Processing time
- About 15 days
- after you submit
No visa is ever guaranteed — the final decision always rests with the Switzerland visa authority. We make sure your file is presented at its strongest.
Processing
15 calendar days
Stay Duration
Up to 90 days in any 6-month period
Starting Fee
₹9,600
Apply At
13 VFS centres
Your whole Switzerland Business Visa,
handled for one honest price.
A strong Switzerland file clearly explains your travel purpose, funds, and ties to India. We structure and submit everything properly — so your case is presented clearly and professionally.
All-in · 18% GST included · no hidden charges
File-ready in 3–5 working days after documents
5★ · 100+ reviews · reply in 5 min
Everything below — included, nothing extra
- Document checklist
- Application form guidance
- Document review
- Cover letter
- Purpose of travel structure
- Financial proof review
- Sponsor document guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Post-submission guidance
Not sure you qualify? Start with a refundable ₹499 possibility report — an honest Yes / Maybe / No, credited to this fee. Read the full guide
Price is for our consultancy service only and includes 18% GST. No agency can guarantee a visa — the final decision rests with the visa authority.
Your fee, in one glance
What the ₹16,999 fee covers for a Switzerland file
- We work out what your case actually is, before touching a form
- We build the checklist around your profile, not a template
- We read your documents against each other, not against a list
- Financial proof review
- Purpose of travel structuring
- Cover letter / explanation support
- Return ties review
- Sponsor / invitation guidance
- Application form guidance
- Submission & appointment support
- Biometrics guidance
- Post-submission support
Government, VFS, insurance, ticket and hotel costs are separate and charged at cost. Read what each item means, in full.
Good to know before you apply
Rules that apply to every Switzerland visa type — worth a quick read so nothing trips up your file.
- 1Applications can be submitted only 180 days (6 months) prior to the intended date of departure — not earlier.
- 2From May 1, 2010 onwards, only passports issued within the previous 10 years are accepted.
- 3Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages for the visa sticker.
- 4Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months longer than your intended stay in the Schengen area.
- 5Handwritten or non-machine-readable Indian passports issued after 01/04/2010 are NOT accepted.
- 6Indian passports containing a MANUAL entry / observation made after 01 April 2010 — where the biographical data (name, date of birth, place of birth, sex, spouse's name, parents' name, address) of the passport holder was changed — are NOT accepted.
- 7If your passport has a handwritten observation "previously known as", you must provide ONE of the following as proof of the name change: (a) your original previous passport showing the old name, OR (b) a photocopy of the data page of your previous passport showing the old name, OR (c) a copy of the name-change advertisement from a local daily newspaper.
Who Can Apply
- Business meetings, conferences, and trade shows in Switzerland
- Contract negotiations with Swiss companies
- Visiting Swiss business partners or clients
- Exploring investment or business opportunities
- Attending exhibitions or industry events
Not eligible under this visa:
- Paid or unpaid work / professional activities — apply for a Type D work permit instead
- Stays longer than 90 days — apply for a Type D long-stay visa
- Holders of a Swiss residence permit
What it costs
Government & VFS fees
Paid directly to Switzerland / VFS — these are not our service fee, and we never mark them up.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult visa (Schengen Short-Stay) | ₹9,600 |
| Children 6–12 years | ₹4,800 |
| Children under 6 years | FREE |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,690 |
| Courier service (optional) | ₹930 |
| SMS service (optional) | ₹450 |
| Premium Lounge (optional) | ₹4,600 |
| Combo — SMS + Courier Return | ₹1,250 |
All VISA fees and service charges payable in Cash / Card / Online. Fees are non-refundable regardless of visa outcome. Online payment refund processing: 5–7 working days. POS refund processing: 21 working days. A bank charge is deducted on refunds. Fees subject to change without notice as per current exchange rate.
Flights · Hotels · Insurance · Itinerary
What Switzerland actually requires — and what it does not.
Switzerland applies the Schengen rules, so travel insurance is not a nice-to-have — it is a legal condition of the visa.
2 of 4 are compulsory for Switzerland
Flight reservation
The Switzerland consulate wants a return itinerary with a real PNR covering your exact dates. It does not want a paid ticket, and buying one before a decision puts your money at risk for nothing.
Where people slip: Flying into one city and out of another with nothing showing how you travel between them. Officers read the whole route, and an unexplained gap reads as a plan that does not hold together.
How to hold a flight without payingHotel booking
Accommodation for EVERY night of the stay. Not most nights — every one. A gap is a documented refusal ground under the Schengen code.
Where people slip: Free-cancellation bookings are accepted, but if the entire file is free-cancellation the officer sees a trip nobody has committed to. Some of it should be real spend.
Refundable hotel booking, explainedTravel insurance
Minimum EUR 30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen state, including repatriation and emergency medical evacuation, for the full period of stay. Regulation (EC) 810/2009 — this is law, not preference.
Where people slip: Buying cover for the adults and forgetting the children. Every traveller needs their own EUR 30,000, infants included — a real refusal we have seen on a family of four.
What the cover must actually sayTravel itinerary
A day-by-day plan matching your flights, your hotels and the country you applied to. Switzerland must be your main destination or your first point of entry, or you are at the wrong consulate.
Where people slip: Spending more nights in another Schengen country than in Switzerland. That gets a file rejected before it is even assessed.
The letter your itinerary attaches toWe arrange all four for your Switzerland file.
We are a B2B travel agency as well as a visa consultancy, working with partners including Riya Travel — so the flight, the hotel and the policy all come from us, issued the same day, and you deal with one team instead of four. Every booking is a real one under your own name.
What to gather
Documents required
Having a document isn't the same as presenting it right — that's the part we handle.
Mandatory (all applicants must provide)
13 items- Completed Schengen Visa Application Form (Type C)Required
New form only — from March 2, 2020 onwards
- Signed Authorization formRequired
Mandatory along with application form
- Valid passportRequired
Valid minimum 3 months beyond intended stay; at least 2 blank pages
- 1 recent passport-size photographRequired
35–40mm, colour, light background, not older than 6 months
- Travel medical insuranceRequired
Minimum €30,000 coverage, valid across all Schengen states
- Cover letterRequired
Detailing purpose of business travel and itinerary
- Invitation letter from Swiss host companyRequired
On company letterhead; include host's contact + business relationship
- Employer letter (NOC) on company letterheadRequired
Confirming employment, designation, salary, approved leave dates
- Company registration / trade licenceRequired
If self-employed or business owner
- Personal bank statement — last 3 monthsRequired
A4 paper only, with original bank stamp & signature
- Income Tax Returns (ITR) — last 3 yearsRequired
- Return flight itinerary (reservation, not ticket)Required
- Hotel booking confirmationRequired
For the full duration of stay
Additional (if applicable)
3 items- Previous passports (if any)
Showing travel history
- Business conference registration / booking confirmation
- Spouse's / family sponsorship documents
If travelling with family
Required · optional / if applicable
The journey.
8 steps from intake to approval. Curved spine on the right shows the natural pace — never as linear as government sites pretend.
- 01
Complete the visa application form
Download the Schengen Type C form from VFS Global website, fill it out completely, and sign.
- 02
Gather all required documents
Use the checklist above. Ensure bank statements are on A4 with original stamps.
- 03
Purchase travel medical insurance
Minimum €30,000 coverage valid across all Schengen states.
- 04
Book a VFS appointment
Select the VFS Global centre nearest to you. Walk-in without appointment not accepted.
- 05
Submit your application at VFS
Attend on the scheduled date with originals + photocopies. Biometrics captured on-site.
- 06
Pay the fees
Pay visa fee + VFS service charge + any optional services. Cash / card / online accepted.
- 07
Track your application
Use VFS online tracker or opt for SMS service for live updates.
- 08
Collect your passport
Via Premium Lounge, courier service, or in-person pickup from VFS centre.
What works
6 levers that flip a borderline case.
- Travel medical insurance covering minimum €30,000 is MANDATORY for all Schengen countries.
- Personal bank statement (last 3 months) must be on A4 size paper with original bank stamp and signature.
- Do NOT bind two or more passports with a stapler — use rubber bands to avoid passport damage.
- Photo must be recent (not older than 6 months), 35–40mm wide, colour, on photographic paper with a light background.
What kills cases
Top 3 refusal triggers we see.
- 1Purpose of visit unclear or inconsistent with documentation
- 2Weak financial documentation — insufficient bank balance or unclear income source
- 3Weak ties to India — embassy perceives intent to overstay
Download official forms
Each link opens the official Switzerland page on VFS Global (we never host third-party forms): pick your visa category there and use its "Download Form" section for the current version.
Schengen Visa Application Form (Type C — Short Stay)
On the VFS page, select your visa type → scroll to the 'Download Form' section at the bottom → click 'New Visa Application Form Visa C'. Form mandatory from March 2, 2020 — old forms are rejected.
National Visa Application Form (Type D — Long Stay 3+ months)
On the VFS page, scroll to 'Download Form' → click 'National (type D) visa application form'. For long-stay visas (gainful employment, family reunification, study >90 days).
Authorization Form
On the VFS page, scroll to 'Download Form' → click 'Authorization'. Mandatory for ALL applicants regardless of visa type.
VFS application centres
Schengen Business Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 questions focused on business visa criteria. Business applications face different scrutiny — the embassy wants clear purpose, genuine business relationships, and verifiable host.
Who is inviting you to Denmark / the Schengen country?
What form will the invitation take?
How long have you had a business relationship with the Danish host?
How long is your business trip?
What's your role in your Indian company?
What's your Indian company's annual turnover?
Helps establish legitimacy of the business case.
How often do you travel internationally for business?
Have you used a Schengen visa before?
Any previous visa refusals (business or otherwise)?
Your return-to-India anchor?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
Frequently asked
Questions, answered straight
Processing time is 15 calendar days from when the Embassy receives your complete application. During peak travel season (summer, holidays), it may take longer. Apply at least 2 weeks before travel, and ideally earlier.
No. The Business Visa allows meetings, negotiations, conferences, and similar activities — but NOT paid or unpaid professional work. For employment, you need a Type D work permit arranged by your Swiss employer.
Approximately ₹12,290 for an adult (₹9,600 visa fee + ₹2,690 VFS service charge) plus any optional services you choose — courier (₹930), SMS (₹450), Premium Lounge (₹4,600), or Combo (₹1,250). Excludes travel insurance (~₹1,500–₹3,000).
Yes. A Schengen Type C visa issued by Switzerland lets you travel freely across all 29 Schengen-area countries during its validity, up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Yes, it's MANDATORY. Minimum coverage of €30,000 (~₹27 lakh) valid across all Schengen states. Without valid insurance, your application will be rejected.
Directly from the VFS Global Switzerland website. We never host third-party forms on our site — always get the latest form from the official source to ensure accuracy. See the Downloads section above.
There are 4 possible outcomes: (1) Visa granted, (2) Further documentation requested, (3) You're called for a personal interview at the Embassy, or (4) Application rejected.
Yes. Our team prepares the complete file — cover letter, invitation letter coordination with Swiss host, document verification, VFS appointment booking, and submission. Book a ₹499 consultation to get started.
Reviewed by Sherbir Singh Grewal, SureshotVisa — a government-licensed consultancy (Licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024). Verify us.
How we get it done
Your Switzerland Business Visa, from your first message to your passport back.
7 questions about this visa specifically. The first two are open — tap any other to read it.
Refused? Our full service fee comes back.Government and visa-centre fees are the one part nobody can refund.
+Who has to sign my Switzerland business invitation, and what must it say?
The inviting company signs it, on its letterhead, naming you personally, the exact dates, the purpose of the meetings and — crucially — who is paying for what. Officers verify these: a letter with no signatory title, no company registration detail and no reachable phone number is worse than no letter, because it fails a verification call. Your own side matters just as much: a leave sanction or board resolution, your employment or directorship proof, and a travel history that fits the seniority the letter claims for you.
+Can I attend meetings, sign contracts or get paid on this visa?
Meetings, negotiations, conferences, trade fairs and training you attend are normally fine. What is not permitted is gainful employment — being paid by an entity in Switzerland, or doing work that a local would otherwise be hired for, even unpaid in some categories. That line is where business visas get refused and, worse, where they get cancelled at the border. If your trip involves anything close to it, tell us the actual plan and we will tell you which route it needs.
+How long can I actually stay on a Switzerland Schengen visa?
Up to 90 days in any 6-month period (Schengen area-wide). The window rolls: on any given day the authorities count backwards 180 days and add up the days you were inside. It is not 90 days per country and it does not reset when you leave and come back. Entries are single or multiple entry, as granted by the embassy. Getting this arithmetic wrong is how people end up overstaying without realising, which follows you into every future application.
+Should I apply to Switzerland or to another Schengen country?
You apply to the country you will spend the most nights in. If the nights are equal across several, you apply to the one you enter first. Applying to the "easier" consulate when your itinerary says otherwise is a well-known refusal ground and, if the mismatch looks deliberate, it reads as misrepresentation rather than a mistake. Send us your itinerary and we will tell you which mission is the correct one for your trip — sometimes that is not Switzerland.
+How long does a Switzerland Business Visa take, start to finish?
Three things sit between today and your trip: preparing the file properly, waiting for an appointment, and the mission's own processing. Switzerland currently states 15 calendar days from when the Embassy receives your complete application. May extend during peak season or if additional documentation / interview is requested. for the decision itself. We control the first, which is usually days. The middle depends on slot releases. The third is entirely the mission's and no consultant can shorten it — anyone telling you otherwise is selling something they cannot deliver. Tell us your travel date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
+How much of what I pay for the Switzerland visa is actually your fee?
Most of it is not ours. The Switzerland government fee (currently ₹9,600) goes to the mission and the visa-centre fee goes to VFS — both charged to you at cost, never marked up, and shown as separate lines on one GST invoice in the registered company name. Our service fee is the only part we set, and it is published rather than quoted case by case.
+How does SureshotVisa handle my Switzerland Business Visa, from first message to passport back?
You send what you have on WhatsApp and a licensed consultant says the same working day whether the case is ready. We build the file around your profile, check every document against the others, write the cover letter to match them, and hold the file complete so the first workable appointment can be taken the moment it appears. You attend biometrics; we track the file to the decision (Switzerland currently states 15 calendar days from when the Embassy receives your complete application. May extend during peak season or if additional documentation / interview is requested.). Government and visa-centre fees (₹9,600 for this visa) are charged at cost; our own fee is published, and if the visa is refused that fee comes back in full.
Before you file
A Switzerland Business Visa goes one of two ways.
Filed on a guessed checklist, the government fee is gone on a refusal and the refusal follows every future application. Filed after a licensed consultant has read the papers against each other, the file answers the officer's questions before they are asked. Same Switzerland rules, different outcome. How we do that is written once, in full, on the method page rather than repeated here.
Other Switzerland Visa Types
Incentive Tour Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Switzerland Incentive Tour visa for groups of 50+ travellers. Simplified group application through the Embassy with specific timelines by group size.
View guideStudent Visa (Short Stay, ≤ 90 days)
Switzerland Schengen Short-Stay visa for Indian students pursuing studies in Switzerland for less than 90 days. Visa fee is FREE — only VFS service charges apply.
View guideTourist Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Switzerland Tourist Visa (Schengen Short-Stay Type C) from India. Complete fees, document checklist, and application guide for Indian travellers.
View guideVisitor Visa (Family / Friends, Schengen Type C)
Switzerland Visitor Visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends living in Switzerland. Schengen Short-Stay Type C, up to 90 days. Complete fees + document guide.
View guideFamily Reunification Visa (Long-Stay, Type D)
Switzerland Family Reunification Visa (Long-Stay Type D) for Indian applicants joining family in Switzerland for more than 90 days. Complete guide on process, fees, and documents.
View guideStudent Visa (Long-Stay, Type D — >90 days)
Switzerland Student Visa (Type D National Long-Stay) for Indian students enrolling in courses longer than 90 days. Submit directly at Embassy Delhi. Visa fee is FREE — only service charges apply.
View guideWork Permit (Long-Stay, >120 days)
Switzerland Work Permit for long-term employment (>120 days). The process MUST be initiated by the Swiss employer via cantonal authorities. Once you hold your own offer, sponsorship or admission, SureshotVisa prepares and files the visa application for you — we are not a recruiting agent, so the offer itself has to be yours.
View guideSource & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Switzerland website and Embassy of Switzerland. Last verified 2026-04-13. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.
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