This guide covers the UK visa from Switzerland in 2026: the ETA now required of Swiss citizens, current fees, and the visa routes for non-Swiss residents. Switzerland sits outside the EU and the eurozone, but Swiss nationals are treated like other visa-exempt Europeans — visa-free for short visits, but needing an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel. Whether you need a quick ETA for a London trip or a work visa for a longer move, this guide sets out the requirements, costs, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office ETA datasets and entry clearance visa fees, year ending March 2026.
Swiss citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, and it is now fully enforced — no ETA, no boarding. In the year to March 2026 the UK issued about 464,000 ETAs to Swiss nationals at a 99.7% approval rate. The ETA costs £16 (around €19) and lasts two years; only non-Swiss residents of Switzerland need an actual visa. Switzerland is also one of the four EEA/EFTA states whose citizens kept EU Settlement Scheme access.
UK Visa from Switzerland: Requirements and Fees 2026
Switzerland and Britain have long-standing ties in finance, diplomacy, and tourism, and the Swiss are among the most frequent European visitors to the UK relative to population. Switzerland is not in the EU, but as an EFTA state its citizens were brought into the same ETA system as EU nationals during the 2025 rollout. The one practical wrinkle is currency: Switzerland uses the franc, not the euro, so UK fees are paid in pounds and converted at the rate applying at payment.
Swiss citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (£16, about €19, valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-Swiss residents of Switzerland need a Standard Visitor visa instead. For work, study, or family stays, Swiss nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
UK Entry Requirements for Swiss Citizens
Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic. Swiss nationals pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors, and the ETA is checked at boarding, so it must be approved before you leave Switzerland. As an EFTA citizen, a Swiss national also retains some settled-status routes that pure visitors do not.
- A valid passport for the duration of the stay
- An approved ETA (£16, about €19, valid two years, via the UK ETA App)
- Evidence of return or onward travel
- Accommodation details or a host's address
- Enough funds to support the visit without working
- Genuine intention to leave within six months
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for Swiss visitors. Keeping your booking and return details on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those applying from France.
Do Swiss Citizens Need a Visa for the UK?
No visa is needed for short visits — tourism, family, or business meetings up to six months. Swiss citizens do need an ETA, mandatory since 2 April 2025, costing £16 (about €19) and valid for two years. For work, study, or stays beyond six months, the appropriate visa is required. The ETA is applied for in minutes through the UK ETA App.
The UK brought visa-exempt European nationals, including EFTA states, into the ETA scheme during 2025 to screen arrivals before travel. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Swiss citizens have needed one since 2 April 2025. Home Office figures for the year to March 2026 show a 99.7% issue rate for Swiss applicants — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
ETA vs Visa: Which Applies to You?
| Feature | UK ETA | UK Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | Swiss and other visa-exempt nationals | Non-Swiss residents (e.g. Indian, Turkish) |
| Cost | £16 (about €19) | From €152 (6-month visitor) |
| Process | App, minutes | Online + biometrics |
| Decision | Often minutes, up to 3 working days | About 3 weeks (standard visitor) |
| Validity | 2 years, multiple entries | 6 months to 10 years |
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. The same system applies to German citizens visiting the UK.
UK Visa Fees from Switzerland 2026
Swiss citizens pay £16 (about €19) for an ETA. Non-Swiss residents pay from €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner/family visa is €2,481. UK fees are set in pounds; because Switzerland is outside the eurozone, the amount in francs depends on the exchange rate at payment. The figures below reflect the 2026 schedule.
Home Office fees are set in pounds. Applicants in Switzerland pay in their card currency at the rate applying when the fee is charged, so the franc amount varies slightly. The euro figures below are the standard European conversion and are a close guide to what Swiss applicants pay.
Visitor and Short-Stay Fees
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Swiss citizens) | £16 (≈ €19) | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,015 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,268 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €152 | 6 months |
| Private Medical Treatment | €263 | 11 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €47 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €84 | 48 hours |
For travellers planning repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa spreads the cost over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
Work, Study and Family Fees
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €924 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €383 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,370 |
| Priority service | +€597 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee and, like the visa fee itself, is converted from pounds at payment. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Tourist Visa from Switzerland
Swiss citizens need no tourist visa — only the ETA (£16, about €19) for visits up to six months. Non-Swiss residents of Switzerland, such as Indian or Turkish passport holders, need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) for any trip. Both cover tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends or family. Swiss nationals apply via the ETA app; others apply through a visa centre.
"UK tourist visa from Switzerland" means different things by nationality. A Swiss passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs an ETA. A non-Swiss national living in Switzerland must apply for a Standard Visitor visa, regardless of how long they have lived there — a Swiss residence permit does not grant visa-free UK access.
| Your Status | What You Need | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Swiss citizen | ETA (UK ETA App) | £16 (≈ €19) |
| EU/EEA citizen in Switzerland | ETA (UK ETA App) | £16 (≈ €19) |
| Indian passport holder in Switzerland | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Turkish passport holder in Switzerland | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Other non-Swiss resident | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the realistic odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application. The same visitor framework applies to Dutch travellers to the UK.
UK Visa from Switzerland for Non-Swiss Residents
Non-Swiss residents of Switzerland pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, whatever their nationality. The application goes through the visa centre network in Switzerland and takes about three weeks. A Swiss residence permit (the B or C permit) strengthens the application as evidence of ties, but it does not remove the visa requirement.
Switzerland hosts large international communities, many working in finance, pharmaceuticals, and the UN agencies in Geneva. Non-Swiss nationals must obtain a visa for any UK trip, regardless of purpose or length. Their Swiss B or C residence permit does not grant visa-free access.
Legal residence in Switzerland — especially a C settlement permit — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your residence permit, employment contract, and evidence of settled life in Switzerland such as property, bank accounts, or children in school alongside the standard documents.
A well-prepared file matters: assemble your evidence using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a UK-based relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's invitation letter shows what to include.
Working and Studying in the UK
Swiss citizens need a work visa since Brexit and the end of the Swiss free-movement arrangement. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing employer sponsorship and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Swiss nationals give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. The Youth Mobility Scheme (ages 18–35) and the Student visa (€671) are the other common routes.
The Swiss–UK free-movement arrangement ended alongside EU free movement, so Swiss nationals now need permission to work or study long-term. The upside is convenience: as an EFTA national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre. UK visa grant rates for Swiss applicants are high across all routes in the latest Home Office figures.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for Swiss nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €924 for up to three years or €1,825 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to settlement after five years.
Youth Mobility and Student Routes
Swiss citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years; Switzerland holds an allocation under the scheme. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €671 and allows part-time work. After a degree, the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Shorter courses up to six months need only an ETA.
Partner and Family Routes
Swiss nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa, currently €2,481, with a minimum income requirement of £29,000. As an EFTA state, Switzerland is also one of the countries whose citizens could hold EU Settlement Scheme status, in which case the free EUSS family route may apply instead of the paid partner visa.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Switzerland
The process depends on whether you are a Swiss citizen or a non-Swiss resident of Switzerland. Swiss nationals do almost everything by app; non-Swiss residents use a visa centre for biometrics.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee at gov.uk (charged in pounds)
- Swiss citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home
- Non-Swiss residents: book biometrics at a visa centre in Switzerland
- Upload your supporting documents
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay. If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics.
- Swiss citizens need an ETA (£16, about €19), applied for via the UK ETA App — issue rate 99.7%
- For visas, Swiss nationals use the ID Check App — no visa centre visit
- Non-Swiss residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa
- UK fees are set in pounds; the franc amount depends on the exchange rate at payment
- Work visas need sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold
- As an EFTA state, Switzerland retained some EU Settlement Scheme access
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover Belgium, Austria, and the Common Travel Area rules for Ireland.
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Swiss citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs £16 (about €19), lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let Swiss travellers board transport to the UK.
No. Switzerland uses the franc, and UK visa fees are set in pounds. Swiss applicants pay in their card currency at the exchange rate applying when the fee is charged, so the franc amount varies a little. The euro figures quoted for UK visas are the standard European conversion and serve as a close guide to what Swiss applicants pay.
Non-Swiss residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa in 2026, whatever their nationality. Longer visitor visas cost €569 for two years, €1,015 for five years, or €1,268 for ten years. Applications are made through the visa centre network in Switzerland and take about three weeks.
A Swiss citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
Not without a work visa. The Swiss–UK free-movement arrangement ended with EU free movement, so the main route is now the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Swiss nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme. Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
Yes. Swiss and other EU, EEA, and EFTA nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€597) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,194) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which Swiss citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.