How to Apply for a Schengen Tourist Visa via Switzerland Embassy (Manila, Philippines)

About a week ago, my request for a month-long Schengen Visa as a tourist was approved by the Switzerland Embassy, and I just loved how the application process was so swift and streamlined!

This trip to Europe is actually a ‘last minute’ kind of thing. My intended departure was just 2 weeks away, therefore I was a bit anxious if I will make it on time. Thankfully, the Swiss Embassy’s processing time is fast — in just 3 days, they have already given me my result. That being said, I’m super excited to finally see Switzerland! I say ‘finally‘ because on my 1st ever trip to Europe, I was supposed to make a stop here during a road trip spree; but plans changed and I didn’t manage to push through with it. When I was finally living in Belgium, I never really had the chance to stop by Switzerland either because I was too swamped with sudden trips as well as work. That’s why, I’m very glad that I’m going to see it soon!

It helps to note, however, that I’m not going to stay in Switzerland for the whole month that I’m in Europe because I’m also planning on making the most of my stay as I visit other places like Monaco, France, Italy, Portugal and Belgium!

So if you want to get your Schengen Visa via the Switzerland Embassy as well, I hope that my visa application guide below can be of help to you.

But first, some disclaimers:

» What is a Schengen Visa?

A Schengen Visa is a document that allows the holder to travel freely within the Schengen Area or Zone for a maximum stay of up to 90 days in a 6 month period. This Schengen Area is a group of 26 European countries (22 European Union member states and 4 EFTA member states) that have abolished passport and immigration controls at their common borders and they are namely:

There are certain nationalities worldwide that are exempted from applying for a Schengen Visa, but as Philippine passport holders, in order to visit one or more of these Schengen states, we are required to apply for the visa. (Remember, Schengen Tourist Visa holders are NOT allowed to live permanently nor work in Europe, they only have the right to travel as a temporary visitor within the allotted timeframe indicated on their visa.)

NOTE: It helps to mention that there are non-Schengen members in Europe that allow entry to their country if you have a Schengen Visa, namely: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Macedonia, Monaco, Montenegro, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Turkey, and Vatican City.

HOWEVER, you must check these details beforehand since their rules might have changed. Plus, customarily, only multiple-entry Schengen visas are allowed. You can check this list for more details and updates.

» When should I apply for a Schengen Visa?

Apply as early as three (3) months or 90 days before your planned trip date departure.

You can apply several days before your trip, sure — but it’s always best that you give enough time for the embassy to look into your application. After all, you wouldn’t want to make plans only to have the embassy provide you with a visa which has a validity period that’s NOT within your intended travel dates.

» Where to apply for a Schengen Visa?

For Schengen Visas that have a main purpose of visiting a friend/family/national or reuniting with a fiancé/husband/etc. in a Schengen state, naturally, you should apply in the corresponding Embassy of the country where that person comes from.

Meanwhile, if you are planning to visit several Schengen Countries for your trip, your application must be made at the embassy of the main destination country — meaning, the country where you will be staying the longest. If the length of stay is almost the same, it’s best to apply for the country that you will first fly or enter to.

For my case, I determined that I had to apply at the Switzerland Embassy because I will not only be staying in their country the longest, but my first point of entry will also be in their territory.

» Which Schengen embassy will I have a better chance of getting a Visa?

There’s no such thing as an embassy that would easily give away Schengen Visas. But, if it is a question of time — like which Embassy can you get application results the quickest — then that would be an easier query for me to answer, which then leads us to the question…

» How long does it take for Schengen Visa results to be released?

To the best of my knowledge, the following Embassies usually release visas earliest in an average of:

• Switzerland Embassy: 4 days
• French Embassy: 5 days
• Norwegian Embassy: 5 days
  – the Norwegian Embassy also handles Visa processing for Schengen countries that have no Embassies here in Manila, like Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Estonia
• German Embassy: 7 days
• Belgian and Netherlands (Dutch) Embassy: 15 days
  – the Belgian Embassy also handles Visa processing for Schengen countries that have no Embassies here in Manila, like Luxembourg, Slovenia and Hungary
• Danish Embassy: 15 days
• Italian Embassy: 15 days

It can surely take longer if they need more documents or details from you.
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Step 1: Determine the type of Schengen Visa that you need to apply for.
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There are, of course, various types of Schengen Visas out there that you can apply for: a visa for family reunification, a visa for studying, a visa for work, a visa for transit, a visa for being a spouse, etc.

For this particular guide, I will only be discussing the requirements for a tourist visa since it’s an experience that I’ve gone through myself. (I will also include visit visa information since it’s almost similar to a tourist visa).

If, however, you have a different situation or purpose of visit, it’s best that you head over to this page of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines for more information.

Step 2: Book your appointment online via TLScontact
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Given the number of people who apply for visas, it’s best to book an appointment first so that you can secure the earliest schedule that’s best for you.

When it comes to the Switzerland Embassy, they only accept visa applications by appointment basis via their external service provider, TLScontact. Here’s how you can secure a time slot:

1. Visit TLScontact’s website and click the ‘Register‘ button
2. You will be lead to a registration page where you need to create your own TLScontact account. Provide your email address, set a password, check the box that says ‘I agree with terms and condition of service’ and click ‘Create‘.
3. You will receive an activation code via email to confirm this registration. Go to your email and click on the confirmation link sent by TLScontact to you.
4. Your account is now activated. Click ‘Log in’ and enter the email and password that you set up.
5. On this next page, you will see a summary of the TLScontact process. The first thing that you need to do is fill up the applicant form. This will later on automatically populate the data on your Schengen Visa form once you’re done. Click ‘Create an applicant‘ and the form will be displayed. Here are some important things to remember when filling this up:
   • Make sure that you picked the correct type of visa you’re applying for. Under ‘Visa Type & Travel Purpose‘ click ‘Choose’ and choose either Tourism or Visitor (this is when you have a Swiss guarantor or sponsor that you plan to visit).
   • You can save it as draft and modify it later if in case you’re still missing some information for your visa application. However, please take note that it can only hold your information for up to 15 days — if you don’t submit or confirm and set your appointment within those days, your data will be automatically deleted and you’ll need to make a new registration again.
   • If you’re traveling together with family members or with friends, it is mandatory to have ALL applications in the same group. So after you finish inputting your data, you can add your other companion’s data by clicking ‘Add an applicant‘.
6. Once you have input all the necessary information, click ‘Done‘.
7. Under step 2 (Validation), click ‘Confirm’. Remember that once you click this, you will not be able to add applicants or change any of the information anymore. A new registration will be necessary if you need to change any information. At this point, you can download the filled Schengen Form(s) which will be one of the documents that you’ll need to submit.
8. Under step 3, the page will show you a list of available application time slots at TLScontact for deposition your application. Pick the date and time that’s best for you and then print the confirmation page of this schedule.

Step 3: Prepare the required documents for your application
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TLScontact will show a list of the documents that you need to submit. On your schedule with them, you need to give those documents in the proper order that they want.

Now, depending on your circumstance, click the symbol ‘+‘ below to view the corresponding requirements for each section and the proper order that they need to be in. Make sure that you have authentic, original, and complete documents at all times. For the copies, you must submit them in A4 paper format.

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NOTE: If in case you are a Philippine national living or residing in a foreign country and you wish to avail a Schengen tourist visa, kindly inquire with the appropriate Schengen Embassy in the country that you’re living in about the requirements and procedures that you need to take. (It’s highly likely that the it will be the same).

Also, the Switzerland Embassy may request for more information or additional documents in order to verify the contents and truthfulness of the documents you’ve submitted; so, be prepared for that..

Step 4: Submit your application at TLScontact on your appointment date
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It helps to arrive early for your appointment and the TLScontact Center’s address is:

Unit 7B New Solid Building
357 Sen. Gil J Puyat Avenue
Makati City, Metro Manila
Phone: (02) 737 4040

The process usually goes like this:

1. Arrival and waiting period. Once you arrive at the 7th floor where TLScontact’s office is located, the security guard will confirm that you have an appointment and then he/she will instruct you to shut down your mobile phone. Afterwards, you’ll be ushered to the waiting area and advice you to wait for your name to be called (which will be flashed on the TV screen above you). It took about half an hour before my name popped up.
2. Submission of documents. The screen will indicate the counter you will have to go to. In there, a TLScontact staff will check the documents that you prepared and then ensure that everything is complete.
   • Like I mentioned previously, make sure that your documents are arranged in the right order.
   • If in case you have any missing documents, the staff will inform you about that. He/she will give you the option to reschedule your appointment so that you can submit ALL complete documents — or give you the other option of just submitting it and understanding that your application can be refused because of the incompleteness of your documents.
   • The person will provide you with a document called as ‘Application Checklist’. Keep this because this is something you’ll have to present when you will claim your passport later on.
3. Payment. This must be paid in cash and it helps to prepare the exact amount in Philippine peso only.
   • There’s NO visa fee for children below 6 years old.
   • There are 2 things you need to pay for: first, the visa fee of about Php 3,200~ that’s collected on behalf of the Embassy of Switzerland in Manila, and second, the TLScontact processing fee of about Php 1,046~ (this is as of 2017)
   • Be advised that payment of these fees is NOT a guarantee that the visa will be granted. It also helps to note that these are non-refundable and non-transferable if your application is denied or if you decide to terminate your application.
4. Biometrics. All Schengen embassies in the Philippines have to capture your biometric data (finger scans and portrait photo) and it will be kept in the Visa Information System (VIS) for 5 years.
   •  Personal appearance and fingerprint scan is NOT necessary for children under the age of 12, and adults 80 years old above.
   • Do NOT wear colored or magnifying contact lenses which could alter your appearance.
   • You can submit your application at TLScontact via a representative IF:
     • Your fingerprints were collected within the last 59 months
     • You had a Schengen visa with the “VIS” mention on the visa sticker (show photocopy of this)
   • You can submit your application at TLScontact via post IF:
     • Your fingerprints were collected within the last 59 months
     • You had a Schengen visa with the “VIS” mention on the visa sticker (show photocopy of this)
     • Your payment (visa + service fee) is sent through post/courier along with your documents.
     • For the return of your passport, include Php 180.00 on your postal payment or provide a prepaid LBC pouch.

The Swiss Embassy still reserves the right to ask you to appear for a personal interview after checking your visa application.

Step 5: Wait for the results of your Schengen Visa application
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Once the Switzerland Embassy is done assessing your application, they will send back your passport and your other original documents to TLScontact. Consecutively, TLScontact will email you to notify you that you can now pick it all up.

NOTE: Please don’t inquire with TLScontact if your application has been approved OR denied because they would NOT know the results themselves. (Just think of them as a middleman between you and the Embassy). Claiming of your passport can be done between 13:30PM to 16:30PM, Monday to Friday except holidays.

Naturally, the Siwtzerland Embassy will NOT assume any responsibility if your visa application be rejected. And if it does get rejected, you will be given an information sheet that shows the procedures you can take in order to ask for an appeal.

The Swiss representation still reserves the right to ask you to appear for a personal interview after checking your visa application.

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◘◘ Can I submit other documents not listed above?
If it can support your application even further, then sure! The Embassy encourages that, especially if it can help provide proof of your economical or social ties within the Philippines (example: pay slips, real estate properties, land title, etc.).

◘◘ Do I need to provide a cover letter?
It’s not required, but it’s good practice to provide one.

◘◘ Do you have an example cover letter?
Yes, I have. Check it out here.

◘◘ How much money should I show in my bank account?
Most of the Schengen member countries would need you to show that you have at least EUR 50 (Php 2,500+) per day of your stay. You can use this as a standard and this is the bare minimum, that’s why I suggest that you add way more money to it if you can.

◘◘ What if my plans change and I won’t be visiting some of the countries I indicated in my travel itinerary? Can I still travel to those other countries with my Schengen Visa?
There is no border control within the Schengen Zone, so yes — you can deviate from your original plans BUT only for as long as they’re within the Schengen member countries.

◘◘ If I am invited for an interview by the embassy, what are the usual questions that they will ask?
Interviews are done by embassies since they usually want more information about your situation, if not verify. From my experience, the questions will often be simple as it covers the following aspects:

• Your background: proof of strong ties with the Philippines, your job, your financial capacity, etc.
• Details & purpose of your trip: to where are you going to, why you’re going, how long, where you’re staying, etc.
• Your relationship with your sponsor: only if you’re applying with a guarantor/sponsor
• Your travel history: if you’ve been to the Schengen area before, if you have relatives/family there, etc.

Of course, the questions may vary depending on your circumstance but generally, there really are no difficult questions since they only want to know more about you and your trip.  So just be honest and concise.
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