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:

• NO ONE can give you the guarantee of your Schengen Visa’s approval — not even a lawyer, a consultant, a travel agent, or an embassy employee. Anyone who says otherwise is most likely going to be a scammer. So what I’m rather offering you here is a comprehensive guide with helpful tips to increase your chances of getting that visa. Nothing more, nothing less.
• There are different types of Schengen Visas (for fiance, work, study, etc.) but my main focus for this article will be a Schengen Visa for Tourism purposes only. To see a list of requirements for other types of visas for Switzerland, go here.
• Take note that additional documents could be asked from you if the Embassy deems it so; and of course, initial requirements might also change over time after this post’s publish date, so it’s best that you check the Embassy’s main website as well which is located here.
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» 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: 5 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: Schedule your appointment online with VFS Global
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When it comes to the Switzerland Embassy, they do visa applications via their external service provider, VFS Global. Unfortunately, you cannot just walk in to their office to lodge an application because you need to book an appointment first online.

Here’s how you can secure a time slot:

1. Visit VFS website here and click the text that says ‘New User‘.
2. You will be lead to a registration page where you need to create your own VFS account. Provide your first name, last name, email, contact number, and intended password for your account. Click the button that says ‘Submit‘ once done.
3. The page will load by itself and show you the log-in page. Enter the email and password that you set up and click the ‘Continue‘ button.
4. On the next page, you will see a list on the left. Select ‘Schedule Appointment‘. You will then have to pick your application centre.
   • Under ‘Select visiting country’: Switzerland
   • Under ‘Select residing country’: Philippines
   • Under ‘Select application centre: Switzerland Visa Application – Manila
   • Under ‘Select visa category’: Tourists (or ‘Visiting Family’ if applicable to you)
5. Once you have input all the necessary information, click ‘Continue‘.
6. The next page will show the ‘Applicant List’ page. If you’re applying together with family or friends, you can only add 4 more applicant data (other than you) on this page to schedule a group appointment.
7. Proceed to click ‘Add Applicant‘ and input all your relevant details. Afterwards, click ‘Submit‘ and proceed to secure your intended date for your appointment. Rest assured, there’s an option to cancel or reschedule your appointment.

Step 3: Prepare the required documents for your application
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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 VFS on your appointment date
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It helps to arrive early for your appointment. VFS is open from Mondays to Fridays, 7AM to 4PM (except public holidays) and their address for Manila is:

VFS Global Services Pvt. Ltd
30th Floor, The World Centre
Sen Gil Puyat Ave
Makati City, Metro Manila

The process usually goes like this:

1. Arrival and waiting period. Once you arrive at VFS, the security guard will confirm that you have an appointment and then he/she will usher you to the waiting area and advice you to wait for your name to be called.
2. Submission of documents. Simply hand out your documents to the VFS staff and he/she will check the documents that you prepared and then ensure that everything is complete.
   • If in case you have any missing documents, the staff will inform you about that.
   • The person will provide you with a 3-page questionnaire which you have to answer in a small private room. It’s basically your interview , but in written form.
3. Biometrics. All Schengen embassies in the Philippines have to capture your biometric data (finger scans, digital signature, and portrait photo) and it will be kept in the Visa Information System (VIS) for 5 years.
   • If you have applied previously for the last 59 months you do not need to re-enrol your biometric data. However, there will be cases where you may need to re-submit your biometric data even if you have enrolled it previously. In such cases, VFS shall get in touch with you.
   • Do NOT wear colored or magnifying contact lenses which could alter your appearance.
4. Visa payment. This must be paid in cash and it helps to prepare the exact amount in Philippine peso only. Once paid, they will give you a payment receipt (that has your application reference number and details) which you should keep. If you lose this receipt, VFS will not release your visa and passport; they will only release it after you give them a notarized affidavit of loss.
   • There are 2 things you need to pay for: first, the visa fee and second, the VFS service fee. As of 2019, the total fees are as follows and they only accept it in cash:
     • Adults = Php 4,784
     • Children up to 12 years old = Php 3,284
   • 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.
   • They also offer other services such as courier return/delivery (Php 330) and SMS (Php 110).

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 VFS. Consecutively, VFS will send you a text message that you can now pick it all up. Make sure to bring your ID and the payment receipt when claiming your passport and the document detailing the decision on your application.

NOTE: Please don’t inquire with VFS 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 Switzerland Embassy). However, you can track the status of your application via this link.

Applications accepted at VFS will also be submitted the next working day at the Switzerland Embassy. The time required to process Visa Applications is up to 7 to 10 working days however as per Schengen Codex it can take up to 15 working days.

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 Switzerland 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.

◘◘ What if my Schengen visa is denied?
In case your application is refused, you will be given an INFORMATION SHEET indicating the procedure you can take in case of a formal Refusal – Right to appeal process.
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