VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Switzerland
Since December 12, 2008, Switzerland has been a member of the Schengen visa-free area. Passport control at Swiss airports will continue to operate until March 29, 2009.
Switzerland is not a member of the European Union and is not a member of the common economic space, so customs control at the borders remains. Also, the Schengen regime does not apply to long-term visas.
Documents required for obtaining a Schengen visa:
– One fully completed application form (in German, French, Italian or English) with the personal signature of the applicant;
– a foreign passport valid for at least three months from the date of departure from the Schengen area and having at least one free page;
– a copy of the international passport (page with photo, full name and signature)
– if available: copies of the last two Schengen visas;
– two identical recent Schengen passport photos: stick one on the application form, attach the second;
– health and accident insurance covering the entire stay and valid for the Schengen area (copy only). The sum insured must be at least EUR 30000.00;
– confirmation of hotel reservation or apartment rental with confirmation of prepayment;
– confirmation of employment (certificate from the employer) and income (certificate of wages);
– confirmation of solvency (bank statement for the last three months, or traveler’s checks with copies). Each applicant must prove the availability of at least CHF 100.00 (or equivalent amount in another currency) on the day of stay;
– confirmation of the type of transport by which the round trip is planned (only a copy);
– information about the final purpose of your trip and / or your route (for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen area);
For children under 18:
– Birth certificate (original and copy);
– if the child travels alone and / or at least one of the parents does not accompany him, it is necessary to provide a notarized and translated into German, French, Italian or English permission from the parents to leave (original and copy);
– in the case when the child is entered in the father’s/mother’s passport: a separate, fully completed application form signed by both parents + 2 passport photographs.
Documents for a tourist visa are submitted either in person, or through a travel agency accredited at the Embassy of Switzerland, or through close relatives (spouse, mother, father, daughter, son).
The Embassy of Switzerland reserves the right to require additional documents, send documents for consideration to the Swiss authorities, invite the applicant for an interview.
Acceptance of applications for visas: Monday-Friday from 09.00 to 11.45 (only by appointment through the call center). Issuance of passports: after 3 working days from 14.00 to 15.00. call center works from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 18.00. The cost of the call is 90 rubles per minute and will be deducted from you by the call center (the minimum cost of a call is 180 rubles). Phones: (495) 641-38-89, (495) 974-24-59.
Items for personal use can be imported duty-free into the country: clothes, photo and movie cameras, musical instruments, sports equipment (this provision provides that things will be taken back, that is, they should not be intended for exchange, sale and other commercial purposes), as well as stock food for 1 day, gifts and souvenirs up to CHF 200. fr. 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 15 1 liter above 15, 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco). (Note that this restriction also applies to the above items purchased from duty-free stores). The goods listed above, imported in quantities exceeding the specified norms, are subject to duty. Fresh meat over 1.5 kg, sausages, smoked meats over 1 kg, poultry meat over 2 kg are subject to customs duty. Meat products must be declared.
The following items are prohibited from being imported into Switzerland: weapons, drugs, counterfeit branded products in excess of personal needs. It is forbidden to import more than 0.5 kg of butter. It is forbidden to import works of art, antiquities, icons without a permit. According to customs regulations, antiques are items that are more than 100 years old, therefore, when importing antiques, it is recommended to have a certificate indicating the estimate of the age of antiquities. The import of skins and products from cheetah, crocodile, lion, jaguar, leopard, tiger, lizards, as well as meat and meat products is prohibited.
To import cats and dogs into the country, a certificate from a veterinarian is required confirming that they are healthy and vaccinated against rabies. The vaccination record must be accompanied by a translation. Otherwise, the usual customs rules apply.
When returning from Switzerland, there are no restrictions on the export of goods. There are no restrictions on the import/export of currency.
Tourists are entitled to a VAT refund, as well as discounts on purchases over 500 francs in one store. This does not apply to groceries, food and hotel fees. A passport is required to apply for discounts. When buying more than 500 fr. you must obtain and fill out a special form from the seller, then stamp it at customs when leaving the country, and upon arrival home send it in the enclosed envelope to Switzerland and receive a check with a refund in a few weeks. In large stores (for example, when buying watches), they can deduct the prescribed percentage (6.5%) from the purchase amount and then all that remains is to lower the orange envelope after passing through passport control. If the percentage has not been deducted from the total amount, then Tax-Free is issued indicating the total amount (check that the check is blue or pink),
Embassy in Switzerland
Switzerland, embassy in Moscow
The visa department is located at 31, Prechistenskaya embankment, Kropotkinskaya metro station (Sokolnicheskaya line).
Fax: (495) 225-88-36
The Consular Section is located at Ogorodnaya Sloboda Lane, 2/5
Payphones are installed almost everywhere. Payment is made by coins or card. The card can also be bought almost everywhere for 10 or 20 francs.
To call Russia, dial 07 + area code + telephone number.
To call Switzerland, you need to dial 8 + 1041 + area code + subscriber number.
Emergency Phones in Switzerland
Police – 117
Fire Department – 118
Emergency Service – 144
Car Emergency Assistance – 140
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1st – New Year’s Day
March 18th – Good Friday
April 21st – Easter Monday
May 29th – Ascension Day
May 9th – Spirits Day
August 1st – Independence Day
December 25th – Christmas Day
December 26th – Boxing Day
There are also many local holidays. For example, the spring cow fights in Unterval, the Basel carnival, singing competitions in Zurich, all kinds of competitions of ancient costumes, competitions of singers and shooters.
USEFUL THINGS
Most of the prices are indicated in both euros and Swiss francs. In some stores, euros are even accepted for payment, but change is given out in Swiss francs. It is most convenient to use credit cards.
We must be prepared for the fact that Switzerland is a very expensive country. The average bill in a restaurant is always more than 50 euros.
The level of service is high. However, it is not the Swiss themselves who work in hotels and in the service sector in general, the entire workforce is coming (Yugoslavs, French, Italians, Croats), and the service suffers somewhat from this.
SHOPS
From Monday to Friday, shops are open from 8:30 to 18:30, on Saturday – from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. In large cities, some shops are open without a lunch break, but are closed on Monday morning.
According to thembaprograms, Swiss shops offer a large selection of the most prestigious goods. Traditional purchases are watches, chocolates, famous penknives and music boxes.
If the amount of purchases was more than 500 Swiss francs, then in the store you can ask for a receipt, according to which the value added tax will be refunded at the airport.
Tipping
Tipping is customary for waiters and taxi drivers. The usual amount is 10 – 15% of the bill.
NATIONAL FEATURES
Switzerland is a multinational country, each of its regions is not similar to each other. But at the same time, there are several features inherent in all the inhabitants of this country. This is diligence, love for cleanliness and order, openness. In this country, it is not customary to flaunt one’s fortune.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
Switzerland’s medical clinics have state-of-the-art equipment. A high level of income allows you to hire world-class personnel. An international medical insurance policy is required. Its average cost is CHF 200 for adults and CHF 70 for a child. As a rule, it does not provide for the provision of dental care and treatment of chronic diseases. If you had to resort to medical services, you must pay the bill in cash, and upon returning from the trip, receive compensation from the insurance company (upon presentation of the invoice) in accordance with the contract.
