Swiss citizens usually need a visa to enter Vietnam, except for a few limited visa exemption cases such as certain diplomatic passport holders and specific airline crew members.
In practice, the two most common options are the Vietnam e-visa and the Approval Letter for airport visa procedures. If you prepare the right documents from the beginning, the process is quite manageable for tourism, business, family visits, work, or investment purposes. Below, Tan Van Lang explains the requirements, application steps, and practical notes that Swiss passport holders should know before travelling.
Getting a Vietnam visa for Swiss citizens is now much more straightforward than before. In many standard cases, Swiss passport holders can apply through the Vietnam e-visa system, while sponsored cases may use an Approval Letter route for entry through an international airport. With proper documents and the right visa category, Swiss citizens can travel to Vietnam for tourism, business, family visits, work, or investment with fewer procedural issues.
Based on our practical experience, the part that causes delays is usually not the application itself. The real problem is incomplete paperwork, incorrect passport details, or choosing the wrong visa path for the actual purpose of entry.
Tan Van Lang provides reliable Vietnam visa services backed by over 20 years of professional experience.
In general, Swiss citizens are required to obtain a visa before entering Vietnam. There is no broad visa-free policy for ordinary Swiss passport holders travelling for tourism or business in the same way some other nationalities may enjoy.
That said, a few limited Visa Exemption cases may still apply.
Visa exemption cases for certain Swiss nationals
Some Swiss nationals may be exempt from a Vietnam visa in the following situations:
Holders of diplomatic passports entering Vietnam to attend meetings or conferences organized by the Government of Vietnam, or by organizations that have headquarters agreements with Vietnam. The temporary stay is generally limited to no more than 90 days within each 180-day period.
Members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, international organizations, and their accompanying spouses or children living with them, where they hold diplomatic passports, may receive visa exemption for the full term of assignment.
Flight crew members of Edelweiss Air AG, under the applicable arrangement in force from 15 June 2018.
For most regular travellers holding an ordinary Swiss passport, a visa is still required before arrival.
For a standard Vietnam e-visa application, Swiss citizens usually need:
Passport: Your Swiss passport should remain valid for at least 6 months from the intended entry date.
Portrait photo: A recent photo in 4×6 cm format, with a white background and a clear full-face image.
In real applications, the digital file quality also matters. A blurred passport scan, cropped passport page, or photo with shadows can slow down processing or lead to correction requests.
The Approval Letter route is commonly used when the applicant enters Vietnam with sponsorship support, especially for business or family-based cases.
General documents
Swiss applicants usually need:
A scanned copy of the passport, still valid, with at least 2 blank pages.
Form NA2: Application form for obtaining entry approval for a foreign national.
If a company is sponsoring the Swiss applicant
When a Vietnamese company sponsors the Swiss national, the sponsoring entity usually prepares and submits the file online through the public service portal.
The company-side documents may include:
Notarized copies of the company’s Business Registration Certificate or Investment Registration Certificate.
Form NA16 for first-time registration of the company’s signature specimen and seal with the Immigration Department.
The company’s digital signature USB token.
A power of attorney if the person signing the file is not the legal representative.
The citizen ID card of the person handling the submission.
If a family member is sponsoring a visit
The documents will vary depending on whether the sponsor is a foreign national or a Vietnamese citizen.
If the sponsor is a foreign national
The file usually includes:
Legal documents of the sponsoring company in Vietnam.
Documents proving the family relationship between the sponsor and the Swiss applicant, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate.
If the sponsor is a Vietnamese citizen
The file usually includes:
Documents proving the family relationship between the sponsor and the Swiss applicant, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate.
The sponsor’s passport and citizen ID card.
Form NA3 for entry approval in family-sponsored cases where the sponsor is a Vietnamese citizen.
Form CT07 confirming residence information of the sponsor in Vietnam.
A critical detail many applicants overlook is that relationship documents and sponsor papers should be consistent in names, dates of birth, and passport details. Even small mismatches can trigger additional review.
We support foreigners with accurate consultation and compliant visa solutions for Vietnam.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa for Swiss citizens
Option 1: Apply for a Vietnam e-visa
The Vietnam e-visa is often the most practical choice for Swiss citizens travelling for tourism, short business trips, or other straightforward purposes.
The usual process includes:
Prepare a valid passport and compliant personal photo.
Complete the online application with correct personal and travel details.
Upload the passport page and photo.
Pay the government fee.
Wait for the result and download the issued e-visa.
Print or save the visa approval for immigration checks on arrival.
► Because the full step-by-step process is quite detailed, we have prepared a separate guide here: Vietnam e-visa for foreigners
Option 2: Apply for an Approval Letter
The Approval Letter route is more common for sponsored entry, especially in business, dependent, or family-related cases.
The usual process includes:
Determine the correct sponsor in Vietnam.
Prepare the applicant documents and sponsor documents.
Submit the file through the immigration system.
Receive the Approval Letter if the case is approved.
Use the approved entry authorization for the next immigration step at the airport, depending on the visa arrangement.
Which airlines operate flights from Switzerland to Vietnam?
Airlines serving routes from Switzerland to Vietnam may include:
Vietnam Airlines
Air China
Thai Airways
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
SWISS
Lufthansa
Air France
Cathay Pacific Airways
China Southern Airlines
Flight schedules and routes can change depending on season, transit point, and commercial operations.
How long does it take to fly from Switzerland to Vietnam?
On average, flights from Switzerland to Vietnam take around 20 hours to 25 hours 40 minutes, depending on the departure city, airline, stopover time, and final destination in Vietnam.
How much is a round-trip air ticket from Switzerland to Vietnam?
In many periods, round-trip airfares from Switzerland to Vietnam start from around 11,000,000 VND and above, including taxes and fees. In practice, the final price depends heavily on travel season, route, class of service, and booking date.
Conclusion
If you need help with a Vietnam visa for Swiss citizens, Tan Van Lang is ready to assist. Please contact our 08.666.000.63 (WhatsApp) for direct support.
Tốt nghiệp chuyên ngành quản trị kinh doanh và du lịch (MKU). Sau khi tốt nghiệp, Tôi đã có 6 năm kinh nghiệm về Dịch vụ tư vấn Tour và visa xuất cảnh, 6 năm kinh nghiệm về dịch vụ tư vấn thủ tục cho người nước ngoài.
Tôi đã tư vấn cho hơn 10.000 người Việt Nam có nhu cầu du lịch nước ngoài với tỷ lệ thành công 99%.
Based on our practical experience, the part that causes delays is usually not the application itself. The real problem is incomplete paperwork, incorrect passport details, or choosing the wrong visa path for the actual purpose of entry.
Based on our practical experience, the part that causes delays is usually not the application itself. The real problem is incomplete paperwork, incorrect passport details, or choosing the wrong visa path for the actual purpose of entry.
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