Switzerland And Schengen Visa.

[Khun Jean]

I read conflicting information about having a holiday in Switzerland with a Schengen Visa. My wife has a Schengen visa from the Dutch embassy.

On some sites i read you can travel to Switzerland and on others that i can not.

Anyone have actual experience visiting Switzerland on a Schengen visa?

Also being married instead of being friends/engaged can have something to do with it. I was told by the Dutch embassy that when your wife is married to you and registers this marriage in both countries and change her last name to yours, the rights i have as a dutch person are also hers (i only asked about visa rights). This seems too good to be true and i am sceptical.

Unfortunately not very clear with these ever changing rules.

Edited September 29, 2005 by Khun Jean

[Blake7]

I read conflicting information about having a holiday in Switzerland with a Schengen Visa. My wife has a Schengen visa from the Dutch embassy.

On some sites i read you can travel to Switzerland and on others that i can not.

Anyone have actual experience visiting Switzerland on a Schengen visa?

Also being married instead of being friends/engaged can have something to do with it. I was told by the Dutch embassy that when your wife is married to you and registers this marriage in both countries and change her last name to yours, the rights i have as a dutch person are also hers. This seems too good to be true and i am sceptical.

Unfortunately not very clear with these ever changing rules.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Check with Swiss embassy but I think that if she is the wife of an EU citizen she can enter Switzerladn with you. Does she have a UK settlement visa as this may help.

[Khun Jean]

Sorry to not include it in the first post.

I am Dutch. My wife had an settlement visa for the Netherlands before but we did not bother to extend it as we are living in Thailand.

My wife has to pick up her passport at the embassy tomorrow. She will have a 90 day tourist schengen visa, for which she did not have to pay, again because we are married and she took my last name. Never heard of this before and just a little afraid the embassy personal screw up. Won't be the first time, more the 5th time in my dealings with them. So no trust there.

Visiting Switzerland is just on our list for a tour around Europe. Probably will be staying there for a week.

[Blake7]

Sorry to not include it in the first post.

I am Dutch. My wife had an settlement visa for the Netherlands before but we did not bother to extend it as we are living in Thailand.

My wife has to pick up her passport at the embassy tomorrow. She will have a 90 day tourist schengen visa, for which she did not have to pay, again because we are married and she took my last name. Never heard of this before and just a little afraid the embassy personal screw up. Won't be the first time, more the 5th time in my dealings with them. So no trust there.

Visiting Switzerland is just on our list for a tour around Europe. Probably will be staying there for a week.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think you will be fine. Bring your marriage certificate with you.

[Thomas_Merton]

Far be it from me, who in another thread demontrates my lack of awareness with regards Schengen, however, I found the following information for Taiwanese and Chinese (I would think the Thai status cannot be more restrictive) :

Visa Information for Switzerland (also incl. the Principality of Liechtenstein)

Status: Updated July 20, 2005

The following visa rules apply for holders of the "Republic of China" and the "Republic of China Taiwan" ordinary passports.

A) with a valid Schengen visa

No separate visa for Switzerland is required provided the following conditions are fulfilled:

1) Passport holder must have a valid, unrestricted, single/multi-entry Schengen visa*

2) The trip is intended for either the following purpose:

- tourism

- visit

- business

- medical treatment & cure

- participation in science, cultural, religious or sports activities

- temporary coverage by media

- company training

- transport of goods/persons in or through Switzerland (transit) by a driver of foreign registered company

3) Max. period of stay: up to 3 months depend on Schengen visa's validity and total stay

In case of a Schengen transit visa (valid for all Schengen states) only transit through

Switzerland is possible (no stay).

In case of a Schengen visa with single entry free entry and stay allowed only if Schengen visa has not been used yet. It is therefore highly recommended to obtain a multiple entry Schengen visa.

(*Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden).

[Axel]

Important, the Schengen-Visa (marked "Etats Schengen") must allow multiple entry. Hoding such visa Switzerland does not require separate Swiss one:

7) NATIONAL & OFFICIAL PASSPORT WITH SCHENGEN VISA

Nationals of the following countries do NOT require a visa to travel to Switzerland if they hold a passport valid for three months after leaving Switzerland, endorsed with a multi-entry Schengen visa, valid for all Schengen states:

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (Republic of China, ordinary passports only), Thailand, United Arab Emirates

http://www.eda.admin.ch/london_emb/e/home/...es/tranvis.html

[Khun Jean]

Thanks guys!

A pity we did not ask for a multi entry, it should not be any harder to get.

Ah well. Saves some places to visit next time.

I will remember for next time. Does this effectively give you a 90 day stay again if you went for a "border run" to Switserland?