Effective from 19th January 2012, citizens of Benin going to Switzerland can apply for visas at the Belgian Consulate in Cotonou. As some exceptions apply, we recommend they submit their visa applications 3 weeks prior to the intended date of travel.

Belgian Consulate in Cotonou, Benin
Development Cooperation Bureau / Visa
Bureau CD/OS: Les Cocotiers, Lot 12 N
Bureau Visa: Les Cocotiers, Lot 52, Carre 1416
Cotonou

Tel.: +229 21 30 30 79
Fax  +229 21 30 68 62
Email:  cotonou@diplobel.be

Starting on 1st July 2010, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana will represent Belgium for the issuance of short-term Schengen visas. Please note that the same requirements, application forms and instructions as for Switzerland will apply. Please submit supporting documents in English.

Please also note that the Embassy is not authorised to process visa applications of applicants who have declaration of guarantee/prise en charge already done by their hosts in Belgium. Such applications can only be processed at VFS Belgium Visa Application Centre Ghana (see link bottom right of page) or the Belgian Embassy in Abidjan. Please submit supporting documents in English, French or German.

To find out whether or not you need a visa for Switzerland, please consult the webpage of the Swiss Office of Migration.

Citizens of Ghana, Togo and Benin are required to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland.

Applications for visas may be submitted personally to the Visa Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Accra on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 09h00 until 11h00.

Application forms can be obtained at the Embassy of Switzerland in Accra or by downloading and printing - Visa Application Form -, which can be found hereinafter in PDF format. Please consult the leaflets on this page for information on how to apply for different types of visas.

Nationals who do require a visa should take into consideration that there are various types of visa. These are briefly outlined below:

Tourist Visa
For persons who holiday in Switzerland, staying at a hotel or rented flat or who visit Switzerland on a coach tour.

Visitor Visa
For persons who are going to spend some time with relatives or friends living in Switzerland.

Business Visa
For persons who wish to meet their Swiss business partners.

Transit Visa
For persons entering Switzerland only for onward travel.

Airport Transit Visa
For persons changing flights at a Swiss Airport.

In accordance with the agreement of 6 November 1963 between Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, Swiss entry regulations also apply to applications for entering the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Each application is checked individually and no guarantee can be given that a visa will be issued. The Embassy cannot be held responsible for costs involved when a visa is refused. Please note that in certain cases the application has to be submitted to the authorities in Switzerland. In such cases, it may take some weeks until a decision is taken (up to 12 weeks).

No vaccination certificates are required for Switzerland.