Visa for Switzerland from Kenya: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. A Kenyan passport is not visa-exempt for the Schengen Area, so a Type C short-stay visa is required before entering Switzerland. It allows tourist stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. When Switzerland is your only or primary destination, the Swiss authorities handle your application.

• Government fee90 EUR
• Application centre feeCapped at €45
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

Prepare a valid passport, a recent compliant photo, a return flight booking, proof of accommodation, evidence of funds and travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for medical costs and repatriation. The visa fee is normally €90 for an adult, excluding TLScontact's service charge. Confirm the full checklist and amounts with the official source.

In Kenya, Schengen visa applications for Switzerland are lodged with TLScontact in Nairobi, which receives files on behalf of the Swiss Embassy. Complete the form, book an appointment online and attend in person for your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo). Switzerland must be your main destination or your point of entry into the Schengen Area.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If Switzerland is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If Switzerland has no consulate in Kenya, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Kenya, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Kenya but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing usually takes 15–45 days, so file early but no more than six months before travel. In Nairobi, appointments may need to be booked ahead during busy periods. A complete, consistent file (itinerary, bookings, funds) speeds up the decision.

The classic mistake is applying to the wrong Schengen state: if you spend more nights elsewhere, Switzerland is not the country to petition. Never submit forged documents, a frequent cause of refusal. Finally, because Kenya is a yellow-fever area, check the official source for whether a vaccination certificate is required, and buy your insurance before the appointment.