There's some good news for travellers planning a Swiss holiday with their tribe. In a welcoming move, the Swiss Embassy has dispelled visa misconceptions for Indian group tours. A spokesperson confirmed, "The Embassy of Switzerland in India maintains an open door for Schengen visa appointments, debunking any notion of suspension for Indian tour groups. Our commitment to fostering people-to-people connections lies at the heart of the Swiss-Indian relationship."
In a surprising turn, 2023 has witnessed the Swiss Embassy's visa processing soaring beyond 2019 pre-pandemic levels. An impressive 7.8% upswing, with 1,29,446 applications handled from January to June compared to 1,20,071 during the same window in 2019. Upholding their dedication to traveller convenience, the embassy has introduced a trio of enhancements to the visa application journey.
Firstly, applicants can now plan ahead by submitting their visa requests a whopping six months before their travel date, a substantial extension from the previous one-month window. This means that a desire to explore the country in June warrants an application as early as January, ensuring seamless preparations. Secondly, the embassy has broadened its wingspan across India, inaugurating a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lucknow. This addition swells the count to 13 VACs dispersed throughout the country, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all applicants.
Finally, the Swiss Embassy is determined to streamline the process, orchestrating a swift turnover from the VAC appointment to the embassy's final decision. It will now take no more than 13 working days between the appointment by the partner VFS and the final decision. With these strategic enhancements, the Swiss Embassy is steadfastly committed to simplifying the visa process, beckoning Indian travellers to indulge in a stunning Swiss vacation.