Published on 2 July 2026
Which documents should I submit with a national visa application?
Residence Visa / Family Reunion Visa
For people wishing to take up residence in Switzerland (without employment) or to settle in Switzerland together with an employed family member (spouses and minor children).
The application will be forwarded to the competent cantonal authorities in Switzerland for a decision. The responsible representation can only issue the visa after approval by the competent authorities. The total processing time is approximately 8-12 weeks. This time is an approximation only and may vary considerably depending on the canton responsible and the elements of the application.
The responsible representation does not provide information during the procedure. Therefore, please contact the cantonal migration authority responsible for your place of residence:
The visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland is responsible for the treatment of national visa applications from people living permanently in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
General information about entering Switzerland and the general section of VBC instructions (Visa and Border control) can be found at the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
On our website https://www.eda.admin.ch/tehran you will find information on how to obtain a visa at the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran for people living in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
How to apply for an appointment:
Applicants for national visa for Switzerland (Type D, stay of more than 90 days) must submit their documents - with prior appointment - at the visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland.
The applicant's file will be forwarded to the competent cantonal migration authority in Switzerland. The visa section of the Embassy of Switzerland can only issue a visa upon receipt of the authorization. The visa section recommends applying a visa sufficient in advance (maximum three months prior the entry date to Switzerland) as the procedure takes approximately 6 - 12 weeks. Please be informed that the visa section will not intervene anywhere to speed up the decision making process in Switzerland!
People wishing to apply for a national visa “D” need to submit their application person.