Visas for Switzerland

First of all, please check whether or not you need a visa to enter Switzerland. Students from EU and EFTA countries only need a valid passport or identity card whilst all other students will usually require an entry visa. Students from outside the EU should therefore contact the Swiss embassy or consulate in their home country at least three months before entering Switzerland. It  is important that you allow enough time to apply for your visa since the process for obtaining an entry visa can take between 6-12 weeks. Your local Swiss embassy or consulate will provide the necessary information regarding the immigration procedure. Please note that students from countries with a visa requirement for Switzerland cannot be matriculated at the University of Lucerne without a valid visa. If you are unsure whether or not you need a visa, please ask your local Swiss representation office.  

Travelling to Switzerland

The following websites will help you with your journey to Switzerland:

Swiss International Airlines

Swiss Railway Corporation – SBB  

Registration

After entering Switzerland, all students are required to register at the registration office of their community of residence within 14 days.
You will receive detailed information on how to complete the registration during the personal enrolment, which takes place during the orientation week for exchange students.

After the registration, the residence permit (foreigner's identity card) will be issued. Citizens of non-EU/EFTA-countries must then present themselves at the Office for Migration.

The costs for registration and all related documents (foreigner's identity card, the visa etc.) are to be borne by the student.

 For anyone staying in Switzerland for longer than three months, health insurance is compulsory. Students from an EU state who are legally insured in their home country can apply for exemption from this obligation by using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a provisional certificate issued by the health insurance company in your home country.

Important note: Travel insurance taken out in your home country is not equivalent to Swiss health insurance cover and will not be accepted.

During the orientation week for incoming exchange students, representatives of the health care companies Swisscare and Scorestudies will be present and are happy to answer your questions; students will also have the possiblity to take out health insurance on the spot.

Scorestudies offers students an all-in-one 24/7 multilingual solution at reduced rates: health and accident coverage as from 64 CHF per month with Personal liability and household as an option.

Full support with your exemption request is provided - contactremove-this.@remove-this.scorestudies.ch. Registration is easy and fast on https://www.scorestudies.ch/en/apply.

Swisscare offers students reduced rate health and accident coverage.

You can register online for swisscare's  studentpass insurance.

Personal Liability Insurance

Swiss personal liability insurance covers damage caused by you to a 3rd party, in body or property (excluding driving related incidents). Personal liability insurance is not compulsory in Switzerland, however it is highly recommended.

Students living in university arranged accommodation are required to take out personal liability insurance.

There is the option to take out this insurance with scorestudies (see information above).