Who issues the Swiss D visa and where do I apply?

Applications for a national D visa are submitted to the Swiss representation abroad that covers your country of residence. Many long-stay cases also require prior approval from the cantonal migration authority and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) before the visa can be issued.

Because of this two-step structure, a D visa application can take significantly longer than a short-stay visa. It is best to start the process well before your intended travel date and to follow the specific instructions of the Swiss representation handling your file.