Since 12 December 2008 Switzerland is an associated member state of the Schengen agreement and hence part of the Schengen area. Please check the visa requirements for your nationality under the following link: Overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality (PDF). Schengen visas are valid for Switzerland and all other areas of the Schengen member states (providing nothing to the contrary is noted on the visa).
The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police maintains a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding Visa issues. You can also find links to websites for Swiss embassies and consulates worldwide at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The embassy and consulate websites have very helpful information about procedures, timelines, communities served, required documentation, and fees.
Letters from conference organization
International registrants should be particularly aware and careful about visa requirements, and should plan travel well in advance. Please send your request for a letter in support of a visa application to decanato [dot] inf [at] usi [dot] ch. Use the subject line “XDMS2019 Visa” and include your name, mailing address, and fax number. Also make sure to indicate which embassy/consulate you are applying to. Authors of accepted papers/posters/etc. should also include the title. You can click on this link to pre-fill your email accordingly.
Support letters for non-authors
Due to the high volume of fraudulent visa requests in recent years, a request for a letter in support of a visa application from non-authors must be accompanied by
- a statement of interest, motivating the requestor’s interest in the conference topic, as well as
- a brief resume, demonstrating a corresponding professional/academic background in related areas
Please contact us first with the above information before registering.