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MANILA, Philippines -- Starting on November 1, 2008, Switzerland will apply Schengen rules in the issuance of visas, following its accession last month to the Schengen/Dublin Agreements which abolished border controls among the participating European Union countries, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Saturday.
This means that visas issued by Switzerland will be recognized for entry into the territory of other Schengen states and vice versa. But visas issued before November 1, 2008, will be valid only for entry into Switzerland.
The Schengen countries include the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Spain.
The DFA said Schengen rules will apply in the processing of applications for short-term stays not exceeding three months, including transit visas.
Issuance of long-stay visas of more than three months, however, will remain under the control of national procedures. The latter will allow exclusive entry into the territory of the issuing state and transit through another Schengen state.
Holders of long-stay visas will subsequently obtain a permit to stay that will allow free movement within the entire Schengen area.
Visa applicants may check the website of the Swiss Federal Office of Migration for information.
