Travel insurance for a Swiss Schengen visa from the UAE
If you live in the UAE and need a visa for Switzerland, the embassy checklist listed on 14 April 2026 asks for a policy issued in the UAE or Bahrain with at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover, including repatriation. Credit card insurance is not accepted.
Do you need travel insurance for a Swiss visa?
Yes, if you live in the UAE and need a Schengen visa with Switzerland or Liechtenstein as your main destination. Item 12 of the embassy’s tourism checklist, listed on the embassy page on 14 April 2026, makes travel health insurance a required document.1 Item 12 does not apply to children and spouses of Swiss and EU or EFTA nationals.
UAE nationals do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, under the Swiss list of visa rules by nationality dated 3 April 2026. A visa is needed for stays over 90 days, and the list adds a note to the UAE entry, set out in the small print.2
Your policy needs EUR 30,000 of cover and must be issued in the UAE or Bahrain
Item 12 asks for medical and hospital cover of at least EUR 30,000, including repatriation in an emergency or for medical reasons.1
The checklist does not say what happens if you cannot get a policy in the UAE. The EU Visa Code says applicants should in principle buy insurance in their country of residence, and in any other country where that is not possible.3 Ask the embassy before you buy a policy issued elsewhere.
Credit card insurance is not accepted
Item 12 says “Credit Card insurances are not accepted.”1 Buy a separate travel policy for the application. The card cover guide compares the positions of other Schengen posts in the UAE.
Buy from an insurance company’s own office
The embassy says it is not responsible for problems with insurance companies and strongly recommends buying insurance only at official offices of insurance companies. It warns that people near VFS and the embassy sell services, including travel medical insurance, and that they do not act for the embassy or VFS.4
How the Swiss application works
The visa section in Abu Dhabi takes applications only from permanent residents of the UAE or Bahrain whose main destination is Switzerland or Liechtenstein. You apply through VFS Global. Processing takes 15 calendar days, and up to 12 weeks if the application is referred to Switzerland.4
Check your UAE residence permit before you apply. The embassy page, dated 28 May 2026, asks for at least one month of validity beyond your planned return.4 The checklist asks for three months beyond your intended departure.1 If your permit falls between the two, ask the embassy which applies.
How many people apply for Swiss visas in the UAE
The Swiss embassy in Abu Dhabi received 25,603 Schengen visa applications in 2025, down 5.7% from 27,148 in 2024. Switzerland was sixth of the 27 states by applications in the UAE, after fourth in 2024. The figures cover applicants of every nationality. The not issued rate was 21.3% in both years.56
Fig. 1.Switzerland received the sixth most Schengen visa applications in the UAE in 2025
Uniform visa applications at consulates in the UAE, top six states, calendar 2025. Any nationality.
6 categories. Highest: Germany, 40,555 applications. Lowest: Switzerland, 25,603 applications.
Data and source
Source: European Commission, DG HOME, Visa statistics for consulates 2025. Accessed 4 Nov 2026.
| State | Applications |
|---|---|
| Germany | 40,555 applications |
| Netherlands | 31,634 applications |
| Spain | 30,265 applications |
| France | 28,160 applications |
| Italy | 27,398 applications |
| Switzerland | 25,603 applications |
| Measure | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | 27,148 | 25,603 |
| Visas issued | 21,251 | 19,881 |
| Of which multiple entry | 14,976 | 13,629 |
| Limited territorial validity | 109 | 273 |
| Not issued | 5,788 | 5,449 |
| Not issued rate | 21.3% | 21.3% |
| Rank of 27 states by applications | 4 | 6 |
The small print
- The older VFS checklist. A checklist hosted by VFS Global is undated and appears older than the embassy’s on its content. It lists emergency medical, hospitalisation and repatriation including death, a EUR 30,000 minimum and validity across the Schengen area for the stay. It has no line on where the policy is issued and no line on credit cards.7
- Where item 12 sits. Insurance is listed under required supporting documents, not under admissibility criteria. Item 12 has no wording for multiple-entry visas.1
- Card cover in EU guidance. The EU Visa Code Handbook (26 June 2024, section 6.9) says card cover meeting the Visa Code criteria may be accepted. The Handbook states that it creates no legally binding obligations on Member States.8
- Where the insurer is based. Other posts set different rules. The German missions’ multiple-entry declaration asks for an insurer with an office in a Schengen state, Switzerland or Liechtenstein (undated). Visa Code Article 15(5) has consulates check that claims would be recoverable in a Member State.3
- Residence permit validity. The EU harmonised list of supporting documents for the UAE (27 May 2020) gives three months.9
- Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein visas go through the Swiss visa section. The EU visa statistics for 2025 have no separate figures for Liechtenstein.5
- How the figures are counted. The not issued rate is not issued divided by visas issued, limited territorial validity visas and not issued combined. Not issued includes refusals and examinations discontinued under Visa Code Article 8(2). The statistics give no nationality and no reasons.10
- UAE nationals. The Swiss list marks the UAE entry with a note marked 1. The list’s note V1 sets a visa obligation for certain gainful occupation.2 The 2015 EU-UAE visa waiver agreement’s joint declaration says it is desirable that Switzerland and the UAE conclude a bilateral agreement.11
Questions to ask your insurer
Travel insurance for a Swiss Schengen visa from the UAE
Ask your insurer
Nothing you tick here is saved or sent.
The entry rules in full
Government entry rules
Set by governments. Check the official source before you book and again before you travel.
Must a visa applicant prove travel health insurance?1
Explicitly includedApplies to UAE and Bahrain residents with Switzerland or Liechtenstein as main destination. Item 12 of the checklist, under required supporting documents.
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
What minimum amount does the mission state?1
Explicitly includedMedical and hospital cover of at least EUR 30,000, including repatriation in case of emergency or for medical reason.
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Where must the policy be issued?1
Explicitly includedIn the UAE or the Kingdom of Bahrain (listed 2026-04-14). The checklist does not say what happens where no UAE policy exists. Art 15(4) allows another country in that case.
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Is credit card insurance accepted?1
Explicitly excludedNot accepted (listed 2026-04-14). The VFS-hosted checklist is silent (undated). Handbook 6.9 says it may be accepted if the criteria are met (2024-06-26, non-binding).
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Does item 12 apply to family members of Swiss and EU or EFTA nationals?1
Explicitly excludedPoint 12 does not apply to children and spouses of Swiss and EU or EFTA nationals.
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Do UAE nationals need a visa for up to 90 days?2
ConditionalApplies to UAE nationals. The Swiss list says no visa for up to 90 days, with a note marked 1. The list's note V1 sets a visa obligation for certain gainful occupation. Visa required for more than 90 days.
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Must a visa-exempt traveller show insurance at the border?12
Not stated in the documentsApplies to UAE nationals. Schengen Borders Code Art 6 lists the entry conditions and the word insurance does not appear in the consolidation. Ask the embassy whether Swiss national rules ask for cover at the border.
Last checked 4 Nov 2026
Sources
12
1Embassy of Switzerland, Abu Dhabi (FDFA), Checklist for tourism and private household visas, Listed 2026-04-14, filename 202603. Item 12. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Checklist for tourism and private household visas
2Swiss State Secretariat for Migration, Annex CH-1, List 1, visa provisions by nationality, Version of 2026-04-03. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Annex CH-1, List 1, visa provisions by nationality
3European Union (EUR-Lex), Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Visa Code, consolidated text, Consolidated 2024-06-11. Effective 11 Jun 2024. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Visa Code, consolidated text
4Embassy of Switzerland, Abu Dhabi (FDFA), Application for a Schengen visa, procedure, 2026-05-28. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Application for a Schengen visa, procedure
5European Commission, DG HOME, Visa statistics for consulates 2025, Published 2026-05-28, period calendar 2025. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Visa statistics for consulates 2025
6European Commission, DG HOME, Visa statistics for consulates 2024, Period calendar 2024. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Visa statistics for consulates 2024
7VFS Global, Switzerland UAE checklist, Visa checklist, tourism and private household employees. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Visa checklist, tourism and private household employees
8European Commission, Visa Code Handbook I, annex to C(2024) 4319, 2024-06-26. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Visa Code Handbook I, annex to C(2024) 4319
9European Commission, hosted by the Portuguese MFA, Harmonised list of supporting documents for the UAE, annex to C(2020) 3329 final, 2020-05-27. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Harmonised list of supporting documents for the UAE, annex to C(2020) 3329 final
10European Commission, DG HOME, Visa statistics, quality and metadata report, Last update 2021-05-07. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Visa statistics, quality and metadata report
11EU and UAE, Agreement on the short-stay visa waiver, OJ L 125, Signed 2015-05-06. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Agreement on the short-stay visa waiver, OJ L 125
12European Union (EUR-Lex), Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Schengen Borders Code, consolidated text, Consolidated 2024-07-10. Last checked 4 Nov 2026. Source document: Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Schengen Borders Code, consolidated text
- Owner
- Travelinsurance.ae research team
- Last review
- Next review due
- 10 Feb 2027
- Status
- Published