Published on 28 May 2026

Where to apply for a Schengen visa?

New visa service provider: VFS Global

Following a regular public procurement procedure conducted by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, a new contract has been awarded for the operation of Visa Application Centres. As of 1 July 2025, visa applications for Switzerland will be processed by VFS Global, the newly appointed external service provider.

A new website providing comprehensive information on the visa application process, required documentation, service fees, and available services will go live on 22 April.2026 and can be accessed via the following link.

Appointment bookings will open on 22 April 2026. Please note that appointments can only be scheduled from this date onwards.

Representation agreement

If a State does not have its proper visa section in a country or region, the delivery of a Schengen visa can be delegated to another Schengen State member with an agreement between both countries concerned.

The agreement allows the appointed representation to represent and handle Schengen visa applications within its own competence without consulting the other represented State.

• Visa applicants living in Burkina Faso

  The Belgian Embassy represents Switzerland for the visa issuance. All Burkina Faso citizens and foreign permanent residents in Burkina Faso can apply at the Belgian Embassy in Ouagadougou for a short stay visa (up to 90 days). Kindly note that the Belgian Embassy is not competent for the following types of visas:

  • visa applications for a short stay in relation with a lucrative activity (including drivers and journalist)
  • visa applications for a short stay in relation with studies
  • visa applications for a short stay in relation with medical reasons
  • visa applications of holders of a diplomatic, service or special passport who are not Burkina Faso citizens
  • visa applications of holders of an ordinary passport who have the intention to travel to Switzerland for an official reason including the participation at international conferences and who are not Burkina Faso nationals
  • special procedures can apply for other nationalities or different types of visa applications

  The above mentioned visa applicants have to fix an appointment at the visa section of the Swiss Embassy in Abidjan in order to submit their file in person.

  We recommend the visa applicants to contact the Embassy of Belgium at least 4 weeks before the planned journey.

  In order to receive a complete list of the necessary documents, kindly send an email to the Embassy of Belgium [e-mail] mentioning your nationality, purpose and dates of travel.

  Kindly note that as from April 3rd 2017 you can only submit a visa file by appointment.

  Embassy of Belgium

  417 Avenue Kwamé N’Krumah, 2ond floor

  01 BP 1624 Ouagadougou 01

  Tel.[phone]
  Fax [phone]

  burkinafaso.diplomatie.belgium.be (fr)

  [e-mail]

What are the Schengen visa requirements?

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