In a notice dated 11 February, the Swiss Embassy in Iran confirmed that bookings for Schengen short-stay (Visa C) applications will reopen from 12 February via external provider VFS Global. The move ends a three-week pause triggered by regional security concerns but comes with a stark warning: the embassy stresses that travel to Iran remains “strongly discouraged” and consular services could be scaled back without notice if the situation deteriorates.
The partial resumption is significant for Swiss companies with engineering and humanitarian projects in Iran, as on-the-ground troubleshooting often requires Iranian partners to travel to headquarters in Zurich, Basel or Bern. Mobility advisers say appointment slots are expected to fill within hours because of pent-up demand.
![Swiss Embassy in Tehran Resumes Visa-C Appointments Amid Heightened Security Advisory]()
Meanwhile, companies and individual travellers looking to minimise the administrative scramble can turn to VisaHQ’s Swiss portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), which offers real-time appointment monitoring, document pre-checks and courier solutions that simplify both Schengen and national visa applications when embassy capacity is tight.
Applicants must still secure a face-to-face interview at the embassy for national (Visa D) permits, and Swiss nationals in Iran are urged to register on the FDFA Travel Admin App. The embassy’s helpline will remain on 24/7 standby.
Risk managers should update duty-of-care protocols: evaluate whether non-essential visits can be postponed, ensure travellers have comprehensive evacuation insurance, and remind Iranian invitees that visa processing may be suspended again if geopolitical tensions flare.
The partial resumption is significant for Swiss companies with engineering and humanitarian projects in Iran, as on-the-ground troubleshooting often requires Iranian partners to travel to headquarters in Zurich, Basel or Bern. Mobility advisers say appointment slots are expected to fill within hours because of pent-up demand.
Meanwhile, companies and individual travellers looking to minimise the administrative scramble can turn to VisaHQ’s Swiss portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), which offers real-time appointment monitoring, document pre-checks and courier solutions that simplify both Schengen and national visa applications when embassy capacity is tight.
Applicants must still secure a face-to-face interview at the embassy for national (Visa D) permits, and Swiss nationals in Iran are urged to register on the FDFA Travel Admin App. The embassy’s helpline will remain on 24/7 standby.
Risk managers should update duty-of-care protocols: evaluate whether non-essential visits can be postponed, ensure travellers have comprehensive evacuation insurance, and remind Iranian invitees that visa processing may be suspended again if geopolitical tensions flare.
