Published on 4 March 2026
Application for Schengen visa and procedure
The Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba does not issue any visa, it solely informs about the process and offers the service of sending certain applications to the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa. It is the responsibility of the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa to decide whether a visa is issued or not.
Important Information: All Schengen visas for South Sudan are processed in Addis Ababa.
Fill in and print your online application on the website: www.swiss-visa.ch
The appointment can only be booked after the online application is completed. The booking is free of charge.
The visa application must be submitted at least 15 days before the planned travel date and can be submitted six months before earliest. It is highly recommended to book an appointment at an early stage.
Official visit
PDF218.05 kB14 October 2025
Business and conferences
PDF224.17 kB14 October 2025
Tourism
PDF225.32 kB14 October 2025
Visit of family and friends
PDF230.09 kB14 October 2025
Short-term study and research
PDF224.85 kB14 October 2025
Medical treatment
PDF230.65 kB14 October 2025
Sport events and culture
PDF231.60 kB14 October 2025
Airport transit visa
PDF138.25 kB20 August 2025
The Consular Agency urges the visa applicants to apply at least four weeks prior to the intended travel date to Switzerland. An application can be submitted six months before earliest. It is highly recommended to submit the visa application at an early stage.
If the fingerprints from previous Schengen visas can be copied, the Consular Agency in Juba will foward your visa application by weekly diplomatic pouch to the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Abeba for decision, who will launch the consultation process and start with your visa application.
Among other citizens, South Sudanese citizens have to go through the Schengen consultation, regardless of their passport status. In practice, this implies that their application remains in consultation among the Schengen States for up to 10 working days. A visa decision can only be taken after a positive or negative consultation outcome.
The passport will then be sent back to the Consular Agency in Juba where it can be picked up during the opening hours, after fixing a prior appointment via email or telephone.
Exceptions
If you travel for the first time to the Schengen area or if your fingerprints were collected more than 59 months ago, you are kindly requested to submit your visa application in person at the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Abeba, by making an appointment on www.swiss-visa.ch. The booking of the appointment is free of charge.
Once your application has been submitted at the Swiss Embassy in Addis Abeba (through the Consular Agency), you can choose from the following options:
Return to South Sudan, hand over the passport to the Consular Agency in Juba which will again forward it to the Swiss Embassy in Addis Abeba for issuance/decision of the visa. The visa or refusal can then be picked up again at the Consular Agency after approximately one week.
Remain in Ethiopia for the entire time of approximately 10 days (consultation period) and collect the passport/decision directly at the Swiss Embassy in Addis Abeba, without going through the Consular Agency in Juba.
Return to South Sudan, send the passport together with a prepaid return envelope of a private courier company to the Swiss Embassy in Addis Abeba for issuance of the visa/decision and await its direct return to the applicant by the private courier. Please keep in mind that this option can take up to 5 more additional working days.
All diplomatic representations of the Schengen member states in South Sudan have to capture the biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) of persons applying for a Schengen visa. The data will be kept in the Visa Information System (VIS) for 5 years.
If your fingerprints have not been collected yet, personal appearance at the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa, when applying for a Schengen visa, is mandatory.
If your fingerprints were collected within the last 59 months, you won’t have to give new fingerprints for your next visa application(s) and personal appearance is not necessary. However you still have to authorize a third person to submit your application upon appointment. Please provide a copy of your visa sticker issued after the 06.06.2013. If you are not sure or do not remember whether your fingerprints have been captured for a Schengen visa within the last 59 months, you have to appear in person.
You will still have to appear in person to give your fingerprints in case of previously collected fingerprints prove to be of insufficient quality.
Personal appearance and fingerprint collection is not necessary for children under the age of 12.
The Swiss representation still reserves the right to ask the applicant to (re)appear for a personal interview after checking the application
As a general rule, a decision is taken by the Consulate within 15 days. This period may, in individual cases, be extended.
Some Schengen States require that they be consulted on visa applications submitted to other Schengen States by citizens of certain countries. The consultation process may take up to 14 calendar days. Such consultation is currently required for nationals of the countries listed here:
It is therefore recommended to submit the visa application early, at the earliest 6 months before the planned journey.
The reasons for refusal are notified to the applicant using a standard form.
You have the right to appeal within 30 days of receipt of the refusal. For information on appeal procedures, please refer to the webpage of the State Secretariat for Migration.
Biometric data (fingerprints) are generally collected every 59 months from the age of 12 years from the first recording.
If you are a family member of a Swiss, European Union (EU) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) citizen, you are entitled to submit your application directly at the responsible Embassy or Consulate of Switzerland. An appointment is mandatory and must be booked in advance.
If you wish to complain about the behavior of the consular staff and, if applicable, about the external service provider or about the process, please contact the competent representation in writing.
Monday: 14.00–16.00
Tuesday: 09.00–11.30
Wednesday: 09.00–11.30
Thursaday: 09.00–11.30
Friday: closed
Saturday: closed
Sunday: closedOnly upon prior appointment via email (juba.ca@eda.admin.ch) or telephone +211912320925 (during opening hours). The Consular Agency does not accept any walk-ins.