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BHS SWITZERLAND Experience

International Students Office

Welcome to the International Students Office of BHS SWITZERLAND!

If you are an international students planning to attend or already attending International Business Academy of Switzerland, then you will find resources and services here to support you throughout your time as an IBAS student.

What can we do for you?

COVID-19 Requirements

  • There are currently no entry restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • No proof of vaccination, recovery or testing is required for entry into Switzerland.
  • As of December 2022

Student Visa Requirements

Age Requirement: 18 to 30 ages

Financial Requirement: CHF 21000 in bank account

Academic Requirement:

  • to study a Bachelor degree: a High School or Senior Secondary School diploma
  • to study a Master degree:  a Bachelor degree or equivalent
  • to study a Doctorate: a Master degree or equivalent

English Requirement:

  • to study a Bachelor degree: IELTS 5.5 or equivalent
  • to study a Master degree: IELTS 6.0 or equivalent
  • to study a Doctorate degree:  IELTS 6.0 or equivalent

Student Visa Documents Checklist

  • Valid National Passport
  • Picture of Applicant (passport size)
  • Visa Application Forms
  • Motivation Letter (purpose, future plan and reason for studying in Switzerland)
  • Declaration Letter (declaration & commitment to leave Switzerland after graduation)
  • Applicant’s CV
  • Admission Letter from BHS SWITZERLAND
  • Finance Requirement:
    • Bank statement of the applicant
    • Written confirmation letter of sponsor (case-by-case)
    • Copy of passport of sponsor (first & last page) (case-by-case)
    • A solvency proof of sponsor (case-by-case)
    • Bank account statement of sponsor for last 3 months (case-by-case)

Swiss Student Visa Process

Prospective students must apply for a Swiss Student Visa at the Swiss Embassy in your home country.

After receiving all the necessary documents from BHS SWITZERLAND Admissions Office, students must schedule an appointment with the Swiss Embassy to submit their visa application.

The student must submit all required documents and attend an interview at the Swiss Embassy.

Students must show a minimum of 21,000 CHF in their bank account at one of the Swiss approved banks. Click –> Authorised-Banks

All visa required documents must be in English or officially translated in English and notarized.

Students must inform the Admissions Office after they have submitted all the required documents and attended the interview at the Swiss Embassy in their home country.

It takes a minimum of 2-to 3-months to receive the Swiss Student Visa result from the Migration Office in Switzerland.

The Admissions Office will follow-up with the BHS SWITZERLAND Secretary to check on the status of the student visa with the Migration Office in Switzerland.

If the Migration Office in Switzerland needs more information, the Admissions Office and BHS SWITZERLAND’s Secretary will support the student in preparing any needed information and provide a letter to the Migration Office.

When the Migration Office approves the student visa:

  • The Admissions Office will inform the student and Finance to issue the student an invoice for the 2nd total fees payment.
  • The balance of your total fees must be paid after BHS SWITZERLAND has presented a proof of your visa confirmation but not later than 4 weeks prior to the term commencement date.

Upon receiving full payment, BHS SWITZERLAND will issue a Confirmation of Full Payment (CFP) letter and will send it directly to the Swiss Embassy in your home country so you may receive your visa stamp. After that, you may book your flight ticket.

Kindly contact BHS SWITZERLAND Admissions Office to arrange your arrival date before purchasing the flight ticket. The Admissions Office will prepare an arrival plan once the student purchases the flight ticket to an airport in Switzerland, where we will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to BHS SWITZERLAND’s campus and then to your dormitory.

Upon arriving in Switzerland, the Registrar will send information of class schedule, training plan, resources (if any), guidelines of Registrar, etc. to students.

Your International Education Experience Begins …

Arrival Plan

When the Migration Office approves the student visa and you have paid your fees, BHS SWITZERLAND will issue a Confirmation of Full Payment (CFP) letter and will send it directly to the Swiss Embassy in your home country so you may receive your visa stamp. After that, you may book your flight ticket.

Kindly contact BHS SWITZERLAND Admissions Office to arrange your arrival date before purchasing the flight ticket.

The Admissions Office will prepare an arrival plan once the student purchases the flight ticket to airport, where BHS SWITZERLAND staff will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to BHS SWITZERLAND campus and then to your residence.

Upon arriving in Switzerland, the Registrar will send information of class schedule, training plan, resources (if any), guidelines of Registrar, etc. to students.

Your International Education Experience Has Began …

Assistance with Immigration Upon Arrival

According to Swiss immigration laws, students must register within 7 days upon arrival at the local Gemainde (municipality).

BHS SWITZERLAND will assist students will this process.

Translators (upon request)

Upon the request of an international student, BHS SWITZERLAND will assist in securing a translator if needed.

Assistance with Health Insurance

BHS SWITZERLAND will assistance students with purchasing proper Swiss health insurance from a list of approved Swiss health insurance providers.

Students are must to purchase Swiss health insurance within 3 months upon arrival.  BHS SWITZERLAND encourages students to purchase health insurance as soon as they arrive into Switzerland.

Assistance with Travel Card (Transportation), Bank Account, etc

If students need assistance with purchasing travel card (transportation), bank account etc. they may request assistance from BHS SWITZERLAND secretary.

International Students
International Student

Local Culture & Customs

BHS SWITZERLAND provides information about local customs and culture.

Medical Facilities

BHS SWITZERLAND students can go to any doctor in Canton Lucerne.

Student Residences

BHS SWITZERLAND assists all students in locating and renting rooms in student dorm facilities in the surrounding area.

BHS SWITZERLAND Residency Permit Prolongation Process

For International Student Living in Switzerland and Attending Class at BHS SWITZERLAND Campus

Required documents to apply for extending visa should be sent to Gemeinde 3-months or the latest 2 weeks before expiring old visa. If a student doesn’t follow the required due dates, then the school secretariat will report such case to Migration.

Required documents:

  1. personal visit to Gemeinde with valid passport and old visa permit card
  2. application form for L visa prolongation (form must be filled and signed at Gemeinde)
  3. admission letter from BHS SWITZERLAND
  4. valid rent contract (please be aware it’s not recommended to change the address during the process of visa prolongation)
  5. financial statement / financial means of livelihood * (details see below)

Gemainde checks all required documents (as above 1 – 4) and sends it to Migration’s Register to Lucerne, Berninastrasse for final processing. Migration will contact you soon to prove your financial statement.

Please note that Migration’s Register Lucerne can always ask students additional questions about the school or living in Switzerland. It’s highly recommended to cooperate and abide by the given due dates and answer all questions to avoid any misunderstandings and not to delay the time of the whole visa prolongation process.

Answers to additional questions from Migration Lucerne can be sent by the student or by an authorised person (if power of attorney is given ) via post or as PDF file to Migration’s email. Please always attach the given number of student’s file.

Exit Management Process

For Onsite BHS SWITZERLAND Students Leaving Switzerland Permanently

Students who intend to leave Switzerland permanently are required to “deregister” at the local Gemeinde (municipality).

  • 2-4 weeks before leaving Switzerland deregistration in Gemeinde (municipality) is needed.

Old residency permit card must be given back to Gemeinde (municipality) at the end of residency.

Gemeinde (municipality) also requires the new address in new country of residence, so all documents, bills etc., will be sent to student after his/her departure (e.g., the end of year heating cost calculation and so on).

Official letter of deregistration from Gemeinde (municipality) shows the date of end of residency in Switzerland.

  • The official letter of deregistration is critical since it’s required to cancel services such as utilities, mandatory medical insurance, cell phone contracts, etc. and receive reimbursements for any services a person may have pre-paid.

Students will likely be required to show the letter of deregistration to Customs, if they are moving to another country with household items, so as to avoid paying import taxes on private possessions.

  • Letter of deregistration also dictates when a person is no longer liable to pay into Swiss taxes.

Termination notice on a student’s rental property must be submitted in time.

End date of residency permit reflects the end date of Admissions letter.

If student finish his/her study in BHS SWITZERLAND earlier than end date shown on his/her residency permit, then the school secretariat has to report the student’s leaving from BHS SWITZERLAND to the Migration office.

Notice agreement between student and the school is appreciated.

EVENTS FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Attending a new university can be a challenge. Let the International Students Office help you in this transition. We organize events targeted to first-year international students to help you get oriented for your first year on campus.

  • New International Student Luncheon – Enjoy a delicious lunch with new and seasoned international students and BHS SWITZERLAND faculty and staff.
  • Orientation – is designed to help students dive into the BHS SWITZERLAND experience, meet other new students, and build up study strategies needed for a smooth start.
  • The Buddy System – New international students are teamed up with 2nd and 3rd year students to assist with settling into BHS SWITZERLAND student life.
  • Campus & Surrounding Area Tour – Get to know your surroundings inside and outside the campus with a seasoned student tour guide.
  • Preparing for Your First Year – Get familiar with starting university! Learn about BHS SWITZERLAND’s various resources and get the answers you need to start your first year confidently.
  • Support Throughout First Year – Get the help you need to progress successfully through your first year and make the most of your experience.
  • Local Language Classes – BHS SWITZERLAND offers local language classes. In Switzerland, international student may need to learn German to intern at companies or international students may wish to improve their English language skills.
  • Student Clubs – BHS SWITZERLAND offers student clubs based on the interests of students.  Here are some student clubs: Club for Social and Cultural Events, Debate Club, Vietnamese Club, Malaysian Club, The Tourist Club, Entrepreneurs Club, Public Speaking Club, Dance Studio, Book Club, Food Club, Hiking/Skiing Club. Is there a club you would like to start, just ask.

To see more information about Student Clubs visit BHS SWITZERLAND Campus

Food Club
Welcome Students