Visa and student residence permit for Switzerland

Our School - Institut Richelieu - proposes assistance in the fulfillment of the formalities in order to obtain a visa and a permit B to study in Switzerland.

Nevertheless, we draw your attention on the fact that any request for a residence permit must be made at the Swiss diplomatic representation in your country of origin, before your arrival in Switzerland, by means of a request for a student residence permit.

The school oversees the file of every candidate; the file is than revised by a lawyer in Lausanne (Me Marie-Pomme Moinat, Place de la Palud 13, 1003 Lausanne): This service is free for all the students who join the school for a minimum of 6 months.

The lawyer sends then directly the visa request to the competent authorities: Service de la Population du Canton de Vaud. This accelerates the procedure.

In order to do this request, you need to prepare a file including the following documents:

• A letter explaining for which professional reasons you want to study French in Switzerland
• A curriculum vitae
• A short letter declaring : «I shall leave Switzerland in the term of the planned studies», with date and signature
• A proof of sufficient financial means to stay in Switzerland during the studies (bank account, guarantor)
• A certificate of the Institute Richelieu guaranteeing that your registration has been accepted and that a payment has already been made
• A photocopy of the passport
• 2 passport photographs

We are at your disposal to answer any question concerning this procedure and to help you putting all the chances on your side in order to come to study in Switzerland.

The Institut Richelieu - based in Lausanne since 1962 - is a School entirely dedicated to the teaching of French as a foreign language. The school is member of the Fédération Suisse des Ecoles Privées – FSEP (Swiss Federation of Private schools), of the Association Vaudoise des Ecoles Privées – AVDEP (associative network – non-profit-making and apolitical – of private schools). The Institut Richelieu has the eduQua label - the first Swiss quality label geared towards adult continuing education.