Can I stay in Switzerlandon the day my Schengen visa expires?

What is the maximum length of my stay in Europe following Brexit?

British citizens who have been granted a passport by the U.K. to travel to the EU, Iceland and Norway can now stay in the EU for up to 90 days.

Overstaying in Schengen Zone can have serious consequences

Overstaying beyond the validity of your Schengen Visa is punishable by different penalties in each Schengen country. The sanctions you face will vary depending on where you are.Germany, for example, has the most stringent immigration laws in the Schengen Area.

Will I face deportation?

You could be deported if you are caught illegally staying in Europe and youare not leaving the country on your own.If you are caught violating rules, such as taking on paid work or engaging criminally, you could be deported immediately.After you have completed your sentence, you will be deported.After you have completed your punishment, you will be deported.

What are the consequences of overstaying in the Schengen area?Fine

This is the usual penalty for not renewing your visa.The fee will vary depending on which member state you are.You will be expelled from the Schengen Area for violating your terms of service for more than a month.

Deportation

If you are caught illegally staying in the Schengen Area, the country will deport you.You could be deported right away, or within a matter of hours.

Usually, deportation comes with another consequence. This will be communicated before you are deported.If you have overstayed your visa for more than a week and are caught in a country that does not mind you overstaying, you can leave the country without any penalties or adverse effects.

Ban

You will be banned from entering the Schengen Zone after you have been banned.This is usually due to your overstaying, working while you are not allowed or engaging in illegal activities.For a maximum of three years, you can be expelled.

Schengen is facing difficulties again

The Schengen countries share the database records. This means that even if you return to your home country with no fines or bans, your overstaying in Schengen will result in problems when you try to enter the Schengen Zone again or apply for a Schengen visa.Border patrol and immigration officers tend to be suspicious if someone is caught overstaying once, regardless of where they were.

Overstaying in Schengen is not a crime

Overstaying is not punishable in all cases.Overstaying is possible if you are a child or a disabled person who cannot travel alone due to illness or disability.

However, you should apply for a Schengen visa extension if you have to cancel your trip due to an unforeseeable event or are in an unsafesituation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

ETIAS Visa Waiver for UK citizens to travel to Switzerland

Starting from 2025, ETIAS will be live. This new visa waiver system allows non-EU nationals (like UK citizens after Brexit) to travel to Switzerland for short trips of up to 90 days. The ETIAS visa will practically replace the existing visa-free regime between the UK and the Schengen area.

If you are a British citizen looking to travel to Switzerland in 2025, you will need to apply for ETIAS. Get notified to ensure you don’t miss the date when the system goes live. You will then apply online and receive an authorisation to enter Europe in around 24 hours. It’s recommended you apply for ETIAS way before your trip to a Schengen country.