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South Africa → Switzerland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Africa
To
Switzerland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
217
Change since 2018
-7.7%
Share of all arrivals in Switzerland, 2023
0.12%
Inflow 2023217OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from South Africa to Switzerland

Inflows of nationals of South Africa recorded by Switzerland; stock of nationals of South Africa living there; and acquisitions of Switzerland's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

127253201020132016201920222023
127253201020132016201920222023
Data table
2010253
2011244
2012236
2013211
2014184
2015192
2016236
2017187
2018235
2019227
2020160
2021219
2022245
2023217
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—1,960—
20232171,92754
20222451,82846
20212191,75445
20201601,74849
20192271,71754
20182351,67064
20171871,70456
20162361,68560
20151921,65246
20141841,63645
20132111,674—
20122361,623—
20112441,623—
2010253——
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Switzerland's consulates in South Africa

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Switzerland's consulates located in South Africa.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20248,4807,7406778.0%
20237,1166,7803134.4%
20227,8687,5742783.5%
20212,0321,927944.6%
20201,2461,219231.8%
20198,9168,6421932.2%
20188,4308,2841111.3%
20178,5438,3831241.5%
20168,0958,038540.7%
20158,9778,926440.5%
20148,6438,566400.5%
201310,52210,079650.6%
201211,03510,960750.7%
201111,96411,901630.5%
201011,14110,9951461.3%
200911,18810,8603282.9%

Applications by year

5,98212k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5,98212k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200911,188
201011,141
201111,964
201211,035
201310,522
20148,643
20158,977
20168,095
20178,543
20188,430
20198,916
20201,246
20212,032
20227,868
20237,116
20248,480
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Switzerland

First residence permits issued by Switzerland to citizens of South Africa (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Work158
  2. Family88
  3. Education48
  4. Other reasons7
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2025301000
2024395047122
2023355053127
2022319045130
2021265046116
20200049122
20190054119
2018277066116
2017267058103
201628706498
201524604987
201416104294
201328806094
20122790500
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities158
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
2,104
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
3
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Switzerland in South Africa, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyPretoriaeda.admin.ch
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Switzerland, 2023; South Africa ranks 70.

Inflows to Switzerland, 2023
  1. Germany26,211
  2. France19,955
  3. Italy19,497
  4. Portugal12,750
  5. Spain8,964
  6. Poland7,576
  7. Romania7,520
  8. Hungary4,175
  9. Türkiye3,788
  10. China3,526
  11. India3,514
  12. Afghanistan3,466
Other destinations for people from South Africa, 2023
  1. New Zealand8,667
  2. Australia5,217
  3. Netherlands4,201
  4. United States3,180
  5. Germany1,478
  6. South Korea1,468
  7. Portugal773
  8. Japan629
  9. France303
  10. Belgium302
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more