🇲🇨Monaco Visa for Swiss Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

Visa-free90 days max stay

No — Swiss passport holders do not need a visa for Monaco. Entry is visa-free for up to 90 days as of 2026.

Nationals of countries that are exempt from the Schengen short-stay visa requirement (for stays under 90 days in any 180-day period) may enter Monaco without a separate visa. Monaco has no independent visa system; it follows Schengen external border rules via bilateral agreements with France (1997). The official Monaco pages direct visitors to France's Service-Public.fr for the authoritative list of exempt nationalities. UK nationals are confirmed Schengen-exempt post-Brexit (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). NOTE: ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is expected to launch in Q4 2026 (October–December 2026). The Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on 10 April 2026. ETIAS fee: €20 (exempt for under-18s and over-70s); authorisation valid 3 years or passport expiry, whichever is first. Monaco is not itself a Schengen member, but all land access is through France (Schengen), so ETIAS will apply in practice for all visa-exempt non-EEA nationals entering via French territory.

monservicepublic.gouv.mc

Entering Monaco on a Swiss passport

  • → Travel with just your valid Swiss passport. No visa or prior application needed.
Other Monaco visa categories (7)

These don't apply to a typical short visit, but cover other reasons people travel to Monaco. Eligibility varies by visa type — some are limited to specific nationalities, so check each one's conditions.

Monaco Residence Permit (Carte de Séjour) - Long Stay

Any person aged 16 or over wishing to stay in Monaco for more than 3 months must obtain a Monaco residence permit. Non-EEA nationals must first obtain a French long-stay Type D visa before applying. Covers all long-stay purposes including work, study, and family.

multiple entry~$88

First residence permit fee is €80. Non-EEA nationals must first obtain a French long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa or transfer from French residency of over one year. The permit requires proof of sufficient funds (amount at discretion of Monaco bank providing reference), accommodation in Monaco, and police background check (criminal records extract less than 3 months old from last country of residence within the past 5 years). After 10 years of ordinary residence from age 18, holders may apply for Monegasque naturalisation. A valid Monaco residence permit allows non-Schengen nationals to travel within the Schengen Area without a short-stay visa. No fixed minimum deposit amount is stated on official pages - the widely cited €500,000 figure appears only in third-party sources. A personal interview is mandatory once the application file is complete.

Apply here ↗

Monaco Work Authorisation (Work Permit)

Required for any foreign national taking up salaried employment in Monaco. The employer applies to the Monaco Employment Service (Direction du Travail) for authorisation to hire; the employee also needs a residence permit (and, if non-EEA, a French long-stay Type D visa first).

multiple entry~$5

All employment in Monaco requires a work permit regardless of nationality. The employer submits the hiring/renewal authorisation application to the Employment Service (Service de l'Emploi / Direction du Travail) with a €5 stamp duty; appointments are booked via MonGuichet.mc. Recruitment follows a statutory priority order (Monegasque nationals first, then residents) under Act No. 629. Non-EEA workers must hold a valid residence permit authorising employment, obtained after a French long-stay Type D visa. This is a distinct authorisation from the residence permit itself.

Apply here ↗

Residence Permit – Spouse of a Monegasque National

Residence permit for a foreign national married to a Monegasque citizen. (Family members joining a non-Monegasque foreign resident instead apply under the general residence permit.)

multiple entry~$88

Distinct residence-permit category issued to the foreign spouse of a Monegasque national (minimum 1 year of residence). Valid 5 years; first-issue fee €80, renewal €40. Non-EEA spouses must first obtain a French long-stay Type D visa via the French consulate before applying. Family members joining a non-Monegasque foreign resident apply under the general 'temporary' or 'ordinary' residence permit rather than this specific category.

Apply here ↗

Residence Permit for Retired / Financially Self-Sufficient Persons

Residence permit for foreign nationals who do not intend to work in Monaco and support themselves through a pension or sufficient savings.

multiple entry~$88

The official first-permit application explicitly defines a non-working applicant category: retirees provide proof of pension, and self-funded applicants provide a reference letter (less than 1 month old) from a Monaco banking establishment confirming sufficient funds to live in Monaco. Issued as a 'temporary' residence permit valid 1 year (renewable), first-issue fee €80. Non-EEA applicants must first obtain a French long-stay Type D visa. Monaco publishes no fixed minimum deposit; the widely cited €500,000 figure appears only in third-party sources. This self-sufficiency route is Monaco's de facto residence-by-means path — there is no citizenship- or investment-by-investment visa program.

Apply here ↗

Residence Permit - Student

Residence permit route for foreign nationals coming to Monaco to study (e.g. at the private International University of Monaco). Study is one of the recognised applicant categories for the Monaco first residence permit; there is no standalone Monaco student visa.

multiple entry~$88

Study is an official applicant category for the Monaco first (temporary) residence permit - applicants must submit proof of student status. Issued as a temporary permit valid 1 year (renewable), first-issue fee €80. Non-EEA students must first obtain a French long-stay (Type D) visa for Monaco via the French Consulate before applying; EEA and Swiss nationals need no visa. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

Apply here ↗

Ordinary Resident Permit (Carte de Séjour Ordinaire)

Second-tier Monaco residence permit for foreign residents who have completed at least 3 years of continuous residence in the Principality, extending the right to reside for a longer period than the initial temporary permit.

multiple entry~$110

Available after 3 years of residence in Monaco. Valid 3 years. First-issue fee €100, renewal €50. This is a progression tier of the same carte de séjour, not a separately-chosen visa. Ten years of ordinary residence from age 18 is the precondition for eligibility to apply for Monegasque naturalisation. Non-EEA holders retain Schengen travel rights via the Monegasque permit.

Apply here ↗

Privileged Resident Permit (Carte de Séjour Privilégié)

Highest-tier, longest-validity Monaco residence permit for foreign nationals who have genuinely resided in the Principality for at least 10 years (reducible to 1 year in special cases at the government's discretion). Nearest equivalent to permanent residence in Monaco.

multiple entry~$176

Requires at least 10 years of genuine residence in Monaco (reducible to 1 year in special cases). Valid 10 years - the longest Monegasque residence permit and the nearest thing to permanent residence; Monaco issues no separate settlement/permanent-residence permit. First-issue fee €160, renewal €80. Non-EEA holders retain Schengen travel rights via the permit.

Apply here ↗

Monaco visa for Swiss citizens — FAQ

Do Swiss citizens need a visa for Monaco?

No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.

How long can Swiss citizens stay in Monaco?

Swiss passport holders can stay in Monaco for up to 90 days per entry under the current visa-free arrangement.

What documents do Swiss citizens need for Monaco?

A valid passport is all Swiss citizens need for a short visa-free visit (up to 90 days).

Related visa requirements