Accommodation for participants in Geneva

Geneva is a busy place so participants are encouraged to make accommodation reservations well in advance. The International Labour Office does not have a hotel reservation service, therefore participants to the meeting should make the necessary reservations with hotels in the Geneva area.

Reservations may also be made through the:

Office du tourisme de Genève
18, rue du Mont Blanc
Case postale 1602
CH-1211 Genève 1
Tel: +41 22 909 7000
Fax: +41 22 909 7011
Website: www.geneve-tourisme.ch/en/home/

Local support services

The Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI) provides support to INGO participants and delegations to international meetings, offering practical information, a documentation centre and assistance with accommodation. Its website is at www.cagi.ch.

Geneva Welcome Centre
Centre d’Accueil – Genève Internationale (CAGI)
La Pastorale – 106, route de Ferney
CH-1202 Genève
Tel: +41 22 546 2300
Email: delegates.cagi@etat.ge.ch
Website: www.cagi.ch

The International John Knox Centre offers accommodation facilities and other services within walking distance of the meeting:

International John Knox Centre
27, chemin des Crêts-de-Pregny
CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex
Tel: +41 22 747 0000
Fax: +41 22 727 0099
Email: welcome@johnknox.ch
Website: www.johnknox.ch

Entry visas for Switzerland (and France)

Nationals of many ILO member States require visas to enter and remain in Switzerland for the period of the meeting. Please note that Switzerland applies the European Schengen regulations concerning the issuance of visas. Entry visas for Switzerland are issued primarily by Swiss diplomatic representations abroad. Participants to the meeting who require an entry visa should submit a request, well in advance, to the Swiss embassy or consulate in their country of residence. However, certain countries do not have a Swiss consulate/embassy, in which case the visa request might have to be made in another country where the competent representation is located. Switzerland has signed agreements with certain countries where it is not represented by a diplomatic or consular entity. Under certain conditions these agreements allow for the issuing of visas by a Schengen State in a country where Switzerland is not represented.

Additional information may be found on the Swiss Government’s visa web pages.
The Schengen visa issued will be valid for entering the territory of all States belonging to the Schengen area. Likewise, persons already holding Schengen visas issued by other Schengen States will be permitted to enter Switzerland.

Participants of member States are solely responsible for ensuring that they obtain the necessary entry visas for Switzerland.

Please keep the following in mind:

• The time for processing visa requests may vary from case to case. Governments are strongly encouraged to communicate their credentials to the Office as early as possible so that the necessary steps for visa application can be taken well in advance (but at the earliest three months before the departure date), and the visa can be issued in a timely manner.
• On 11 October 2011 the Schengen member States introduced the Visa Information System (VIS) which is used to store biometric data (ten fingerprints and facial image) of the Schengen visa applicant. All Swiss embassies and consulates are being connected to the VIS system. The visa applicant must therefore make an appointment with the Swiss embassy/consulate in his/her country of residence and present him/herself in person to submit and register the biometric data. This data remains valid in the VIS system for a period of five years. A document in several languages explaining the implementation of the VIS system, registration of biometric data and the rollout timetable for Swiss embassies/consulates connected to the VIS system is available on the Swiss Government website.
• The following documents must be submitted by each member of the delegation:
  • a travel document, the validity of which exceeds that of the stay, and covers the period necessary for the return journey;
  • a visa application form, together with two photos;
  • supporting documents concerning the purpose of the journey, for example, a communication from the government together with an authorization to undertake the mission, a copy of credentials, an invitation to the Conference, etc.
  • any other document that the representation considers necessary.
• Except for holders of diplomatic or service passports, the Swiss authorities may require proof of adequate travel insurance.