Entry visas for Switzerland (and France)
2 April 2019
Nationals of many ILO member States require visas to enter and remain in Switzerland for the period of the Conference. 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. If you need an entry visa please submit a request, well in advance, to the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If your country does not have a Swiss consulate/embassy, the visa request 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 issuance of visas by a Schengen member State in a country where Switzerland is not represented.
Additional information may be found at the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM.
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.
Delegates of member States and representatives of observer organizations 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 soon as possible, so that the necessary steps for visa application can be taken well in advance (but no earlier than three months before the departure date), and the visa can be issued in a timely manner.
■ Since 2011, the Schengen member States operate 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, the registration of biometric data and the rollout timetable for Swiss embassies/consulates connected to the VIS system is available at the SWISS VIS 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.;
- a proof of health and repatriation insurance valid for the Schengen states and covering a minimum amount of €30,000 (for holders of ordinary passports only); and
– 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.
The International Labour Office can only intervene with Swiss authorities if a visa request is not granted by them. Such interventions can be made only on behalf of the following categories of participants in national delegations: delegates, advisers, and persons designated in accordance with article 2(3)(i) of the Standing Orders of the Conference. For all other participants (“other persons attending the Conference” and “support staff for delegations”), member States should contact the Swiss representation in their country directly and arrange their visas without any ILO involvement.
Please note that for the Office to intervene with Swiss diplomatic representations on behalf of the categories of participants listed above, their credentials must have been received in Geneva 21 days prior to the opening of the Conference, by Monday 20 May 2019.
The following conditions must be met:
■ the first and last names of the person concerned must be included in the official credentials of the delegation within one of the above categories of participants, as submitted to the International Labour Office;
■ the visa application must have already been processed by a Swiss diplomatic representation.
Entry visas for Switzerland are issued primarily by Swiss diplomatic representations abroad. If you need an entry visa please submit a request, well in advance, to the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If your country does not have a Swiss consulate/embassy, the visa request 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 issuance of visas by a Schengen member State in a country where Switzerland is not represented.
Additional information may be found at the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM.
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.
Delegates of member States and representatives of observer organizations 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 soon as possible, so that the necessary steps for visa application can be taken well in advance (but no earlier than three months before the departure date), and the visa can be issued in a timely manner.
■ Since 2011, the Schengen member States operate 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, the registration of biometric data and the rollout timetable for Swiss embassies/consulates connected to the VIS system is available at the SWISS VIS 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.;
- a proof of health and repatriation insurance valid for the Schengen states and covering a minimum amount of €30,000 (for holders of ordinary passports only); and
– 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.
The International Labour Office can only intervene with Swiss authorities if a visa request is not granted by them. Such interventions can be made only on behalf of the following categories of participants in national delegations: delegates, advisers, and persons designated in accordance with article 2(3)(i) of the Standing Orders of the Conference. For all other participants (“other persons attending the Conference” and “support staff for delegations”), member States should contact the Swiss representation in their country directly and arrange their visas without any ILO involvement.
Please note that for the Office to intervene with Swiss diplomatic representations on behalf of the categories of participants listed above, their credentials must have been received in Geneva 21 days prior to the opening of the Conference, by Monday 20 May 2019.
The following conditions must be met:
■ the first and last names of the person concerned must be included in the official credentials of the delegation within one of the above categories of participants, as submitted to the International Labour Office;
■ the visa application must have already been processed by a Swiss diplomatic representation.