Please refer to the CERN Guide for Newcomers: Before Arrival section.
 

VISA

In accordance with the Status Agreement with CERN, Switzerland and France facilitate the entry of members of the Organization’s personnel onto their territories.
Detailed procedures for obtaining visas are available on Visa Requirement and Procedure for Switzerland and France.

More information by nationality concerning the visa requirements can be found at Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM

 

Invitation letters request

Please go to invitation website to fill in the invitation request.

The request will be handled by the CMS Secretariat as soon as possible and the letter (and the relevant documents were applicable) will be sent back to you.
On the main page, please read the instructions and select the invitation letter you need from the menu on the right.

Please note that the website works only with an active CERN account.

• If you have a CERN account but you still cannot access the site, please contact the CMS secretariat.
• If you don't have a CERN account, please register your account as CERN Lightweight account following the instructions on the CERN Account Management main page and, once registered, send a confirmation to the CMS secretariat.

Collaborators from US CMS institutes, please go to US CMS invitation website.

 

General information

Please contact the local consulate/embassy about 6-8 weeks before (but minimum 3 weeks) your projected travel date, especially in countries where appointments are required for the visa application. Although early applications are encouraged, they should not be made more than 3 months in advance. Original invitations aren't always requested by the consulates, that depends on the local authorities so you need to check that. You also need to make sure that you have a valid health insurance with 'rapatriement' that covers your whole stay.

IMPORTANT to know: You cannot apply to both Swiss and French visas (as both are Schengen) but you must choose depending on which country you are planning to live in.

Not sure where you would like to live?

Especially for a long term visa, we encourage you to apply for the French visa D if you have at least 3-4 weeks time ahead and are not fully sure if you will install in France or Switzerland. The Users Office can apply for a Swiss "Carte de legitimation" for the users having a French visa D with the intention of settling in France, but who are temporarily staying at the CERN Hostel in Switzerland. One can also choose to move to Switzerland without too much paperwork.

Those who come to CERN with a Swiss visa D, and would then like to live in France, need to apply for a French visa D from the French consulate in Geneva BUT only after the "Carte de legitimation" is delivered. It is obligatory to stay in Switzerland during that time (at least three months) before one can move to France. To apply for the visa in Geneva, note that also a Swiss local address is required (CERN hostel is not accepted).

Please take note that your Team Leader has to approve your request for the invitation.

CERN associated personnel (users) is allowed up to 3 months' grace at the end of their functions to allow for removal and going back to home countries. The "Carte de legitimation" can be mailed back to the Users Office after home country has been reached.