Who is subject to a visa requirement?

To enter and stay at CERN any national of a third country (i.e. not a national of a country within the European Economic Area or Switzerland) is in principle subject to a visa requirement.

You can check if you need visa on the information website.

What type of visa should be applied for?

1. Short-stay visas (C-type visa)
allows their holders to enter and reside in the Schengen Area for a continuous of 90 days.
Holders of a short-stay visa must leave the Schengen Area when the visa expires, failing which they may be liable to sanctions (a fine and/or refusal of future visa applications for all Schengen countries).

2. Multiple entries visas (C-type visa),
allows their holders to enter and reside in the Schengen Area for a non-continuous period not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period with effect from initial entry into the Schengen Area.

3. Long-stay visas (D-type visa),
which are required for stays of over 90 days, allowing the holder to obtain a legitimation document (titre de séjour) from the Host States.
- A “carte de légitimation” issued by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs ("Swiss card")
- A “titre de séjour spécial” issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs ("French card").

How to obtain a visa ?

1. Short-stay and Multiple entries visas (C-type)
An application must be submitted to the competent Swiss or French consulate, depending of your place of residence during your stay at CERN.
The application must be accompanied by an official letter of invitation that you can request on the invitation letter website.

NB: A Convention d'accueil  will also be generated and will be available upon arrival at the CMS secretarait. The Convention d'accueil  is obligatory and it is valid as a work permit in France.

2. Long-stay visa (D-type)

• If you plan to live in Switzerland
  An application must be submitted to the Swiss consulate competent for your place of residence.
  The application must be accompanied by an official letter of invitation that you can request on the invitation letter website.
  N.B.: this visa does not allow the holder to reside in France. If the member of the personnel finally decides to reside in France, the following procedure "removals" will apply.
  
   
• If you plan to live in France
  An application must be submitted to the French consulate competent for your place of residence.
  The application must be accompanied by an official letter of invitation and a Note Verbale that you can request on the invitation letter website.
  N.B.: this visa does not allow the holder to reside in Switzerland. If the member of the personnel finally decides to reside in Switzerland, the following procedure "removals" will apply.