A Resource for CERN Newcomers
| Visas & Identification | |
Links and General Information |
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You can get certified copies of Passports at Swiss banks and post offices. |
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| Visas |
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Every country has its own rules and regulations for entry and stay of non-nationals. As a general rule, while you prepare your relocation to CERN, you should contact the Swiss and the French embassy or consulate in your country to learn about the Swiss and French entry rules. That way you will find out whether or not you will need a long-stay visa (for more than 90 days). You must get visas before arriving at CERN – it is advisable to start the process 2 to 3 months in advance. If you don’t know in advance where you will live you should get visas for France and for Switzerland. You will need a CERN Letter of Invitation which should include all your family’s names. The CERN secretariat office where the employee will work arranges for this letter. If your family is relocating with you their names must match on the Letter of Invitation and passports. Generally, if you are a national of an EU or EFTA country, you will not need a visa for either France or Switzerland. But there are exceptions for new member states of the EU such as Romania and Bulgaria, whose nationals still need a visa. Canadian and US citizens If you are a Canadian or US citizen, you will not need a visa for a stay up to 90 days. However, you should not leave Canada or the US without a Visa if you are here for more than 90 days. US Consular Information can be found on our Finance page. US Passport Renewals: The US Consulate office in Geneva does all the processing for those living in the local region in France and in Switzerland. Call to schedule your visit, or do it all by mail via express mail with a prepaid return envelope. Turnaround time: approximately 1 week. |
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| Application Form and Instructions |  |
France Switzerland On December 12, 2008 Switzerland joined the Schengen visa scheme and started issuing visas that are valid for the whole Schengen-area. The Shengen visa must be presented upon entering Switzerland. To see requirements please check the website of the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police. |
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| Permits for France and Switzerland |
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All international civil servants and their family members receive permits. French permits for CERN staff are called "titres de séjour spéciaux”, or "titres de séjour" for the families. In Switzerland they are called "cartes de légitimation". If you are a CERN staff member, these cards constitute your residence AND work permits. For your family members, they are residence permits only. Application forms for both types of cards for you and your family members will be given to you by a representative from the CERN Human Resources Department. For the documents required by the Swiss and French authorities when issuing these cards, please check:
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| Work Permits for Your Family |
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For staff members of CERN, the legitimation cards for Switzerland and France already serve as work permits. For family members, however, different regulations governing work and residence permits apply in Switzerland and in France.
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| Access to CERN for You and Your Family |
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As access to the CERN site is controlled, both you and your family will need a CERN badge to enter the site. A representative from the Human Resources Department will give you a form showing everything you need for your registration at CERN. Always carry it with you when entering CERN. If your child is born at a Swiss hospital, the hospital will issue a document certifying the birth and mentioning the name you have chosen for your child. With this document (and several others) you go to the civil registry office (Office de l'état civil) of the commune that the hospital belongs to in order to get an official birth certificate for your child. If you give birth at Hôpital de la Tour, for instance, the relevant office is the
The Office de l'état civil can provide a list of documents you will need to bring and whether they need to be translated officially. To obtain a passport for your child, you will need to contact the Embassy or the Consular Agency of your country. While your country's Embassy is most probably in the Swiss capital Bern, many countries have a Consulate in Geneva. If you give birth in France, check with your Consulate in Geneva if you can do the proceedings there. If not you will need to contact the nearest Consulate in France. Here is an overview of the proceedings and documents needed to obtain a US passport for your child. In France, it is very common to prove your address with a bill from your electricity provider or so. If you want to register a new phone or at the local library, always have a bill (facture) with your address on it with you! Generally, always carry your passport with you, and if going to CERN be sure to carry your CERN ID. |
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