WT/MIN(22)/INF/4  
10 May 2022  
(22-3665) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12-15 June  2022 Original: English  
 
 
NOTE TO DELEGATIONS  
REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO SWITZERLAND  
Please find below a communication from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations 
Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.  
 
_______________  
 
 
This information note applies only to delegates expected in an official capacity in the context of the 
Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to take place 
from 12 to 15 June 2022 in Geneva, Switze rland.  
 
To be considered as a "delegate expected in an official capacity", each person must satisfy one or 
more of the following conditions:  
 
• be the holder of a diplomatic, service, special or official passport;  
• be in possession of a note verbale or a miss ion order from his/her sending State;  
• be in possession of a letter of invitation bearing his/her name issued by the WTO.  
 
The Swiss authorities will endeavour to facilitate the issuance of visas/laissez -passer , as needed,  as 
a matter of priority and as quickly as possible  in accordance with the Schengen regulations.  
 
This note may be updated d epending on developments in the health situation and the related rules.  
 
*** 
 
Who needs a visa?  The visa requirement depends mainly on nationality and type of passport. It is 
the applicant's responsibility to fulfil the visa obligation prior to arrival in Switzerland . For further 
information on who is subject to the visa requirement, please consult the webpage  indicated below.1 
 
Where can I apply for a visa?  Visas for travel to Switzerland are mainly issued by the Swiss 
representation (embassy or consulate) responsible for covering the applicant's country of residence. 
For further information on the Swiss representation responsible for covering the applicant' s country 
of residence, please consult the webpage  indicated below.2 
 
What are the applicable deadlines? The processing time for a visa application varies according to 
local condit ions. Persons subject to the visa requirement must:  
 
i. make an appointment as soon as possible with the representation responsible (at least 
20 days but not more than six months before departure); and  
ii. submit their visa application with all the required docum ents. It is essential that the 
visa application be submitted no later than 15 days before the intended date of 
 
1 https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/publiservice/weisungen -
kreisschreiben/visa/liste1_staatsangeho erigkeit.html . 
2 https://www.swiss -visa.ch/ivis2/#/i210 -select -country . WT/MIN(22)/INF/4  
 
- 2 - 
 
  departure so as to ensure sufficient processing time. In light of the COVID -19 situation, 
processing times may be extended.  
Processing of the app lication will begin only after it has been registered electronically. A complete 
file of all required documents is needed for registration. Any incomplete file may delay the processing 
of the application and in some cases result in the visa not being issue d in time for the planned date 
of travel.  
 
Which documents are required?  In principle, only the following documents are required to make an 
application for a type C (official visit) visa:  
 
• A Schengen visa application form3, duly completed and signed by the applicant;  
• A travel document recognized by Switzerland (valid for at least three months beyond the 
expected date of departure from Switzerland and issued less than 10 years ago) and a copy 
thereof;  
• A recent passport photograph;  
• A note verbale or a mission order from the sending State, and/or a letter of invitation bearing 
the applicant's name issued by the WTO;  
• A travel health insurance certificate valid in the States signator ies to the Schengen 
Agreement and providing minimum coverage of 30,000 euros (€)  (only for holders of regular 
passports). Any insurance that excludes benefits related to COVID -19 will not be accepted;  
• If necessary, a valid residence perm it or other equivalent document (for example, an exit or 
re-entry visa) ensuring that the applicant is allowed to return to his/her country of residence.  
 
Who is subject to the biometric data requirement?  Switzerland applies the Schengen European 
regulatio ns concerning the issuance of visas, which requires, inter alia , the recording of biometric 
data in the Visa Information System (VIS). This involves the taking of fingerprints and a photograph. 
The applicant therefore has to appear in person to provide his /her biometric data, which will be 
recorded and remain valid in the VIS for five years. Heads of State, incumbent ministers and their 
accompanying delegations are exempt from the requirement to provide biometric data.  
 
Further information on the conditions  of entry into Switzerland can be found on:  
 
• The website  of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM);4 
• The "visas" webpage  of the Swiss Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.5 
 
 
__________  
 
3 https://www. sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise/visumantragsformular.html . 
4 https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise.html . 
5 https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission -onu-geneve/en/home/manual -regime -privileges -and-
immunities/introduct ion/manual -visas.html .