WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/INF/2 
27 July 2011  
 
(11-3827) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   French 
 
  
EIGHTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
 
Information Circular No. 2 
 
Visas 
 
  Please find attached a communication from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland concerning 
visas. 
  Information on visa requirements for NGOs and journalists will be made available on the 
relevant accreditation pages on the WTO website.  
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 WT/MIN(11)/INF/2 
Page 3 
  
Mission permanente de la Suisse auprès de l'Office des Nations 
Unies et des autres organisations internationales à Genève  
 
 
 
 WTO Ministerial Conference 
15 - 17 December 2011 
 
 
Information concerning visas 
 
General information 
Switzerland is an associate member of the Sc hengen Agreements and is therefore part of the 
Schengen Area.  Persons subject to the visa require ment (hereinafter referred to as applicants) may 
obtain a visa from Switzerland for a stay of up to three months.  These visas are generally valid for 
the whole of the Schengen Area. 
The implementation of the Schengen regulations has led to a number of changes in the procedures for issuing visas.  Pursuant to the headquarters ag reements with international organizations and the 
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961, which applies by analogy to Permanent 
Missions in Geneva, the competent aut horities make every effort to process applications as quickly as 
possible.  Under the Schengen regulations, however, the waiting time for a visa has increased, 
and it is vital that this be taken into account . 
 
Deadline for applications 
The visa application may be submitted three months before the event, at the earliest, to the 
competent Swiss representation covering the applicant's  place of residence.  The application is to be 
submitted six weeks before the event at the very latest . 
The processing of the application will begin upon receipt of a complete file of all the documents 
required by the Swiss representation. 
The Swiss authorities are unable to guarantee the processing of applications submitted after 
the above deadline.  
Obtaining a visa:  practicalities 
 The website of the Federal Office for Migration (O DM) provides useful information on the practical 
aspects of obtaining a visa.  The following links are of particular interest: 
 
 General provisions relating to entry into Switzerland  
French version 
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migrat ion/einreise/merkblatt_einreise/mb-grueezi-
f.pdf 
English version 
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migrat ion/einreise/merkblatt_einreise/mb-grueezi-
e.pdf  
 
  Visa and travel document requirements by nationality  
French version http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migr ation/rechtsgrundlagen/weisungen_und_kreis
schreiben/weisungen_visa/bfm-anh01-lis te1_vorschriften-nach-staat-f.pdf  WT/MIN(11)/INF/2 
Page 4  
 
  English version 
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/dam/data/migr ation/rechtsgrundlagen/weisungen_und_kreis
schreiben/weisungen_visa/bfm-anh01-lis te1_vorschriften-nach-staat-e.pdf  
 
 Documents required 
French version  
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/bfm/fr/home/themen/einreise/visumantragsformular.html  
English version 
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise/visumantragsformular.html  
It should be noted that the visa application mu st be accompanied by the travel document and, 
if so required, other documents which clearly indicate the purpose and circumstances of the 
intended stay or transit.  
- Government delegates must provide a not e verbale bearing their name, or a mission 
order. 
- Non-government delegates, journalists and other  participants must provide an attestation 
from the WTO confirming their accreditation to the Conference. 
For further information on the documents to be su bmitted in the visa application, please visit 
the website of the competent Swiss repres entation covering the applicant's place of 
residence.  
 Access to websites of Swiss representations abroad  
French version  
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/fr/home/reps.html  
English version 
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html  
 
 Frequently asked questions  
French version  
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/fr/home/themen/einreise/faq.html  
English version 
http://www.bfm.admin.ch/content/bfm/en/home/themen/einreise/faq.html  
 
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