TRANSIT THROUGH THE SCHENGEN AREA FOR THE HOLDERS OF SPECIFIC SWISS DOCUMENTS

The Swiss Permanent Mission has informed CERN of the following relaxation of the transit regulations granted by the States applying the Schengen Agreement and other European States to third-country nationals who are normally required to obtain a visa.

As from 10 July 2006, those holding a Carte de légitimation or Attestation de fonctions issued by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs or a B, C or Ci-type residence permit are exempted from the requirement to obtain a visa for transit through the Schengen area, so long as the transit period does not exceed five days (for each transit). For other circumstances (for example tourism, including for conferences), the requirement to obtain a visa remains in force. The States that form the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

In addition, the following States have decided to apply the same exemption from the requirement to obtain a transit visa: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta are shortly expected to announce their position regarding a possible exemption. 

A notification of the changes has been published on the Swiss Mission's website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/geneva_miss/f/home/guide/sej/visa.html (the English version will be posted shortly). Further details can also be obtained from the consulates of the States concerned.

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