If you are taking up residence in Switzerland with your minor child (under the age of 18) and you are not accompanied by the other parent, you must provide the Users Office with an official document stating that the child is in your custody or, depending on the case, with the written consent of the other parent. CERN will then attach the document to the application forwarded to the Swiss Mission. The same rule applies to a minor who is the child of your spouse/partner and if you, as principal beneficiary, are not the father/mother. Refer to item 2.3 of the Swiss Mission's guidelines

Information about residence in Switzerland for partners of members of the personnel is available on a dedicated page of the CERN International Relations website. Information about non-official partners is provided in item 3. b).

Once the application has been submitted by the Users Office:

Swiss cards are generally issued within 3-4 weeks by the Swiss Mission.

French cards are generally issued within 8-12 weeks by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The Users Office will notify you by email once your card(s) is(are) ready for collection.

Loss and theft declaration procedure. 

Loss and theft declaration procedure. 

Swiss cards.

French cards.

Procedure. 

Procedure.

Once your cards have been issued (initial requests or renewals) by the authorities and received by CERN, you will be invited to collect them in person from the Users Office. The cards cannot be collected by any third party on the behalf of the person concerned. More information on Swiss and French cards.

A colleague may return your cards to the Users Office for extension, however, you will need to collect the new extended cards in person.