Changes in institute affiliation
Any change of institute shall be communicated immediately to the Users Office. If all conditions of a continued contract of association with CERN are fulfilled, your information will simply be updated without interruption to your contract of association. Requirements are stated in the Home Institution Declaration. Further information is available on the dedicated page.
Administrative consequences of the measures adopted on 15 December 2023
1. What are the administrative consequences of the measures adopted on 15 December 2023 for individuals affiliated to a Russian institute?
CERN contracts of association ending after 30 November 2024 will be terminated automatically on that date. Individuals holding legitimation cards must surrender their cards to the Users Office either in person or by post, prior to their departure from CERN.
2. What are the administrative consequences of the measures adopted on 15 December 2023 for individuals affiliated to a Belarusian institute?
CERN contracts of association ending after 27 June 2024 will be terminated automatically on that date. Individuals holding legitimation cards must surrender their cards to the Users Office either in person or by post, prior to their departure from CERN.
3. I am affiliated to JINR. On 15 December 2023, the CERN Council confirmed the termination of the CERN’s International Cooperation Agreements with the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus at their expiration dates. Do the measures apply to me?
The Council decided to review CERN’s future cooperation with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) well before the end date of the current ICA in January 2025. Further details will therefore be provided in due course, as soon as a decision has been reached.
4. I am affiliated to a Russian (excluding JINR) or Belarusian institute. Can I be granted a contract of association, for example as a User?
Further to the Council Resolutions taken in March 2022, CERN cannot issue new contracts of association, such as a User contract, to people affiliated to a Russian or Belarusian institute.
5. I am affiliated to a Russian (excluding JINR) or Belarusian institute. Can I extend my contract of association?
Your contract extension will not go beyond the following end dates:
| Institute country | Expiration date of ICA | Max. end date of contracts and external registrations |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 30 November 2024 | 30 November 2024 |
| Belarus | 27 June 2024 | 27 June 2024 |
6. I am affiliated to JINR. Can I extend my contract of association?
| Institute | Expiration date of ICA | Max. end date of contracts and external registrations |
|---|---|---|
| JINR | 27 January 2025 | 27 January 2025 |
Contract termination and Swiss/French cards
7. My current contract will not be renewed or will be terminated at the end of the CERN’s International Cooperation Agreements. I still hold (a) valid Swiss and/or French card(s). Am I entitled to stay in the local area until the card(s) expire(s)?
Once your contract ends, your cards must be cancelled and returned to the Host States authorities immediately, independently of the date of expiry of the card, and even if bearing a future expiry date.
However, to enable you to settle personal matters in France or Switzerland and travel back to your home country, the Users Office can request the Swiss Mission to extend your stay for a “courtesy period” of two months after the termination of your contract.
Should you wish to benefit from this courtesy period, please contact the Users Office (if you are a User, COAS - except COAS “LIT”, or VISC) at least 2 months prior to your contract expiry date.
For statuses other than User, COAS and VISC, you may contact: hr-cards.support@cern.ch
Prolongation of stay and citizenship in France/Switzerland
8. My contract will be terminated and I intend to stay in Switzerland with my family. What is the procedure?
The requirements to be allowed to stay in Switzerland are very strict for non-EU/EFTA nationals.
In any case, you will have to fulfill several administrative formalities concerning the rest of your stay, in compliance with Swiss common law, and depending on your situation as specified in the table below:
|
Situation in Switzerland after end of contract: |
Gainful employment (i.e. employment contract and salary) |
Without gainful employment |
Asylum |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Procedure: |
Work permit application |
General: staying in Switzerland at the end of functions Retirement: in case of retirement of the principal beneficiary, you must follow the instructions outlined in Form M and return it to the OCPM in addition with the following supporting documents:
|
|
| Important notes: |
In the case of retirement and to ensure the completeness of your file, the Swiss Mission offers the possibility of verifying your application before you submit it to the OCPM for further processing and review. Once you have filled-out Form M and gathered all supporting documents (except evidence of financial means which should not be provided at this stage), please submit them to the Users Office. The Users Office will forward your documents to the Swiss Mission, which will verify the completeness of the application and issue the required attestation. You will then need to submit your verified application, complete with the attestation issued by the Swiss Mission, to the OCPM along with the evidence of financial means.
|
Applications can be submitted in spoken or written form at one of the Federal Asylum Centres. If you have applied for asylum (N permit), or are temporarily admitted (F), the cantonal authority will conclude a health insurance policy agreement for you. |
9. I have been living in Switzerland for 10 years. Am I eligible for Swiss citizenship?
Only holders of a settlement permit (permis C) can apply. Legitimation cards issued by the DFAE and Ci permits are not considered equivalent to a permit C.
Federal legislation requires you to have lived in Switzerland for at least ten years, including three of the five years prior to your application for Swiss citizenship.
The calculation of the duration of your stay in Switzerland includes the time spent living there while holding a legitimation card or Ci permit (if applicable). Depending on the canton, you must also have lived in your commune or canton of residence for two to five years before you can apply for naturalisation.
The procedures applicable vary depending on each situation, and we invite you to contact your local cantonal or communal authority.
10. My contract will be terminated, and I intend to stay in France with my family. What is the procedure?
The requirements to be allowed to stay in France are very strict for non-EU/EFTA nationals. In any case, you will have to fulfill several administrative formalities concerning the rest of your stay, in compliance with French common law.
Please contact the French prefecture of your place of residence to check if you fulfill the conditions necessary to obtain a carte de séjour “Visiteur” or refer to the asylum procedure.
If you wish to apply for Asylum, you need to clearly state why you are seeking it and provide supporting documents. You can find useful information in the “asylum seekers guide”.
Please contact the SPADA of your place of residence in order to make an appointment (Initial Reception Establishment for Asylum Seekers).
Department of Ain : SPADA - 7, rue de la Paix 01000 BOURG EN BRESSE
Department of Haute-Savoie: la FOL 74 - 10 avenue du Stand 74004 ANNECY
11. I have been living in France for at least 5 years without interruption. Am I eligible to
Holders of French special residence permits granted by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs are entitled to apply for French citizenship, but may not be automatically granted French nationality, even if they fulfill the conditions.
Last updated: 14 March 2024