VISA AND ENTRY FORMALITIES FOR SWITZERLAND
Time necessary to process a visa application varies from case to case. Therefore, you are strongly advised to submit your request as early as possible (three months before the desired departure date at the latest).
- entry into Switzerland, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA),
- travel documents and country by country visa requirements (FDFA),
- entry procedures and visa, FAQ (FDFA),
Please verify whether your medical insurance covers medical costs abroad, especially in Switzerland. Otherwise, it will be necessary to take a complementary health and accident coverage policy, valid throughout your stay. There are no vaccinations required to visit Switzerland. A medical certificate must be attached to your visa application. Obtaining a Swiss visa may take up to one month. Kindly note that visa costs will not be refunded.
LANGUAGE
The official language is French, but Geneva is a multilingual city and many people speak English fluently, especially in hotels.
CURRENCY
The local currency is the Swiss Franc (CHF), however numerous shops accept Euros (€). There are a different ways of obtaining cash at the airport. There are cashpoints (ATM) and numerous currency exchange places in the city.
TRANSPORT
- Bus
The "Transport Public Genevois" (TPG) is the transport operator (bus and tram) for Geneva. Plans and schedules are available on the TPG website, and at bus stops. Check Bus Schedule. A free ticket machine, valid for 60 minutes, is installed in the luggage collection hall, opposite the exit, on either side of customs control . To reach the buses (connection plan), go up to the ground floor, check-in level. Exit the airport and turn left towards the train station entrance (CFF).
The convenient bus lines from are:
- from the airport: line 28 the stop "Vie-de-Champs" takes you to WHO headquarter in approximately 15-20 minutes.
- from the train station Cornavin: line 8 the stop "WHO" takes directly in front of the main entrance of WHO headquarter in approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Train
"CFF" is the operator of trains for Switzerland. Geneva has two main stations, one at the airport and the other in the centre of town ("Gare Cornavin"). A free ticket can also be obtained from the machine next to the TPG distributor at the airport. The journey from the airport to the train station takes about 7 minutes. See the train schedule for more information.
- Taxi
Taxis are expensive, a run between the airport and the city centre costs between CHF 35.- and 45.- without luggage. For more information on transport in Geneva, please visit the Tourist Information Centre's website, section "How to get around?".
