Visa
Visa and passport requirements can change at any time. We highly recommend that participants check the latest requirements before travelling.
EU citizens and EFTA Member States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
You must have a valid passport or national identity card to enter Switzerland. You do not require a visa.
All other countries
You must have a valid passport and may require a visa. Check your passport and visa requirements using this online tool:
Overview of ID and visa provisions according to nationality (Annex CH-1, List 1) (admin.ch)
If you require an invitation letter to obtain your visa, you will need to request it during the registration process. You will be asked to provide your nationality and passport number. As soon as your registration is approved and fully paid, you will receive your invitation letter by email.
Further information about travelling to Switzerland and entry requirements is available on the following websites:
Information on travel, including traffic information (ch.ch)
Information regarding entry into Switzerland and residence (admin.ch)
Transportation
Getting to Geneva
By air: A large number of airlines fly into Geneva Airport or Switzerland’s other main cities, Zurich, Basel and Bern (all of which are less than one hour of flight time from Geneva, with multiple daily flights available). Public transportation from Geneva Airport into the city of Geneva takes less than 10 minutes.
Swiss International Air Lines, known as SWISS, is the national carrier of Switzerland. It serves more than 100 worldwide destinations in over 40 countries. SWISS is part of the Lufthansa Group and a member of Star Alliance, the largest network of airlines in the world.
Special Lufthansa Group airlines fares
IUCN has partnered with the Lufthansa Group to offer reduced airfares for the purpose of travel to the IUCN Leaders Forum 2024 held in Geneva.
Lufthansa Group airlines Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa and SWISS offer various connection and combination options, so participants can benefit from quick and direct flights to the Forum.
Registered participants can request to receive access to the booking platform and the related discount code by contacting IUCNLeadersForum@iucn.org.
By train: The train network in Switzerland is well connected to most European countries. For example, travelling from Frankfurt, Milan or Paris to Geneva is possible in seven hours or less with the added advantage of being more sustainable than flying. Visit MySwitzerland for more information.
By car: For travellers arriving by road, Switzerland is linked to Europe's extensive motorway network. You need a pass to travel on Swiss motorways; this can be easily bought at any Swiss border or online before departure. If travelling by car, please consider carpooling to reduce the environmental impact of your transportation to Geneva. Carpooling itineraries can be found on: E-COVOITURAGE.CH or BLABLACAR.
By taxis: IUCN encourages participants to use, to the extent possible, public transportation for sustainability reasons; however, if need be, a strong web of taxis is also available in Geneva. They can be ordered by phone, stopped on the street or picked-up in some 60 parking areas located downtown, at the airport and at the train stations. More information is available here.
Accessing Palexpo
Palexpo is an international exhibition and convention centre close to Geneva airport, while remaining easily accessible from the city centre thanks to the many train and bus connections available.
By Public Transportation: Palexpo is a ten-minute walk from the Geneva airport train station, with many connections to the whole of Switzerland (Geneva in less than 10 minutes, Lausanne in 40 minutes and Zürich in less than 3 hours). Train itineraries and timetables are available on the Swiss Federal Railways SBB online portal or on the SBB Mobile App.
Palexpo can also be reached thanks to the many bus lines that run in Geneva and its surroundings:
- Line 5 – "Palexpo" stop
- Line 8 – "Palexpo" stop
- Line 10 – "Airport" stop
- Line 23 – stop "Palexpo-Halle 7"
- Line 28 – "Airport" stop
- Line 50 – "Palexpo" stop
- Line 54 – stop "Palexpo-Halle 7"
- Line 56 – "Airport" stop
- Line 57 – "Airport" stop
- Line 59 – "Palexpo" stop
- Line 66 – stop "Palexpo-Halle 7"
The large Geneva Public Transportation network is named UNIRESCO. It is composed of buses, trams, trains and mouettes (transport boats) and allows for easy connections throughout the city.
With the Geneva Transport Card for Guests, public transport is free! Anyone staying in an approved hotel in Geneva is entitled to receive a free digital Geneva Transport Card with unlimited access to the Geneva UNIRESCO network for the entire duration of the stay. More information is available here.
By car - Parking on site
1,500 spaces are available to visitors and exhibitors in the P12 car park. The car park also has spaces reserved for people with reduced mobility. If you come by electric car, four fast charging stations (20kW) are installed on level -1 of P12. These terminals are accessible to both SIG-MOVE network subscribers and other visitors. Payment is made by credit card or invoice according to the wishes and status of the users.
PARKING RATES(in French only)
PARKING REGULATIONS(in French only)
Excursions
The Geneva City pass allows you to discover the diversity and treasures of the city with discounts or free admission to 60 activities.
As a participant in the Leaders Forum 2024 you will benefit from a 20% discount on the various city card offers (24h, 48h or 72h). More information is available here.
Registered participants can obtain the discount code applicable when purchasing the city pass on the Geneva Tourism website (above) by contacting IUCN at IUCNLeadersForum@iucn.org.
Please note that this pass is strictly confidential and non-transferable.