Visa & Travel Guidance

The Youth Career Accelerator in Health will take place from 17-21 August 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. Participants travelling internationally should review their visa, passport, travel insurance, accommodation, and local transport arrangements as early as possible.

Each participant is responsible for ensuring that they meet the entry requirements for Switzerland before travelling. Entry conditions may vary depending on nationality, country of residence, type of passport or travel document, purpose of travel, length of stay, and any existing visa or residence permit held by the participant.

Visa requirements for Switzerland are determined by the Swiss authorities. Participants should not rely on general assumptions or informal advice when planning their travel.

Before booking flights or accommodation, please check whether you need a visa using the official Swiss visa information channels:

Check Swiss visa requirements:

https://www.eda.admin.ch/en/visa-requirements-for-entry-into-switzerland

Swiss entry information:

https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/en/home/themen/einreise.html

Participants who require a visa should begin the application process as soon as their participation is confirmed, as appointment availability and processing times may vary by country.

Switzerland is part of the Schengen area. Some participants may require a Schengen short-stay visa, also known as a Type C visa, to enter Switzerland for the programme.

A Schengen short-stay visa generally applies to visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It may be used for purposes such as attending conferences, workshops, short-term training programmes, business meetings, tourism, family visits, short studies, or transit, depending on the applicant’s circumstances and the decision of the visa authority.

Participants whose main destination is Switzerland should normally apply through the relevant Swiss embassy, consulate, representation, or authorised visa application centre in their country of residence.

For the correct application process, required documents, appointment booking, fees, processing timelines, and submission location, participants must consult the official Swiss visa guidance applicable to their country.

Some participants may require an official invitation letter to support their visa application. We have issued a visa support document in the form of participant invitation letter. Once, your registration is confirmed, please take a print out and complete the invitation letter form.

Information submitted through this form will be used solely for preparing the participant’s invitation letter and will not be used for any unrelated purpose.

Please note that an invitation letter is issued only to support a visa application. It does not guarantee visa approval and does not replace the official visa application process.

The letter also does not imply financial sponsorship, travel sponsorship, accommodation sponsorship, health insurance coverage, or responsibility for any personal costs unless this has been separately confirmed in writing by the organisers.

Visa decisions are made solely by the relevant Swiss authorities, embassy, consulate, or authorised visa processing centre. The organisers cannot influence visa decisions and cannot be held responsible for visa delays, refusals, appointment unavailability, incomplete applications, or changes in entry requirements.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that:

• Their passport or travel document is valid for travel
• They apply for the correct visa category, if required
• They submit complete and accurate documentation
• They allow sufficient time for visa processing
• Their travel dates match the permitted period of stay
• They comply with all Swiss and Schengen entry requirements

Participants are advised not to book non-refundable flights, accommodation, or other travel services until they are confident about their visa status and travel eligibility.

Participants are expected to arrange their own travel to and from Geneva unless otherwise communicated by the organisers.

Geneva is served by Geneva Airport, which is well connected to the city centre by public transport. Participants should plan their arrival with enough time for immigration procedures, baggage collection, local transport, hotel check-in, and programme orientation.

Where possible, participants should arrive at least one day before the programme begins to avoid delays caused by flight changes, long immigration queues, or local transport disruptions.

Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation unless an official accommodation package or partner hotel arrangement is announced by the organisers.

When booking accommodation, participants should consider:

• Distance from the programme venue
• Access to public transport
• Safety and accessibility
• Check-in and check-out times
• Cancellation policies
• Travel time during peak hours
• Budget and payment requirements

Geneva has a reliable public transport network, including trains, trams, buses, and local services. Participants should review local transport options before arrival and allow enough time to travel between their accommodation and the programme venue each day.

Participants are strongly encouraged to arrange comprehensive travel and health insurance before travelling to Switzerland.

Insurance should ideally cover:

• Medical treatment
• Accidents and emergencies
• Travel delays or cancellations
• Flight changes
• Lost or delayed baggage
• Personal liability
• Emergency assistance

Any medical, travel, insurance, or emergency-related costs remain the responsibility of the participant.

For official visa and entry requirements, participants should consult the Swiss embassy, consulate, authorised visa application centre, or official Swiss government website relevant to their country of residence.