Register for in-person Register for virtual
For information related to travel safety and restrictions related to COVID-19, please visit the Health and Safety page.
Passport & Visa
France is a member of the European Union and belongs to the Schengen Area.
Please note that all travellers, except for those nationalities with a visa waiver, should apply for the corresponding visa at their local French embassy or consulate well in advance of the Congress. Participants with a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa issued by another Schengen Member State should check the validity of their visa in order to avoid any inconvenience.
If you wish to travel outside France before and after your attendance to the Congress, please make sure to apply for a Schengen visa, which allows you to travel within the Schengen area.
If you are unsure whether you require a visa, please visit the “Visa wizard” first.
If you require a visa, please visit the official French website for further information concerning the visa application process as well as the necessary documents to support your application. Keep in mind that a visa application may take some time to be processed and may vary depending on nationality and time of year. We recommend applicants to initiate their applications early enough to ensure its validation before travelling. The process may take longer in certain countries, so please check the information from your nearest French embassy or consulate.
The registration agency may share registration information with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign affairs – special events section – to help facilitate visa processing.
Invitation Letter
You can download an invitation letter from the Congress registration system to support your visa application. You will need to request the letter during the registration process. This letter will only be available for download upon completion of registration and receipt of payment. Congress participants should submit this invitation letter as part of their visa application together with all other required documents.
Please note that the invitation letter implies no obligation by IUCN to cover registration fees, accommodation, travel expenses or any other costs connected to participation in the Congress.
In case of a denied visa, IUCN will reimburse the registration fee only upon receipt of the official refusal document from the embassy/consulate and only if the visa application was submitted to the embassy in time and with all required documentation.
Visa for journalists
Most journalists do not require any special visa other than those applicable to their country of citizenship. However, we encourage you to check with your local French embassy/consulate to verify that no additional information is required.
If you are a US journalist, you need to apply for a journalist visa to enter France. Please contact your local French embassy for further information about the process.
Keep in mind
Keep in mind that you need to:
- Find out about visa requirements, costs and timing
- Apply early enough (about 2 to 5 months before your travel date depending on your country of residence)
- Be prepared to support your application with full appropriate documentation as in the case of visa denial the appeal process is heavy
Important links
- “Visa wizard” to check whether you need a visa
- Online visa application process
- Contacts for French diplomatic and consular offices
