Practical Manual of the regime of privileges and immunities and other facilities

The permanent missions in Geneva, the international organisations in Switzerland and their staff members benefit from a certain number of privileges, immunities and facilities. The purpose of the following instructions is to provide them with information about the administrative rules and the procedures that apply in certain areas.

The Host State Division of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the Office of the United Nations and to the other international organisations in Geneva has created a manual on the regime of privileges, immunities and other facilities. These instructions are intended for the permanent missions, the international organisations and their staff members. The information is provided purely as an aid and is not legally binding on the Host State.

Overview

Forms

Find forms have been created in order to help the permanent missions, the intergovernmental organisations, the international institutions, the quasi-governmental international organisations and the other international bodies, as well as their members of personnel, in their administrative tasks.

Customs

Information about customs regarding: ban of certain types of laser pointers, clearence for parcels, importation of a vehicle, duty free shop and customs privileges.

Displaying flags on the Mont Bridge in Geneva

International organisations (IOs) and Permanent Delegations of IOs have the opportunity of having their flags displayed on the Mont Blanc Bridge to mark a commemorative celebration or a particular event.

FDFA legitimation cards

Guidelines regarding the issuance of FDFA legitimation cards.

Forms

Immunity

Information on topics related to immunity: immunity of a foreign state, immunity of a person and notification of legal proceedings intended for an international organisation or foreigne State.

Insurances

Information regarding health insurance, social legislation, Philippine social legislation, EU social leglislation, third party insurance and fire insurance.

Labour (law)

The information provided in this chapter concerns only those persons who are subject to Swiss labour law, such as employees recruited locally by the permanent missions, unless the law of another country, as stipulated in a written employment contract, is applicable (law of the sending state).

Members of family

Overview of Ci permit - access to the Swiss labour and taxation.

Opening of a mission

Find topics like accreditation in Berne and in Geneva, Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) or opening of a school.

Persons without Privileges and Immunities (legitimation card «H»)

Find topics like non-staff members IO and interns PM, other family members (IO/PM) or staff members of international organisations (IOs) posted in the field and repatriated to Switzerland for medical reasons.

Pets

Legislation on dogs in force in Switzerland, applicable to members of permanent missions and international civil servants who own a dog.

Private employees - FDFA Directive of 1st May 2006 (archive)

The Private Household Employees Ordinance (PHEO) has entered into force on 1 July 2011. She sets out the conditions of entry into Switzerland, of residence and of working conditions for private domestics employed by members of the staff of diplomatic missions, of permanent missions, of consular posts and of international organisations.The PHEO has replaced the Directive of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of 1 May 2006 on the hiring of private servants.

Private employees - Private Household Employees Ordinance of 6 June 2011

Ordinance for Private Household Employees and appendices in English

Public events organised by the Permanent Missions

Permanent missions are requested to inform the Swiss Mission when they are planning to hold public events that require special security and/or traffic regulation provisions.

Real estate

Find topics like Acquisition of property in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud by a foreign State or an internatonal organisation or by members of personnel of permanent missions and international organisations, diplomatic clause for rental leases, taxation applicable to a foreign State that acquires property for official use or taxation applicable to members of personnel of a permanent mission or an international organisation owning property on their own behalf in the canton of Geneva.

Right to vote

This page has not been translated into English. Please visit the page in French.

Stay in Switzerland

Discover more about your stay in Switzerland from the beginning to the end of your duties.

Taxation

Find topics about taxation of real estate, inheritance rights, stamp duty, withholding tax, dogs tax, “Ci” permit, radio and television licence fee, non-fire brigade tax or taxes for particular services rendered and value added tax (VAT).

Vehicles

Find topics like admission to the road circulation, third party liability insurance, driving of a “CD” vehicle, number plates, importation or purchase, foreign driving license, motor vehicles taxes, toll sticker (vignette) and stick'AIR sticker.

Visas

Find general information about visas.

Contents Overview

Beneficiaries

The following qualify as “permanent missions”:

the permanent missions to the United Nations Office and to the other international organisations,
the permanent missions to the World Trade Organisation,
the permanent missions to the Conference on Disarmament,
the permanent delegations of international organisations,
as well as the special missions.

“International organisations” refers to organisations that have signed a headquarters agreement with the Swiss Federal Council.

Legal framework

In Switzerland the regime of privileges, immunities and facilities applicable to permanent missions and international organisations has a legal structure based notably on the following:

the Federal Act on the Privileges, Immunities, and Facilities and the Financial Subsidies granted by Switzerland as a Host State (Host State Act, HSA) and its implementation ordinance (Host State Ordinance, HSO),
the headquarters agreements concluded with various international organisations,
the Vienna Convention of 18 April 1961 on Diplomatic Relations, applicable by analogy, and
the customary practices of Swiss authorities with regard to questions not covered by the above mentioned texts.

Practical Manual of the regime of privileges and immunities and other facilities

Overview

Forms

Customs

Displaying flags on the Mont Bridge in Geneva

FDFA legitimation cards

Forms

Immunity

Insurances

Labour (law)

Members of family

Opening of a mission

Persons without Privileges and Immunities (legitimation card «H»)

Pets

Private employees - FDFA Directive of 1st May 2006 (archive)

Private employees - Private Household Employees Ordinance of 6 June 2011

Public events organised by the Permanent Missions

Real estate

Right to vote

Stay in Switzerland

Taxation

Vehicles

Visas

Beneficiaries

Legal framework

Links