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Visas and identity papers

Visas and identity documents: entering Switzerland

Practical information relating inter alia to passports and visas, time zones, climate, exchange rates, vaccinations, customs, etc: (information subject to guidelines particular to each airline)
Information relating to travel documents and visas: Federal Office for Migration www.bfm.admin.ch.
Summary of requirements relating to travel documents and visas applicable to foreigners entering Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein: www.weisungen.bfm.admin.ch.

For any other questions relating to passports, identity cards and visas required for your trip, please contact your travel agency, the airline concerned or the International Security Police (PSI) directly.
The Airport is unable to provide you with this information.

Temporary Swiss Passports

Swiss travellers can obtain a temporary passport valid solely for the duration of one journey.

Within 3 working days: issued by the passports and nationality service (State of Geneva - Département des institutions). Cost: CHF 100.-.
For other cantons, please ask the competent authorities.
Within 1 hour: issued by the visa service of the International Security Police at the Airport (Arrivals level). Issued at the earliest on the day before departure. Cost: CHF 150.- payable in cash. For information tel: +4122 427 92 81.
Conditions: applicants must be of Swiss nationality, apply in person, submit documents showing the reasons for the travel, and provide a recent passport photo (photomat on the Arrivals level); presence of both parents required for a minor’s temporary passport.

Other information on www.ge.ch/passeports/passeport/passeport-provisoire/.

Minors: Border crossing / Police check

A minor must present valid identity papers (identity card or passport). For a minor travelling alone, particularly one who is not an airline's direct responsibility under a UM (Unaccompanied Minor) procedure, it is strongly recommended that parents contact the authorities to draw up a "parental authorisation".

This official document, issued to a minor child in addition to identity papers, may be required by the authorities of some countries on entering or leaving their territory. Please ask the embassies or consulates concerned for information.

For example: Spain asks systematically for a "Parental authorisation", even where there is a UM (Unaccompanied Minors) procedure in place.

Request for the "Parental Authorisation" for Geneva residents:

Police Station
ch. de la Gravière, tel. +4122 427 80 66
open non-stop Monday-Friday from 09:00 to 16:00.
Fee CHF 20.-

For residents of other regions, please ask the relevant cantonal or departmental authorities for information.

Minors: airlines

Acceptance of a minor on board a plane depends on the airline.

In general, an unaccompanied child is accepted on board between the ages of 5 and 12, subject to the UM (Unaccompanied Minors) procedure applied directly by the airline. From the age of 12 onward, a child is considered to be an adult by most airlines. These conditions can differ according to airlines.

For example: easyJet does not accept unaccompanied minors.
>>> more information.

For any further information concerning the acceptance of minors and the UM (Unaccompanied Minors) procedure, please ask the airline concerned directly.