Visas

Where necessary, delegates, and representatives of international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the media are responsible for obtaining any required visas for entry into the Netherlands. Visas may be obtained from a diplomatic or consular mission of the Netherlands.

Annex A lists countries whose nationals are required to obtain a visa for entry into the Netherlands; Annex B covers those whose nationals are not.

Delegates whose country of residence does not have a consular mission in the Netherlands may obtain a visa from the mission of another country that is also party to the Schengen Agreement and that is responsible for issuing visas on behalf of the Netherlands. For a list of the Schengen countries, please refer to the footnote in Annex B.

Delegates who experience difficulties in obtaining a visa should contact the Secretariat’s Protocol and Visa Branch, either by telephone at +31 (0)70 416 3820 or +31 (0)70 416 3777; fax at +31 (0)70 416 3044, or by e-mail at visa@opcw.org.

Registration

Each participating State Party is requested to send to the Secretariat the name and designation of each participating member of its delegation no later than Monday, 12 November 2012. All delegates should register as soon as possible after they arrive in The Hague. For participants who arrive early or who are based in The Hague, pre-registration will be possible between 10:00 hours and 18:00 hours on Friday, 23 November 2012, in the lobby of the OPCW Headquarters. The registration desk at the WFCC will be open between 10:00 hours and 18:00 hours on Sunday, 25 November 2012, and throughout the Conference between 08:00 hours and 18:00 hours.

All delegates for whom the Secretariat has received an appropriate official communication from the relevant government authorities will be issued an OPCW security badge for the duration of the Conference. The Secretariat contact for registration is Ms Beatrice Irangi, Senior Protocol and Visa Officer, (beatrice.irangi@opcw.org & protocol@opcw.org).

Credentials

States Parties are required to submit the credentials of their representatives to the CSP-17. According to Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference, credentials, which should be issued either by the Head of State or Government, or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or by any other authority acting on their behalf, must be submitted to the Director-General not less than seven days in advance of the Session – in this case no later than Friday, 16 November 2012. Credentials are required only of the representative of each State Party, and not of additional members of the delegation. The Secretariat contact for credentials is Ms Beatrice Irangi, Senior Protocol and Visa Officer, (beatrice.irangi@opcw.org & protocol@opcw.org.)