Visitor Info

There are several ways to visit the theory group:

  • As a short-term visitor, for up to three months. You should note the rules(*) below before applying. TH takes 4-6 weeks to review applications, so please apply sufficiently in advance of your visit.
  • As a scientific associate or a corresponding associate, for visits of between three months and a year (max 6 months for corresponding associates). Many people use this as part of a sabbatical leave from their home institution. There are two application deadlines each year, typically in September and March, and we recommend submitting applications at least a year in advance. Further details on eligibility conditions and application forms can be found on the main CERN pages for scientific associates and corresponding associates. All applications must be received by CERN by midnight (23:59 CET) on  March 3rd, 2025 for both scientific associates and corresponding associates.
  • In the context of a workshop or Institute. In such case applicants should liaise directly with the respective workshop or institute organizers.Please note that office space is typically not provided for workshop participants.

Further details on short term visits

Physicists wishing to spend a short amount of time (usually from one week to three months) should apply for a short-term visit. All applications are submitted to the Visitor Committee.

We welcome many visitors to TH and have the following guidelines to help ensure the smooth running of the visitor programme:

All applications for short-term visits must be made exclusively via the web application form.

  • Please note that applications MUST be submitted well in advance of the commencement date of your visit to allow sufficient time for processing and approval by the visitor committee. The committee will communicate its decision within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving your application. If you require a visa, please allow an additional 8 to 10 weeks.
  • Requests for visits made less than 4 weeks before the proposed arrival date will not be accepted; visitors who 'invite themselves' and turn up without having contacted us previously will not be given office space, but they are welcome to use desks in the library and public spaces.
  • Visits requested without financial support from CERN are NOT automatically accepted and must also be approved by the TH visitor committee.
  • These rules also apply also to Ph.D. students who wish to visit their supervisors while at CERN.  Further information about visits by students can be found on the Students page.

In urgent cases where a visit is required at short notice, an endorsement from a staff member is required. However, an office cannot be guaranteed if the request is made less than a month in advance.

(*) Short Term Visitors Restrictions

If you have previously held a CERN contract as Staff Member or Scientific Associate (SASS), and are requesting financial support for a short-term visit, please note that some restrictions may apply, as follows:

  • If you have held a Staff contract: you may not receive any financial support for a period of 12 months following the end of the contract.
  • For those with a SASS/CASS contract, the waiting period is half of the contract's duration (for example, a 6-month SASS contract would require a 3-month waiting period before any allowance could be granted).

Affiliation: please note that all visitors to TH are required to be affiliated (i.e. hold a contract of employment) with, be enrolled as a student at, or be an emeritus member of, a recognised academic or research institution. Visit requests from candidates with no formal links to an institution unfortunately cannot be accepted.

Health insurance

Short term visitors should come with their own health insurance.

Visas

Please check here for details.