UN grounds pass issuance procedures

Member States

Representatives of official delegations of member states, including government-nominated advisers and experts, are advised to contact their permanent missions to the UN in New York to facilitate the issuance of their grounds passes for access to UN Headquarters. (A list of all Permanent Missions is available at http://www.un.int/protocol/protocol/blue-book)

Detailed procedures for Member States Representatives

  • Accreditation to official meetings at UN Headquarters is processed by the Protocol and Liaison Service via the online system “eAccreditation” available through the eDelegate Portal at http://delegate.un.int. Authorized users of the permanent missions may follow the “eAccreditation” guidelines, which can be found at http://www.un.int/protocol, to submit requests for registration of members of delegations to temporary meetings.
  • Once the request is submitted online, it will be reviewed and processed by the Protocol and Liaison Service. Upon approval, the authorized users of the permanent missions will receive via email an approval notification with a unique reference number.
  • The authorized users of the permanent missions must ensure a printed copy of the respective approval notification be given to members of the delegation before they proceed to the Pass and ID Unit.
  • For issuance of a UN grounds pass at the Pass and ID Unit, delegates are required to present a printed copy of the approval notification, along with their passport or government issued photo ID.
  • The UN Pass and ID Unit is located at 320 East 45th Street. Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tel. 1-212-963-7533.

UN Specialized Agencies or Related Organizations

Representatives of UN specialized agencies or related organizations are advised to contact their liaison offices in New York to facilitate the issuance of their grounds passes for access to UN Headquarters.

IGOs with Observer Status to the UN

Representatives of IGOs are advised to contact their liaison offices in New York to facilitate the issuance of their grounds passes for access to UN Headquarters.

IGOs with Observer Status to the UN that do not have offices in New York are requested to follow the steps outlined in these Accreditation Guidelines to facilitate the issuance of their grounds passes for access to UN Headquarters.

IGOs and regional entities with observer status to UNFF

International and regional entities with observer status to the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) should refer to the Accreditation Guidelines for IGOs away from New York.

  • Please send an official letter to the United Nations Chief of Protocol (Mr. Peter Van Laere Chief of Protocol, UN Protocol and Liaison Service, Fax: +1 212 963 1921) making reference to the UNFF-related meeting that you would like to participate in.
  • The letter should be on the organization’s letter-head, signed by the Head/Executive Secretary/Executive-Director, listing the names and contact information of each representative being nominated to attend the UNFF-related meeting.
  • Please also attach individual “Registration of Members of Delegations to Temporary Meetings form SG.6” (one for each proposed participant) duly filled in, containing the official seal of your organization.
Upon verification of information, the Protocol and Liaison Service will provide the necessary paperwork for grounds pass issuance.

The following intergovernmental organizations have been granted observer status by the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF):

  • African Forest Forum (AFF)
  • Amazonian Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO)
  • Asia Forest Partnership (AFP)
  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
  • Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
  • Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC)
  • Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
  • World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
  • International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR)
  • International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
  • Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE)
  • Montreal Process
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Community
  • Secretariat of the Tehran Process for Low Forest Cover Countries (LFCCs)

ECOSOC accredited Major Groups

Major Groups organizations that are accredited with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) and the former Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) are encouraged to participate in UNFF-related meetings.

The UNFF welcomes the participation of the nine major groups as identified in Chapter 23 of Agenda 21, including: women, children and youth, indigenous people, non-governmental organizations, local authorities, workers and trade unions, business and industry, scientific and technological communities, and farmers and small forest landowners. Please verify that your organization is accredited with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) sing the ECOSOC NGO database.

Media Accreditation

Media representatives wishing to attend UNFF-related meetings should contact the Media Accreditation & Liaison Unit of the UN Department of Public Information http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/

International and regional entities without observer status

International and regional entities without observer status to the UNFF may send their participation requests to the UNFF Secretariat, via an official letter on the organization’s letter-head and signed by the Chief Executive listing the names, dates of participation, and contact information of each representative being nominated to attend the UNFF-related meeting. Please send the letter to:

Mr. Manoel Sobral Filho, Director, UN Forum on Forests Secretariat
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Two UN Plaza, DC2-2301, New York, NY 10017
Email: unff@un.org

International and regional entities without observer status can submit an application for observer status with the UN Forum on Forests. Applications are reviewed by the UNFF Bureau and if approved, the application is submitted through the UNFF Bureau for the approval of the UN Forum on Forests on the first day of UNFF sessions.

The application should state the organization’s geographical scope, mandate, membership and interest in receiving accreditation to the Forum as well as the relevance in the work of the Forum. Applications should be sent via the Director of the UNFF Secretariat, for transmittal to the UNFF Bureau.