With exactly two weeks to go before heads of state arrive on the shores of Lake Geneva, the Haute-Savoie prefecture on 2 June launched an online platform that issues mandatory QR-code passes—dubbed “Pass G7”—for anyone needing to access restricted zones around Evian-les-Bains during the 15-17 June summit. Residents, cross-border workers, delivery drivers and accredited service providers must apply, uploading ID, proof of address or employment, and a vehicle registration where relevant. The secure zones cover the town centre, the Cité de l’Eau conference complex and key stretches of the D1005 coastal road leading to the Swiss border at Saint-Gingolph. French police, reinforced by 2 000 mobile gendarmes and Swiss counterparts, will scan QR codes at 27 checkpoints operating 24/7 from 13 June.
![Digital ‘Pass G7’ portal opens as security perimeters set for Evian summit]()
For companies juggling visa, passport or travel-document issues alongside the new Pass G7 formalities, the online specialists at VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. Their France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) allows corporate travel teams and individuals to centralise visa applications, track status updates in real time and receive deadline reminders—tools that prove invaluable when personnel must cross the Franco-Swiss border under tight security windows.
Vehicles without a pass will be diverted to park-and-ride sites near Thonon-les-Bains, where shuttle buses will run for authorised badge-holders. For multinational firms with operations in the Franco-Swiss Léman corridor—particularly those relying on just-in-time deliveries between Annecy, Geneva and Evian—the system represents a non-tariff barrier that needs immediate mitigation. Logistics managers are advised to submit bulk applications for drivers this week and to build in at least 60 minutes extra transit time. Hotels housing corporate delegates should also ensure that all staff, including agency cleaners, are registered, as last-minute on-site accreditation will not be possible. Data gathered for the Pass G7 will be stored on French government servers and deleted 30 days after the event, the prefecture says. Trade unions have nonetheless raised privacy concerns and are pressing for an independent audit similar to the one conducted after the 2024 Paris Olympics. While the laissez-passer is free of charge, failure to present it within the restricted area carries a €135 on-the-spot fine. Employers remain jointly liable if staff are found working in the zone without valid authorisation, so HR and global-mobility teams should double-check that contractors and visitors understand the requirement.
For companies juggling visa, passport or travel-document issues alongside the new Pass G7 formalities, the online specialists at VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. Their France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) allows corporate travel teams and individuals to centralise visa applications, track status updates in real time and receive deadline reminders—tools that prove invaluable when personnel must cross the Franco-Swiss border under tight security windows.
Vehicles without a pass will be diverted to park-and-ride sites near Thonon-les-Bains, where shuttle buses will run for authorised badge-holders. For multinational firms with operations in the Franco-Swiss Léman corridor—particularly those relying on just-in-time deliveries between Annecy, Geneva and Evian—the system represents a non-tariff barrier that needs immediate mitigation. Logistics managers are advised to submit bulk applications for drivers this week and to build in at least 60 minutes extra transit time. Hotels housing corporate delegates should also ensure that all staff, including agency cleaners, are registered, as last-minute on-site accreditation will not be possible. Data gathered for the Pass G7 will be stored on French government servers and deleted 30 days after the event, the prefecture says. Trade unions have nonetheless raised privacy concerns and are pressing for an independent audit similar to the one conducted after the 2024 Paris Olympics. While the laissez-passer is free of charge, failure to present it within the restricted area carries a €135 on-the-spot fine. Employers remain jointly liable if staff are found working in the zone without valid authorisation, so HR and global-mobility teams should double-check that contractors and visitors understand the requirement.
