How to request a visit to the European Court of Human Rights

You would like to:

• Attend a hearing

• Visit the European Court of Human Rights

Requests to visit the Court may be made by:

For all other requests or queries, particularly concerning applications, please click  here.

I. Hearings

Hearings at the European Court of Human Rights are public (private hearings are only held in exceptional cases). Hearings last approximately 90 minutes with English and French interpretation.

Groups of more than 2 people must contact the Visitors’ Unit at the Court by the electronic form to attend a hearing.

If a hearing is cancelled or adjourned, the Visitors’ Unit will endeavour to inform groups of visitors as soon as possible.

• See calendar of scheduled hearings

Instructions for visitors attending hearings at the European Court of Human Rights

• Visitors are advised to be extremely punctual. Visitors arriving after the start of oral submissions will be refused access to the courtroom, in order to avoid any disruption to the hearing.

• Groups of visitors: the number of participants should not exceed that stated in the list furnished to the Visitors’ Unit beforehand.

• Hearings begin at 9.00am sharp.

• Visitors must arrive at the main entrance of the Human Rights Building at 8.15am; each visitor should bring his or her passport, identity card or driving licence.

• No telephones or laptop computers may be used during the hearing and visitors must not film or take photographs of the hearing. No food or drink may be brought into the courtroom.

• Visitors are requested not to enter or leave the courtroom at inappropriate times and to remain in their seats until the hearing has ended.

• Persons attending hearings should remain seated and silent. The President may order the removal of anyone perturbing the proceedings.

• Visitors are asked to wear appropriate dress.

• For security reasons, visitors will only be given access to those parts of the building that are open to the public, namely the entrance hall and Courtroom, unless they have obtained special permission from the Visitors’ Unit to visit other parts. Visitors will not be given access to the cafeteria.

• The building does not have a left-luggage office and visitors are therefore advised to leave their luggage at their hotel or in the coach.

Please ensure that these instructions are followed.

II. Visits to the European Court of Human Rights

For groups

Information visits comprise a presentation on the role and work of the Court, lasting approximately one hour. The presentation can take place after the group has attended a hearing (see calendar of scheduled hearings.

Information visits are organised for groups (comprising 20 people minimum) who would like detailed information about the Court’s activities. Priority will be given to groups with members from a legal background (judges, public prosecutors, lawyers, and teachers and students of law).

Visits to the Court only take place on working days. The Court is shut at the weekends and on public holidays.

As we receive a very large number of requests for visits, we recommend that you apply two months in advance.

Instructions for groups visiting the European Court of Human Rights

• Visitors are advised to be extremely punctual.

• The number of participants should not exceed that stated in the list sent to the Visitors’ Unit beforehand.

• Visitors are asked to wear appropriate dress.

• For security reasons, visitors will only be given access to those parts of the building that are open to the public, namely the entrance hall and Courtroom (if it is not being used), unless they have obtained special permission from the Visitors’ Unit to visit other parts. Visitors will not be given access to the cafeteria.

• The building does not have a left-luggage office and visitors are therefore advised to leave their luggage at their hotel or in the coach.

Please ensure that these instructions are followed.