Frequently Asked Questions

If you wish to receive notifications from the INC Secretariat, kindly send your request to be added to the INC mailing list to unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org.

A Note Verbale with the nomination(s) or update of nomination(s) of the national focal point(s) should be communicated to unep-incplastic.secretariat@un.org, indicating the name, affiliation and contact details of the national focal point(s).

All information is available under the registration tab, on the INC-4 webpage: https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution/registration.

All registrations must be done online via the INDICO, and no registrations will be processed via email. Registrants must submit the required documentation and fill out all mandatory fields in the online form.

Queries related to registration should be addressed to unep-incplastic.registration@un.org.

No, it may take a few days for the INC Secretariat to review the supporting documentation
and to process registrations. Once registration is approved or rejected, delegates will receive an automatic email from INDICO.

The INC cannot accredit organizations.

Organizations whose work is relevant to the INC, but are not accredited to UNEP, Multilateral Environment Agreements administered by UNEP and/or do not have consultative status with ECOSOC, can apply to get accredited to the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

For more information about the accreditation process and requirements please consult here. For additional questions about UNEP accreditation, please write to: unep-accreditation@un.org.

The registration to the INC sessions and the visa application process are two separate procedures. Delegates are responsible for applying for their entry visa and for meeting the necessary requirements and timelines defined by the host country.

To support the delegates with their visa application process, once the registration to attend the INC is approved, delegates will receive an automatic email with the UN Event Pass and an invitation letter.

The assessment of each application and the issuance of the visa remains at the discretion of the competent authorities of the host country.

Once your registration is confirmed, delegates will receive access to a “Visa Assistance Portal” by email. Should delegates require visa assistance, they can indicate the challenges faced, through the portal. Please note that the link is only available once the registration is approved.

For national delegations from Member States, travel support is available to support the participation of a maximum of 2 delegates from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Not more than 2 delegates will be funded.

The INC Secretariat is in the position to provide travel support for the participation of a total of 20 observers. Only duly registered participants who meet the funding criteria will be eligible to apply for travel support. Before applying for travel support, delegates must be duly registered and approved, the UN Event Pass will be required to be uploaded.

No, registration for INC-4 and the application for travel support are two separate processes.

The delegates designated to receive financial support are requested to submit a dedicated online form through the second link provided to all delegations in Annex A of the invitation letter from the Executive Secretary, dated 20 October 2023. Before applying for travel support, delegates must be duly registered for INC-4, and the UN Event Pass will be required to be uploaded.

The secretariat will commence the required administrative procedures to issues the tickets once the deadline for applications has concluded. As the administrative process can be lengthy, eligible delegates will be contacted directly regarding the itinerary in due time.

For the necessary travel arrangements to comply with the United Nations rules and regulations, nominations for funding support after the deadline cannot be guaranteed.

The Secretariat will not be able to accommodate last-minute changes or cancellations after a ticket has been issued as this results in financial loss. Any difference must be covered by participants.

Disbursement of the DSA will be made on-site, at the meeting venue, via physical prepaid cards for INC-4 meeting participants (in GBP). The schedule and venue for DSA disbursement will be announced upon arrival at the venue. Sponsored participants will be requested to present their original arrival boarding pass and original passport/travel document used to enter Canada.

Funded delegates are responsible for making their own hotel bookings, as the DSA covers costs related to lodging, meals and other such payments made for services rendered during official travel.

As indicated in the invitation letter for INC-4, due to the size of the existing meeting rooms and depending on the number of attendees to INC-4, the INC Secretariat may need to establish a system for access to the Plenary Hall and other meeting rooms. Delegations will be informed accordingly once the registration deadline closes. In addition, based on security and safety reasons, should the number of registrations exceed the limit of the venue, delegations will also be informed accordingly.

Once pre-registered online has been approved, delegates will receive a UN EVENT PASS, which will be used to finalize their registration on-site. Collection of the badges will be done at the venue. To collect their badge, delegates are kindly asked to carry a passport or valid identification card, and a copy of the UN event pass with them when arriving to the venue.

As per Rules 68 and 69 of the Rules of Procedure of the United Nations Environment Assembly of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/EA.3/3) and Rules 55 and 56 of the INC Draft Rules of Procedure (UNEP/PP/OEWG.1/4), only specialized agencies, United Nations bodies, multilateral environmental agreements, and intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations can participate as observers. Local governments can participate through the Local Authority Major Group (LAMG), which represents international networks and organizations of local and subnational governments.

Alternatively, municipalities and local authorities may wish to reach out to their national governments to be included as part of the national delegation.

Please click on this link for guidance

Please do not forget to correctly enter the Special Event Code for INC-4 in your E-application. Without the Special Event code for INC-4 included in your application, further delays may be experienced. This special event code will ensure that delegates are considered for prioritization in the visa application process. If you have issues downloading forms, please consult the following link: How do I download and open a PDF form from IRCC’s website? (canada.ca).

Once your application has been submitted, please share with us your Visa Application number by completing the form through the Visa Assistance Portal. The visa application number starts with a V and is followed by 9 digits (ex. V123456789).  The information shared through the Visa Assistance Portal will be shared with the competent authorities of the host country.

It is strongly recommended that visa applications be submitted as soon as possible and at least 12 weeks prior to the meeting. 

The secretariat and the host country remain ready to support delegates in case of any questions that may arise about the application process. However, delegates are responsible for all aspects related to their visa application and the secretariat is not in a position to provide financial support for travel related to visa applications in light of the applicable rules and regulations for the provision of travel support by the UN.

For delegates who would like to check the status of their application, they may do so by visiting the following link: How to check your application status - Canada.ca