Do you need accreditation to NATO?
Over the course of the year, NATO organises meetings at different levels (defence ministers, foreign ministers, heads of state and government, etc.), which are held either at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels or outside the headquarters.
If the meeting is held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels
- Media representatives with permanent NATO accreditation do not have to make a specific accreditation request whenever the meeting is held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
- all other press representatives must make an ad hoc accreditation request (see below).
If the meeting is held outside NATO Headquarters, all media representatives without exception must make an ad hoc accreditation request.
PERMANENT ANNUAL ACCREDITATION TO NATO
Who can request annual accreditation?
Media representatives including journalists, TV producers, photographers, videographers, bloggers and technicians who plan to cover NATO on a regular basis, may request a permanent NATO Media Accreditation.
What are the advantages of permanent accreditation?
Beyond day-to-day access to NATO Headquarters (media centre, public facilities) permanent accreditation gives media representatives preferred access to regular events, ministerial meetings and special background briefings by subject matter experts.
How to request permanent accreditation to NATO?
Create a profile in the NATO accreditation portal at https://my.hq.nato.int/
Then:
- log in with your user name and password.
- attach a copy of your passport or national ID
- attach a digital identity photograph
- add proof of you status as a journalist (i.e. an official document with the journalist’s name, or a valid press card)
- attach an recent official letter from your editor confirming that you work for their media outlet and are assigned to regularly cover NATO’s activities
- freelance journalists need to provide proof of payment for regular journalistic work.
Do not send documents by e-mail or post.
Please note that the procedure can take several weeks. After confirmation by e-mail that your pass is ready for collection, you will receive instructions on how to collect your annual accreditation badge at NATO Headquarters Pass Office.
NATO will verify that applicants for annual accreditations are media professionals and represent bona fide media organisations. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decisions are final. No accreditation is given to employees of non-media organisations, such as publications which do communications outreach or advocacy work.
NATO cooperates on its accreditation policy with API-IPA.
AD HOC ACCREDITATION TO NATO
Ad hoc accreditation is available to journalists without annual accreditation who want to come to NATO headquarters for a specific event or to cover a NATO event at a different location, like ministerial meetings abroad or NATO summits. Ad hoc accreditation is valid only for a specific event or a limited period and cannot be extended or renewed.
There are several steps in the ad hoc accreditation request. First, the NATO Press Service issues a media advisory announcing the meeting on the NATO Website – https://www.nato.int/.
Once that announcement has been made, the media representative requests accreditation by accessing his or her personal account on the NATO accreditation platform or by setting up a personal profile (https://my.hq.nato.int/).
After registration you will have to upload a copy of your passport or national ID, and a copy of a valid press card. If you do not have a valid press card, a signed letter from your editorial staff is required.
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A more detailed version of the accreditation procedure described above can be found at https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_83620.htm.
Any questions about media accreditation should be directed at NATOAccreditations@hq.nato.int.
The The NATO Press Office/Media Operations Centre can be reached on MOC@hq.nato.int or +32 2 707 5041.
A Media Handbook, with information on all media facilities at NATO Headquarters, can be found at https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2020/2/pdf/20200206_NATO_HQ-Media-Handbook_en.pdf
