How to Get a COP31 Badge: Your Complete Guide to Attending the UN Climate Conference in Antalya

Every November, the world's climate conversation moves to one city for two weeks. This year that city is Antalya, Türkiye, and the event is COP31, the 31st UN Climate Change Conference. Maybe you want to walk into the negotiation halls, sit in on side events, meet climate leaders from almost every country, and bring your own community's story into the room. If so, the thing standing between you and that experience is a small plastic card on a lanyard: the COP badge.

The good news is that badges are free. The catch is that you can't buy one or sign up as an individual. You need to be nominated through the right channel. This guide covers every route that exists, which ones are still open right now, and exactly what to do once your badge is confirmed.

COP31 at a glance

COP31 runs from Monday, 9 November to Friday, 20 November 2026 at the Antalya EXPO Center in Aksu, Antalya. Türkiye holds the COP31 Presidency, while Australia's climate minister serves as President of Negotiations. The Leaders' Summit takes place on 11 and 12 November. The nearest airport is Antalya Airport (AYT), roughly 20 to 30 minutes from the venue.

On Sunday, 15 November the entire conference premises are closed, including the registration desk.

First, understand the two zones

COP31 is split into two very different spaces, and it helps to know the difference before you apply.

The Blue Zone is the official UN-managed area. This is where the negotiations happen, along with the World Climate Action Summit, country pavilions, presidency events, panels and official side events. Only people with UNFCCC accreditation can enter: national delegations, observer organizations, UN agencies and accredited journalists. When people talk about "getting a COP badge," this is what they mean.

The Green Zone is run by the host country and is open to the wider public, civil society, businesses, students and visitors. It has its own exhibitions, talks and cultural events. You register for it separately, as explained in Route 6 below. It's a wonderful way to experience COP even if you don't secure a Blue Zone badge.

The golden rules of COP accreditation

A few things apply to every route.

Badges are free. All registration and badges cost nothing, so nobody should ever charge you for a badge itself. Some programmes that "offer" badges charge for their training or delegation fees, but the badge itself comes from the UNFCCC at no cost.

Everything runs through the UNFCCC Online Registration System (ORS) at onlinereg.unfccc.int. Whoever nominates you enters your details there. Once you're registered, you'll get an official acknowledgment letter by email.

You can only hold one badge category. You cannot be registered as a government delegate, an NGO observer and a journalist at the same time, so pick the route that genuinely fits you.

A badge only gets you in. It doesn't cover flights, hotels, visas, food or insurance, so plan your funding separately.

Route 1: Join your country's national delegation (Party badge)

Every country that is a Party to the UN climate convention sends an official delegation, and governments nominate their delegates directly through the ORS. Many countries also give out a limited number of extra badges, often called "Party overflow" badges. These go to civil society representatives, researchers, youth leaders, businesspeople and journalists who want to attend under the national banner.

Who it suits: Government officials and advisors. It also suits anyone their ministry is willing to include, such as youth and civil society members through overflow allocations.

How to apply: Contact your country's UNFCCC National Focal Point, which usually sits in the environment or climate ministry. In Pakistan, for example, that's the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination. Ask whether they are accepting requests for COP31 overflow badges and what they need from you. Typically they ask for:

a CV
a short note on why you want to attend and what you'll contribute
an endorsement letter from your organization

Key deadline: Nomination and confirmation for Parties stays open until 8 November 2026, 23:59 CET. That makes this one of the few routes still realistically open in mid-October. Ministries set their own internal cut-offs well before that, though, so reach out immediately.

Tip: Overflow badges give the same Blue Zone access, but they are limited and highly competitive. Show the ministry how you add value to the national delegation. That could be an event you're organizing, research you're presenting, or a community you represent.

Route 2: Go through an admitted observer organization (Observer badge)

This is the most common route for civil society, academics and young people. Thousands of NGOs, universities, research institutes, faith groups, youth networks and business associations hold official observer status with the UNFCCC. Each one nominates representatives, and the UNFCCC then gives each organization a quota of badges.

Who it suits: NGO staff, university students and faculty, researchers and activists. It also suits members of networks such as YOUNGO (the official youth constituency), women and gender groups, Indigenous peoples' organizations and trade unions.

How it works: The organization registers and nominates its participants. The UNFCCC approves the nominations and sets each organization's quota. The organization then confirms which individuals get the badges.

Key deadlines for COP31:

Nomination period: 7 July to 10 August 2026 (now closed)
Confirmation period: 24 August to 8 November 2026, 23:59 CET

What this means right now: Organizations could only nominate people before 10 August, and those that missed that date get no quota at all. So if no observer organization nominated you, this route is largely closed for COP31.

If you were nominated, you may still be waiting on quota results. Many universities and NGOs are announcing badge allocations this month. Keep an eye on your inbox and stay in touch with your organization's Designated Contact Point (DCP).

If your organization doesn't have observer status: It can't get that status in time for COP31, but it can apply to become an admitted observer for future sessions. The process is longer and requires proof of non-profit status and climate-related work. Start well ahead if you're aiming for COP32 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2027.

Watch for open calls: Some observer organizations publish open calls for "badge-only" opportunities. These offer free Blue Zone badges to activists and practitioners who pay for their own travel. They are legitimate when they come from admitted organizations.

Route 3: Media accreditation (Press badge)

Journalists covering COP31 need press accreditation specifically for this conference, which the UNFCCC also handles. Accreditation from previous COPs does not carry over.

Who it suits: Professional journalists, photographers, camera operators and producers working for a genuine media organization, whether print, broadcast, news agency or online. Freelancers usually need a signed letter of assignment from an outlet that commits to publishing their work.

How it works: COP31 introduced a new two-step model:

Every journalist creates an individual application in the ORS.
Each media organization names one Media Focal Point. That person submits an official letter of assignment, on company letterhead and signed by a supervisor, along with the list of staff covering the conference.

Key deadline: Media accreditation applications must be completed by 16 October 2026. If you're a journalist reading this, act today.

Route 4: UN agencies and intergovernmental organizations

UN bodies, specialized agencies and admitted intergovernmental organizations register their own staff. If you work for one, speak to your organization's designated contact person. The deadline for the UN system is also 8 November 2026.

Route 5: Attend virtually

COP31 offers virtual-only registration through the ORS for delegates of Parties and observer organizations. It's a good option if you can't travel or travel funds are tight. You get remote access to the meetings that are open to your badge type and offer online participation. It still requires a nomination through a Party or observer organization.

You don't need any registration at all to watch many sessions. Every press conference is webcast live and on demand on the UNFCCC website and social channels.

Route 6: Visit the Green Zone

If the Blue Zone isn't possible this year, the Green Zone is open to the public and genuinely worth the trip. Create a free COP31 visitor account at cop31.tr/register-to-visit. Once your registration is complete, your entry QR code appears in your account.

The Green Zone is closed to visitors on 11 and 12 November during the Leaders' Summit, so plan your days around that.

Funded opportunities: getting a badge plus travel support

Some fellowships and youth delegate programmes combine a COP badge with travel funding, training and mentorship. These include journalist fellowships, youth delegate programmes and organizational delegations. Their calls usually open months in advance, between March and June.

Most COP31 funded calls have now closed, but they're worth bookmarking for COP32. Always check that the organization offering the badge actually holds UNFCCC observer status.

Your badge is confirmed. What next?

Get your visa

Registered participants can apply for a free, multiple-entry COP31 e-Visa through Türkiye's e-Visa platform. It's valid from 1 to 30 November 2026 and allows a stay of up to 30 days. It is normally issued within seven working days. You'll need:

The registration code from your UNFCCC acknowledgment letter
A passport valid for at least 90 days after your arrival date
A passport-style photo

Apply as soon as your acknowledgment letter arrives so you have plenty of time before you travel.

Protect yourself from scams

The UNFCCC has reported a rise in phishing emails targeting COP participants. The secretariat says it will never share your personal data with third parties except for visa facilitation.

Never send passport details, bank information or login credentials in reply to an unsolicited email. Be wary of anyone selling "guaranteed" badges. Official badges are only issued through the ORS, and they are always free.

Misusing a badge, such as lending it to someone else, can get you permanently suspended from UNFCCC events. Treat your badge as personal.

A quick checklist

Decide which route genuinely fits you: Party, observer, media, UN or virtual
Contact your national focal point or observer organization as early as possible
Journalists: finish your ORS registration and your organization's focal point submission by 16 October
Watch for your UNFCCC acknowledgment letter, your most important document
Apply for the free COP31 e-Visa straight away

Final word

Getting a COP badge can feel like a puzzle the first time. The path becomes much clearer once you understand that every badge comes through a nominating body: your government, an observer organization or a media house.

If the timing doesn't work out for COP31, use this year to prepare. Connect with organizations that hold observer status and build your track record in climate work. Then you'll be ready when COP32 calls open next year.

See you in Antalya, in person or online.