Next deadline for applications is 01/11/2026, with earliest starting date 01/03/2027

Scope

To support long-term visits by first-rate scientists to promote the scientific interaction of ESO with its community and with research institutions worldwide and to enhance ESO's role as an astronomical centre of excellence.

Who is eligible

Any active scientist with a PhD in astronomy or related disciplines currently employed in astronomical research is eligible to apply. No nationality is in principle excluded. However, preference will be given to nationals of Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Chile irrespective of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity or religion.

ESO has established diversity as an important value of the Organisation, is committed to providing an equal opportunities environment and is actively seeking to promote a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Scientists without an affiliation and job contract during the entire time of the planned visit are not eligible for this programme.

Early-career scientists (PhD students and up to three years from the PhD) are encouraged to apply via the Early-Career Visitor Programme. 

How to Apply

There are four application deadlines each year. The earliest possible start dates are 3.5 or 4 months after the corresponding application deadline, as follows:

Eligible scientists who wish to apply are kindly requested to contact an ESO staff member or fellow directly and coordinate their planned visit with them. Alternatively, prospective applicants may contact the Chair of the ESO Visitor Selection Committee (VSC) (vsc-chair@eso.org), who can put them in touch with an ESO staff member in their field.

Applicants should then complete the application form (see the menu on the right) and submit it by email to the Chair of the VSC (vsc-chair@eso.org). They should also ensure that their hosting ESO staff member or fellow submits a letter of support to the same email address before the application deadline.

Visits may range in length from one month to a maximum of one year. As a rule, scientists who have participated in the Visitor Programme within the past two years are not eligible for another visit under this scheme. Applicants who visited more than two years ago should provide a brief summary of the outcomes of their previous visit. For distinguished scientists, multiple visits over a period of two to three years may also be approved. Applications for shorter visits are handled directly by the Head of the Office for Science and the Director for Science.

The Visitor Programme tends to be heavily subscribed during the summer months (June–August). Whenever possible, applicants are therefore encouraged to plan visits at other times of the year.

Selection Committee and evaluation process

Applications to the ESO Visitor Programme are evaluated by the ESO Scientific Visitor Selection Committee (VSC). The members of the VSC are selected from the ESO Faculty and represent a broad range of scientific expertise. Following each application deadline, the VSC reviews all submitted applications and recommends candidates to the Head of the Office for Science.

The VSC also works proactively with the ESO Faculty to identify potential visitors who, through their specific expertise and/or internationally recognised excellence in research, can make valuable contributions to the organisation's scientific activities. In addition, the Committee oversees approved visits by coordinating the necessary correspondence and arrangements and monitoring ongoing visits to help ensure their success.

Applications are evaluated primarily on the applicant's scientific excellence, as demonstrated by the quality of the proposed research plan and their overall scientific achievements, including publications and research experience. The VSC also values applicants whose established expertise can contribute to ESO's scientific activities and projects (for example, defining the scientific drivers for a new VLT instrument or contributing to the scientific case for a new project). Preference is also given to applicants who plan to collaborate with ESO staff or fellows on a specific scientific project while also contributing more broadly to the scientific discussions within ESO.

Support to and Duties of the Visitors

While at ESO, a scientific visitor has the status of Unpaid Associate and receives a monthly allowance to cover living expenses and family support (if needed). Generally, ESO provides accommodation for visitors in the form of fully furnished apartments in Garching. Should an ESO apartment not be available or should the visitor arrange to stay elsewhere, reimbursement of accommodation expenses at the level of the costs of a comparable ESO apartment is possible if rent proof of payment is submitted. Travel expenses to and from ESO are also generally reimbursed.

Upon his/her arrival, the visitor is supported by the secretary of the scientific visitor programme, Denisa Tako (denisa.tako@eso.org), on the administrative aspects of their visit. The contact person (the scientific collaborator at ESO or a member of the staff identified at the time of the invitation) has the task of introducing the visitor to the scientific life at ESO. A (shared) office is assigned to every approved visitor, as well as a computer terminal upon request and an account. 

All visitors are requested to give either a seminar or an informal discussion during their stay at ESO. 

For visits lasting longer than one month, guests may be asked to give a series of lectures. We also request that any publications resulting from the visit include an acknowledgement of the ESO Scientific Visitor Programme.

All guests are expected to adhere to the ESO code of conduct.