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Visitor Participation Agreements

Harvard’s research policies cover all individuals who perform work under the University’s auspices, including visitors.  Thus, in addition to the Participation Agreement, there are several forms of Visitor Participation Agreements.  For information on who should sign which form, see the PA and VPA Guidance. Once signed, the Visitor PA should be scanned and linked to the visitor’s personnel record in GMAS.  If no such record exists (i.e., if the visitor will not receive an appointment with a Harvard ID number and card), you may wish to create one for the limited purpose of archiving the Visitor PA, so that it can be retrieved when needed.

Because visitors may be differently situated with respect to pre-existing obligations that may relate to their research, alternative forms of the Visitor PA, as described and made available for download below, have been designed to accommodate their various needs, depending on the type of organization, if any, from which they are visiting Harvard. 

Click on the Visitor type that best describes your visitor for the appropriate form:

Types of Visitors

From For-Profit Organizations (U.S. and foreign)

For visitors from companies or other for-profit organizations anywhere in the world, you may view and download the “HARVARD UNIVERSITY VISITOR PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT for visitors from for-profit organizations (U.S. and foreign)” by clicking here (PDF).

From Foreign Non-Profit Institutions/Unaffiliated Individuals

For visitors from foreign non-profit institutions OR for visitors who are not affiliated with any university, research institution, hospital, company or other organization, i.e., who are self-employed or unemployed, you may view and download the “HARVARD UNIVERSITY VISITOR PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT for visitors from foreign non-profit institutions and for unaffiliated individuals” by clicking here (PDF).

From U.S. Non-Profit and Governmental Institutions

For visitors from U.S. non-profit and governmental institutions, except for medical centers affiliated with Harvard Medical School,* you may view and download the “HARVARD UNIVERSITY VISITOR PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT for visitors from U.S. non-profit and governmental institutions OTHER THAN the Harvard-affiliated medical centers” by clicking here (PDF).

From Harvard-Affiliated Medical Centers

For visitors from one of the medical centers affiliated with Harvard Medical School, you may view and download the "HARVARD UNIVERSITY VISITOR PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT for visitors from Harvard-Affiliated Medical Centers" by clicking here (PDF).

From U.S. Government Agencies/Institutions

For visitors employed by the U.S. Government, you may view and download the "HARVARD UNIVERSITY VISITOR PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT for Visitors employed by the U.S. Government" by clicking here (PDF).