i would get confirmation from the Office de Population, but normally the c permit can be reclaimed within 2 years as i understand it if you go abroad... no idea if switching it for a diplomatic card is treated as such

Thanks for that, I really hope thats the case, will look into it!

The reclaim used to be liberally 2 years, now it is only six months.  However, there are exceptions like going away to school, and I would expect going to work for the UN - just ask the questions and demand a response in writing/brochure/website - that way you have no excuses.

I was wondering if someone has a definitive answer on this issue. The OCP website is very unhelpful and information on the CDL is really limited online

Yes you have to give up your permit C (or B) if you work in any oof the international org. Thisis diffrent though for missions/consulate/emabassies.

First, the HR procedures of UN organizations are the subject of long and often tedious negotiations with the host government.  In extreme cases, they can be changed at very short notice.  But even in so-called “normal” circumstances, “temporary” measures may be introduced.

Nevertheless, if you want to have a ruling from the Office de la Population go there early in the day and equipped to make a few notes.

First, ask the person who receives you for his/her

name.  If this is refused, make a few notes of his/her appearance.  Write down the time of your arrival and your departure.  Make notes of the information given.  All of this can be useful in any subsequent suggestion that you have “misunderstood” the information you were given.

However, as mentioned above, the application of international organization  employment procedures is subject to amendment, sometimes at short notice, so whatever the OCP may say today in good faith may not necessarily be valid three months hence.

In my view, it’s a pipe dream to expect  your “C” permit to sleep peacefully in a file until such time as you decide you’d like to have it back.  In other words, you can’t have it all ways.

Best of luck!

I left the UN 1.5 years after my original post. I was able to get my Permis C back quite easily after filling in the required paperwork and waiting about 1.5 months. This was 2013 so not sure how things have changed since.