Announcing my arrival at the OCPM

1. Overview

Anyone wishing to settle in Geneva must inform the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration within 14 days of their arrival. The procedure for announcing arrival differs depending wether:

  • You are a national of an EU/EFTA Member State
  • You are a third-country national (outside the EU/EFTA)
  • You're coming from another canton
  • You wish to announce your return from absence (C permit holder)
In Switzerland, basic health insurance (LAMal) in the event of illness and accident is compulsory. Every person, as soon as they take up residence in Switzerland, is required to be insured.

To learn more about everyday life in Switzerland (school, work, health system, etc.), you can consult the "Welcome to Switzerland" app of the State Secretariat for Migration.

BREXIT - As of January 1st, 2021, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU (AFMP) no longer applies to relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and nationals of the latter are no longer considered as EU/EFTA nationals but as third-country nationals.

For any questions related to Brexit, please consult the website of the State Secretariat for Migration.

Last updated
7 August 2025

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