Announcing my arrival at the OCPM

Apply for asylum

Asylum applications are made orally or in writing at a Swiss border post or at a Swiss airport border control office or at a Swiss Federal Center for Asylum Seekers (CFA) of the State Secretariat for Migration.

Your application will be registered and reviewed. If after 140 days it has not been possible to decide on your request, you will be directed to a canton responsible for housing and guiding you throughout the examination procedure.

Following your assignment to the canton of Geneva

Before going to the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration, you must go to the reception service of the Hospice General to carry out the preliminary procedures:

Hospice général
Service Accueil
Avenue du Bouchet 49
1209 Genève

Then you can go to the Protection, Asylum and Return reception offices with the pass issued by the CFA (Federal Center for Asylum seekers) duly stamped by the Hospice General (allocation of accommodation):

Service protection, asile et retour
Route de Chancy 90
1213 Onex

Depending on your status, you can receive an N, F or S permit:

• The N permit for asylum seekers is issued to persons awaiting a decision on their asylum application.
• The F permit for provisionally admitted foreigners is an alternative measure to the execution of the return when it cannot be carried out because it is technically impossible, unlawful (not in conformity with Switzerland's international commitments or contrary to the law) or not reasonably demandable (war situation, medical problems).
• The S permit for persons in need of protection is the equivalent of an identity document authorizing temporary stay in Switzerland.