Announcing my arrival at the OCPM
2. Announcement of arrival in Geneva for Swiss national
For whom
All Swiss nationals arriving in Geneva to take up residence must announce their arrival.
Non-Geneva Confederates intending to reside or engage in gainful self-employment in Geneva must also register.
When
The announcement must be sent within 14 days of arrival.
What
The Geneva Confederates receive a letter confirming the registration of their arrival in the population register.
Non-Geneva Confederates receive:
- In the case of temporary residence*, a residence certificate valid for 5 years and renewable if the conditions for obtaining it are still fulfilled.
- In the case of a permanent residence**, a domicile certificate with an indefinite period of validity which shall remain valid as long as the data contained therein are in accordance with reality.
* Temporary stay means the commune in which a person stays for a particular purpose (internship studies, au pairs, etc.) without the intention of living there permanently, but for a period of at least 3 months, consecutive or spread over the same year. A Swiss citizen coming from abroad on a temporary stay is exempted from the obligation to register.
** Permanent residence (principal residence) means the commune in which a person resides recognizably for third parties with the intention of living there in the long term and having the center of their personal interests there. There can be only one principal residence.
In case of loss or theft of the residence or domicile certificate, it is possible to obtain a duplicate.
Certificates of domicile, residence and professional status are personal and individual.
Terms
The registered address must match your actual and primary address. It is not possible to register an address for the reception of mail, for business purposes or for personal or administrative convenience.
In the event of concrete indications that a person is not domiciled at the address given to the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration (OCPM), the office may conduct a house inquiry.
You must have a personal e-démarches account in order to submit your application online.
Attachments
- form A completed and signed (one form per person, including for children where the form must be signed by both parents) - only if the request is made by postal mail
- photocopy of a Swiss identity document
- copy of the lease for tenants (only page where the dwelling appears)
- written confirmation of the landlord for sub-tenants according to the AL form, with a copy of the landlord's I.D. and the main lease
- certificate of departure from the canton of provenance when approriate
- for divorced or unmarried parents arriving with a child(ren): proof of parental authority or power of attorney of the absent parent authorizing the child's domicile in Geneva or form EM
- if the announcement is made by a proxy or a curator: power of attorney or extract from judgment
For the non-Geneva Confederates, add:
- if the residence is permanent (main residence): certificate of origin or family certificate or individual civil status certificate (less than 6 months old)
- if the residence is temporary: recent declaration of domicile issued by the commune of the principal residence in Switzerland
Price
This service is free of charge for Genevans and costs CHF 50 per person for non-Geneva Confederates.
Payment is made online for online requests or by invoice for requests made by postal mail.
Processing times
Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch
Help to fill in the online form
See our fact sheet: Practical help to announce your arrival in Geneva online or to apply for a residence permit with or without activity at the OCPM | ge.ch
The arrival announcement can be made online, by postal mail or at the commune of residence if the whole family is Swiss.