Obtain a certificate from the OCPM

1. Overview

If you are or have been a resident in Geneva, you can request a certificate from the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration (OCPM) justifying your situation.

This certificate can be useful in the context of an application for the opening of a bank account, a renewal of a consular card, or any other administrative formality.

Autres feuillets du livret

  • You are legally resident in Geneva and need a residence certificate
Order a residence certificate
  • You have just arrived in Geneva and have submitted an application for a residence permit and need a certificate justifying your situation
Order a certificate
  • You are a Swiss national and need to legitimize a weekly stay in another canton
Order a declaration of domicile
  • You have left or are about to leave the Canton of Geneva and require a certificate of departure
Order a certificate of departure
  • You were a cross-border worker (holder of a G permit) and ceased your activity in Geneva

If you are still active and have a valid G permit, it is not possible to obtain a certificate.

Order a certificate of cessation of activity
  • You want to download the certificate ordered from your e-démarches account
Download my certificate
  • You want to verify the authenticity of a certificate presented to you

The certificates issued shall no longer bear the dry stamp and shall bear no signature. Verification of their authenticity is done through a secure online platform that allows them to be downloaded and reprinted.

Verify the authenticity of a certificate

2. Order a residence certificate

For whom

Anyone legally residing in Geneva, with a residence or establishment permit, can order a residence certificate.

There is no "family certificate". If more than one member of your family requires a certificate, you will need to order one for each person.

If you are the surviving spouse, surviving registered partner, or descendant or ascendant in a direct line of a deceased person, you can obtain a certificate on behalf of the deceased person if there is a legitimate private interest to do so.

When

You can request a certificate at any time.

A photocopy of your last voting card is equivalent to the proof of residence as long as your address is still valid.

What

The following information, as entered in the register of inhabitants, shall be included in the residence certificates:

  • Last name, first name
  • Civil status
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Origin (for Swiss persons) - Nationality (for foreign persons)
  • Address
  • Date from which the person concerned resides in the territory of the canton
  • For the Confederates, it specifies the type of certificate in its possession (domicile certificate or stay certificate)
  • If the person concerned is in possession of a valid residence or establishment permit, the certificate shall indicate the type of permit (permit L, B, C, Ci, N, F or S)
  • If the permit of the person concerned is being renewed, the certificate shall indicate that the person concerned is awaiting a decision on their application.

The form also allows you to request a proof of residence with a history of the stays, which will mention the dates of the different periods during which the person concerned has resided in the territory of the canton. This type of certificate does not list the various addresses of residence in the canton.

Swiss citizens may also request a certificate of residence with civil rights, which states that the person concerned has the right to exercise their civil rights in the territory of the canton.

Terms

If you have changed your address or civil status, you must first make sure that you have announced these changes to the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration, otherwise your certificate will not be correct.

If you place your order from your e-démarches account for another member of your family, you will automatically receive a certificate in your name which will also be charged to you. If you only need the attestation of your family member, you must make your request without going through your e-démarches account.

Price

A fee of CHF 25 is collected by certificate.

For dependants of the Hospice General, certificates are free of charge on presentation of a certificate of care of the Hospice General. The request is made by postal mail.

Processing times

Applications for certificates made with a verified e-démarches account shall, as a general rule and subject to special circumstances, be processed immediately. The access key to download the attestation on the secure online platform is sent by email within the day following the order.

Applications made without an account are, as a general rule and subject to special circumstances, sent by post on the working day following the order to your address known by the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration.

Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch

For Swiss nationals who apply to their commune of residence, the issue of the certificate is in principle immediate.

Order a residence certificate

If you are a Swiss national, you can also order your residence certificate from the relevant department in your commune of residence. Payment is then made on the spot.

If you encounter difficulties with the online procedures, you can make your request by postal mail. You will receive the certificate by postal mail after you have paid the invoice that will be sent to you by postal mail.

3. Order a certificate - permit application submitted

For whom

If you have applied for a residence permit or have announced your arrival in Geneva an need a certificate justifying your situation, you can apply for a certificate.

You must already be present on the territory of the canton and live there effectively.

There is no "family certificate". If more than one member of your family requires a certificate, you will need to order one for each person.

When

You can apply for a certificate after your arrival in Geneva and after you have applied for a residence permit or announced your arrival (for Swiss nationals).

What

The following information, as provided by you, shall be included in the certificates:

  • Last name, first name
  • Civil status
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Origin (for Swiss persons) - Nationality (for foreign persons)
  • Address
  • It shall indicate that the person concerned is awaiting for a decision on their request.
The certificate does not mention the date of arrival in the canton and does not make the stay in Switzerland legal.

Terms

This certificate can only be issued if you have already applied for a residence permit or announced your arrival (Swiss nationals) and you actually reside in Geneva.

If you place your order from your e-démarches account for another member of your family, you will automatically receive a certificate in your name which will also be charged to you. If you only need the attestation of your family member, you must make your request without going through your e-démarches account.

Price

A fee of CHF 25 is collected by certificate.

Processing times

Applications for certificates made with a verified e-démarches account shall, as a general rule and subject to special circumstances, be processed immediately. The access key to download the attestation on the secure online platform is sent by email within the day following the order.

Applications made without an account are sent by postal mail to your address known by the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration.

Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch

For Swiss nationals who apply to their commune of residence, the issue of the certificate is in principle immediate.

Order a certificate justifying the submission of a permit application

Select "attestation de résidence" form the drop-down menu.

4. Order a declaration of domicile

For whom

Any Swiss  person who wishes to legitimize their weekly stay outside the canton in another Swiss commune where he works or is undergoing training, for example, can order a declaration of domicile indicating that their principal domicile remains in Geneva.

What

The declaration of domicile shall indicate that the person concerned remains domiciled in Geneva.

The document is valid for 2 years.

Terms

The Swiss commune in wich the weekly stay is made must be specified at the time of application.

Price

A declaration of domicile costs CHF 25.

Payment is made on invoice.

Order a declaration of domicile

The application is made through the online contact form. Select "Declaration of domicile" from the drop-down menu.

5. Order a certificate of departure

For whom

If you have left the canton of Geneva or are about to leave it, it is possible to order a certificate of departure.

There is no "family certificate". If more than one member of your family requires a certificate, you will need to order one for each person.

When

If you have already left the canton, you can apply at any time.

In the case of a planned departure, it is possible to obtain a certificate of early departure, at the earliest 35 days before leaving Geneva.

What

The following information, as entered in the register of inhabitants, shall be included in the certificates of departure:

  • Last name, first name
  • Civil status
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Origin (for Swiss persons) - Nationality (for foreign persons)
  • Address
  • Date of arrival and date of departure from the canton as well as destination.

You can also ask for a certificate of derparture with a history of the stays, which will indicates the dates of the different periods during which the person concerned has resided in the territory of the canton.

Terms

Before being able to obtain a certificate of departure, you must first announce your departure form the canton according to the formalities below: Announcing my departure to the OCPM 

If you place your order from your e-démarches account for another member of your family, you will automatically receive a certificate in your name which will also be charged to you. If you only need the attestation of your family member, you must make your request without going through your e-démarches account.

Price

A fee of CHF 25 is collected by certificate.

Processing times

Applications for certificates made with a verified e-démarches account shall, as a general rule and subject to special circumstances, be processed immediately. The access key to download the attestation on the secure online platform is sent by email within the day following the order.

Applications made without an account are sent by postal mail to the address abroad given in the online form.

Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch

For Swiss nationals who apply to their commune of residence, the issue of the certificate is in principle immediate.

Order a certificate of departure

If you are a Swiss national, you can also order your residence certificate from the relevant department in your commune of residence. Payment is then made on the spot.

If you encounter difficulties with the online procedures, you can make your request by postal mail. You will receive the certificate by postal mail after you have paid the invoice that will be sent to you by postal mail.

6. Order a certificate of cessation of activity

For whom

You were a cross-border worker (holder of a G permit) and ceased your activity in Geneva.

No certificate shall be issued to persons holding a valid cross-border authorization.

When

As soon as you no longer work in Geneva and your cessation of activity is properly recorded in our register, you can order a certificate of cessation of activity.

What

The certificate indicates the date on which you announced the end of your activity.

Terms

  • You must no longer carry out gainful activity in the canton.
  • You must have informed us of your cessation of activity by returning the form R completed by your last employer.

Price

A fee of CHF 25 is collected by certificate.

Processing times

Certificates requests made with a verified e-démarches account are usually processed immediately. The access key to download the attestation on the secure online platform is sent by email within the day following the order.

Certificates requests made without an account are sent by postal mail to the address given in the online form. 

Processing times can be consulted on this page: Délais de traitement moyens des demandes déposées à l'OCPM | ge.ch

Order a certificate of cessation of activity

7. Download an OCPM certificate ordered by e-démarches

For whom

You have a verified e-démarches account and have ordered your certificate online.

When

As soon as you receive an email with your access key.

Terms

You must wait to receive the confirmation email containing your access key.

How

  1. Log in the downloading platform.
  2. Enter the access key received by email.
Download my certificate

8. Verify the authenticity of an OCPM certificate

For whom

You want to verify a certificate presented to you.

How

  1. Connect to the OCPM Document Verification Platform.
  2. Enter the verification code at the bottom of the attestation that is presented to you in both upper and lower case.
  3. Make sure to enter the common name and all first names written on the certificate correctly, otherwise the document cannot be found.

If the document presented is referenced at the OCPM, you can download it and print a copy.

Verify the authenticity of a certificate