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:
Autres feuillets du livret
- You are Swiss
- You are a national of an EU/EFTA Member State
- You are a third-country national (outside the EU/EFTA)
- You are an asylum seeker
- You hold a legitimation card
- You're coming from another canton
- You wish to announce your return from absence (C permit holder)
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.
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
Announce your arrival
The arrival announcement can be made online, by postal mail or at the commune of residence if the whole family is Swiss.
For any stay of more than three months, you must apply for a residence or work permit. The application must be filed before commencing any activity. Your arrival announcement is made by means of your application for a residence or work permit:
- Apply for a residence permit for my family (family reunification)
- Apply for a student permit
- Apply for a residence permit without gainful activity
- Apply for a residence permit with gainful activity
- Apply for a residence permit for self-employed
If you hold a cross-border work permit (G permit) and you are moving to Geneva, but still have your job, you have to apply for a residence permit with gainful activity.
If you are a national of an EU/EFTA Member State, you may reside in Switzerland without authorization for a maximum of 3 months over a period of 6 months (e.g. tourist stay or medical stay). In this case, you do not have to make a specific announcement to the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration.
As a national of a non-EU/EFTA State, you must apply for a residence or work permit before arriving in Geneva:
- Apply for a residence permit for my family (family reunification)
- Apply for a student permit
- Apply for a residence permit without gainful activity
- Apply for a residence permit with gainful activity
- Apply for a residence permit for self-employed
If your application is accepted, you will be summoned by the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration by post to register your biometric data necessary to establish your residence permit (biometric document).
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 Louis-Casaï 53
1216 Cointrin
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.
For whom
If you hold a FDFA legitimation card and are not a Swiss national, you are exempt from the obligation to notify the Cantonal Office for Population and Migration. You can however announce yourself on a voluntary basis.
If you are a Swiss national, the announcement procedure is as follows: Announcement of arrival in Geneva for Swiss nationals.
What
Following your announcement, a confirmation letter will be sent.
Any event (such as change of domicile, birth, marriage, divorce or separation) must be announced to the Swiss Mission through your Permanent Mission or international organization. If you are registered with our office, please inform us as well.
Terms
You must have a personal e-démarches account to be able to file your application online.
Attachments
- OI form duly completed, dated and signed - only if the request is made by postal mail
- copy of an identity document
- copy of the lease for tenants or written confirmation from the landlord in accordance with the AL form along with a copy of the landlord's I.D. and a copy of the main lease
- copy of the FDFA legitimation card
For divorced or unmarried parents arriving with child(ren):
- proof of parental authority or power of attorney of the absent parent authorizing the child's domicile in Geneva or form EM
Price
The arrival announcement is free.
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
Arrival Announcement for Legitimation Card Holder
If you wish to announce your residence in the canton, you can do so online or by postal mail.
For whom
Foreigners who take up residence in Geneva while previously residing in another canton are required to announce their arrival.
If you are a Swiss national, the announcement procedure is as follows: Announcement of arrival in Geneva for Swiss nationals.
When
EU/EFTA nationals must announce themselves no sooner than 30 days before arrival and no later than 14 days after arrival.
Non-EU/EFTA nationals must apply for permission to change canton 3 months before the desired date of arrival.
Terms
Non-EU/EFTA C permit holders have the right to change cantons provided that there is no reason for revoking their authorization according to Article 63 of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals.
Non-EU/EFTA B permit holders have the right to change cantons if they are not unemployed and there is no reason for revoking their authorization within the meaning of Article 62 of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals
Departures fomalities must be carried out with the competent authorities of the canton of provenance.
Persons holding a valid residence permit in French will not be issued a new residence permit (unless the authorization is amended).
You must have a personal e-démarches account to be able to file your application online.
Attachments
EU/EFTA nationals
- Form M duly completed, dated and signed - only for postal mail applications
- Colour copy of a valid I.D.
- Copy of the residence permit issued by the canton of provenance
- Copy of the lease or, in case of sublease, attestation of the landlord established with the AL form (with copy of the main lease and copy of the landlord's I.D.)
Non-EU/EFTA nationals
- Form M duly completed, dated and signed - only for postal mail applications
- Colour copy of a valid passport
- 1 passport-sized photo with full names on the back
- Copy of the residence permit issued by the canton of provenance
- Copy of the lease or, in case of sublease, attestation of the landlord established with the AL form (with copy of the main lease and copy of the landlord's I.D.)
- Supporting documents for the financial resources
Additional documents if the application concerns the family
EU/EFTA nationals
- Form M duly completed, dated and signed for each family member - only for postal mail applications
- Copy of marriage certificate for spouses (with official translation)
- Copy of birth certificate for children (with official translation)
- EM form if children come with only one parent
- Supporting documents for the financial resources
Non-EU/EFTA nationals
- Form M duly completed, dated and signed for each family members- only for postal mail applications
- 1 passport-sized photo with full names on the back for each family members
- Copy of marriage certificate for spouses (with official translation)
- Copy of birth certificate for children (with official translation)
- EM form if children come with only one parent
Additional documents if the applicant is not gainfully employed
EU/EFTA nationals
- Attestation from the social services of the canton of provenance
- Supporting documents for the financial resources
Non-EU/EFTA nationals
- Attestation from the social services of the canton of provenance
- Cover letter
Price
For online applications, payment is made online as well.
For applications sent by post, payment is made by invoice.
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
Apply for a change of canton
Your request can be made online or by postal mail.
For whom
Those who have a leave of absence authorization for a C permit holder and wish to announce their return to the Canton of Geneva.
When
The announcement must be made once the persons have actually returned to Geneva and at the latest on the date of expiry of the leave of absence. Any request to return to Switzerland after the expiry date of the leave of absence will be considered as a new arrival from abroad.
Persons subject to a visa mus submit an application for a D visa to the competent Swiss representation at their place of residence abroad before their return.
Terms
You must have a personal e-démarches account to be able to file your application online.
Attachments
- Copy of a valid I.D.
- Original of the leave of absence (if still in your possession) or copy
- Form M duly completed and indicating the exact date of your return to Geneva - only for requests made by postal mail
- 1 passport-sized photo with full names on the back
- Copy of the lease or, in case of sublease, attestation of the landlord established with the AL form (with copy of the main lease and copy of the landlord's I.D.)
Price
For online applications, payment is made online as well.
For applications sent by post, payment is made by invoice.
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
Announce your return
Your application can be done either online or by postal mail.