Settling in Geneva¶

The practical business of living here: getting a phone, receiving post, finding somewhere to live, insuring yourself, opening a bank account, and working out what things cost. Adapted from the GDD Guide to Geneva.

Verify time-sensitive information

Premiums, prices, deadlines, tax rates, and opening hours change. Figures below are dated where the source dated them. Check the linked official source, and ask UNIGE HR or the UNIGE Welcome Center before acting.

Emergencies¶

The one number to remember in Switzerland and across the European Union is 112. Describe your problem and the dispatcher will route you to the service you need. It is free, including from a foreign SIM card. It is the equivalent of 911 in the United States.

If you remember 112 you do not need the rest, but it is worth saving these in your phone:

Service	Number
Police	117
Fire	118
Ambulance / medical emergency	144
Non-emergency medical advice (24/7 telehealth)	1451
Poison control	145
Roadside assistance (TCS)	0800 140 140

Getting a Swiss phone number¶

Get one early. A Swiss number is required by housing agencies, by employers for two-factor authentication, and by most local services. A foreign number leads to high charges and missed calls, and banks will not accept one for account security.

Go to a provider's store or a kiosk — there are outlets at the airport and the train station. Bring your passport and your residence permit or visa.

Main providers: Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt — the most extensive coverage.
Low-cost brands: Digital Republic, Yallo, Wingo (e-SIM only).

Post and address registration¶

The Swiss system runs on physical mail. Your residency card, bank cards, tax statements, and bills all arrive by post, and permit correspondence in particular must be answered promptly.

Your name must be on the mailbox

Your name must be clearly displayed on the mailbox of your registered address. Landlords or building managers are responsible for doing this. If you are in a short-term rental (Airbnb, hostel), confirm with the host how mail is handled before you register the address anywhere.

The alternative is to be officially registered at the address using Form AL (attestation du logeur). In that case mail sent to you must include the line c/o <name of the person on the mailbox>.

For many administrative tasks you will need an attestation de résidence, which you order from the ge.ch website. There is a small fee. Request it in advance if you think you will need it — it is a common bottleneck for opening a bank account.

E-government portals¶

Geneva and Switzerland handle many procedures online. Knowing where to go saves trips to government offices.

www.ge.ch — the Canton of Geneva's official portal. Use it for OCPM (immigration) enquiries, requesting a debt certificate (attestation de non-poursuite) for housing, and all cantonal services. Create an e-démarches account: it is a secure digital identity used to sign and submit official applications online.
www.admin.ch — the Swiss federal portal. National law, federal tax information, and health guidance.
UNIGE Welcome Center — relocation support for eligible UNIGE affiliates. Sign up if you are eligible; they help with both insurance and housing.

Housing¶

Avoiding rental scams¶

Rental scams are common. The rules that protect you:

Never wire money for a deposit or rent before signing a formal lease and receiving the keys. This is the most common scam.
Be extremely cautious if a landlord claims to be abroad, can only communicate by email, or pressures you to pay quickly.
Always view the apartment in person, or arrange a live video tour with a representative. Be wary of listings using stolen or generic photos.
If a deal seems too good to be true — a beautiful apartment far below market rate — it almost always is.
Verify the listing. Where possible, check the landlord's name against the land registry (Registre Foncier), or ask for proof of ownership.

Where to search¶

Facebook groups — Geneva bouche à oreille, Geneva housing
Anibis.ch — individuals listing their own properties
Flatfox — mobile app for housing listings
glocals forum — forum postings
CAGI Housing Platform — fill in the form and receive emails matching your criteria
UNIGE Welcome Center — can provide listings
University housing — many students and fellows are eligible for discounted university-sponsored housing: individual apartments in buildings that house other university affiliates
Student housing — aglae.ch; also WhatsApp groups, mostly for student and short-term housing (ask members for an invitation)

Short-term stays: Airbnb; John Knox, where a colleague stayed for a few weeks inexpensively; Cité Universitaire. See also this list of low-cost accommodation (GDD SharePoint). Ask colleagues for suggestions on specific hosts or neighbourhoods.

The application dossier¶

Landlords typically require:

The last 3 salary slips.
A debt-free certificate (attestation de non-poursuites), requested from the canton.
A Swiss passport or valid residence permit.
Net salary covering 3× the rent. The salary slip has a line item for net salary — total salary minus social charges. Note that this is still a pre-tax figure.
Possibly a guarantor (garant) — a Swiss-based person who legally agrees to cover your rent if you cannot. This is common for students and people without Swiss employment history. If you have no personal contacts who can do this, ask your UNIGE supervisor or the Welcome Center; they may know of institutional solutions. Commercial guarantor services exist (Garantme, Cautionnement Hypothécaire) but charge a fee.

Deposits¶

The standard security deposit (caution or dépôt de garantie) in Geneva is three months' rent. By law it must be placed in a blocked bank account (compte séquestre) in your name — not handed to the landlord. You and the landlord sign the account opening documents together.

At the end of the lease the deposit is returned minus justified costs for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the landlord must provide a detailed invoice for any deductions. In a dispute, contact ASLOCA, the tenants' association.

An alternative is to pay a monthly fee to a "garantie de loyer / caution" company that guarantees your rental deposit to the landlord on your behalf. If you stay in the apartment for a long time, you may end up paying more than the amount that should have been deposited. However, the benefit of using such a company is that you don't have to put down a large lump sum deposit right when you arrive. Example companies include FirstCaution or GoCaution.

Things to know about the market¶

Housing in Geneva is strictly regulated by the Régie. Applying to a Régie is harder than getting a sublet.
Unfurnished apartments often mean you supply your own large appliances — washing machine, stove. It is common for outgoing tenants to sell theirs, so read the listing carefully. Sublets, including furnished sublets, are common; furnished ones cost more.

Room counts include the kitchen

Swiss apartments are listed by number of rooms, and in Geneva canton the kitchen counts as a room. A one-bedroom is a 3-room apartment (bedroom, kitchen, living room); a studio is a 2-room apartment. In Vaud canton a one-bedroom is a 2-room apartment. The same listing therefore means different things either side of the cantonal border.

You may be required to live in Geneva canton

If you are here on a permit, you may be required to live in Geneva canton and not be eligible to live in Vaud or in France. Verify this before signing anything.

Health insurance¶

90-day deadline

Basic health insurance is mandatory and you must obtain it within 3 months of arrival.

The UNIGE Welcome Center and the Canton of Geneva insurance service can help with enrolment.

Comparing plans:

Priminfo — the government-backed comparison tool for basic (LAMal) insurance. Impartial, ad-free, based on official data. Recommended for unbiased results.
Comparis — widely used, available in English, compares premiums, benefits, and satisfaction for basic and supplementary plans. Fast and user-friendly, but it is compensated by insurers, which may influence results.

Practical notes:

The most cost-effective plans tend to be either the highest or the lowest deductible (franchise); which of the two depends on your expected health spending.
A high deductible plus a managed-care model (HMO or family-doctor) reduces premiums significantly.
Compare every year in October/November — premiums change annually. Switch by the end of November for basic coverage effective 1 January.
Swisscare is often an easy, cheap choice for students. If you intend to stay in Switzerland beyond your programme, be aware that switching from student insurance to standard Swiss insurance can be troublesome.

Banking¶

Which bank¶

UBS and BCGE (Banque Cantonale de Genève) are the main options open to US citizens. UBS has an international presence but charges a monthly account fee; BCGE is the popular local cantonal bank. Both can generally hold Swiss francs and euros.

For UBS, US citizens must make an appointment to visit a branch in person — the main branch is at Rue de la Confédération 2. Bring your US passport, residence permit (or attestation that the permit is in process — the permit itself is strongly preferred), work contract, and US social security number.

Documents required to open an account¶

Valid passport — the original. A foreign driving licence or ID card is not sufficient.
Valid Swiss residence permit — the most critical document. The original Permit B, C, or L card. An attestation de permis en cours (proof that the permit is in process) may be accepted, but a final permit makes the process much smoother. EU/EFTA nationals may use a valid Legitimation Card or attestation de séjour from the OCPM.
Proof of address in Geneva canton, with your name on it. A signed rental contract (contrat de bail) is the best and most common proof. In a short-term rental or sublet, use the Form AL (attestation du logeur) you submitted to the OCPM. If your name is not yet on the mailbox or lease, you may need an attestation de résidence from the OCPM — request it in advance.
Proof of employment, enrolment, or income — for employees, your signed UNIGE work contract (a first salary slip also helps); for PhD students and scholars, your acceptance letter or scholarship confirmation stating amount and duration.
A Swiss phone number — required for account security. A foreign number will not be accepted.

Payment services¶

TWINT is the Swiss mobile payment system, accepted by many restaurants and shops and used for sending money to friends (like Venmo or PayPal). When opening an account, ask whether the bank creates a TWINT account for you and what the transfer limits are.
Revolut gives you separate balances per currency and can be opened quickly. UNIGE cannot pay salary into it, but it is a useful backup, and the exchange rates are much better than Swiss banks' when you cross into France.

Living costs and taxes¶

What things cost¶

Guideline figures for a single person, excluding rent. Actual costs vary considerably with lifestyle.

Item	Monthly
Moderate overall budget (excl. rent)	2,500–3,500 CHF
Health insurance	300–450 CHF (depends on model and deductible)
Public transport (TPG)	65 CHF Abonnement Général network pass; 50 CHF Mobilis city pass
Groceries	400–600 CHF
Phone, incidentals	varies

Income tax (impôt à la source)¶

As a foreign employee without a permanent (C) permit, your Swiss income tax is deducted at source by your employer. It comes out of your salary automatically and you typically do not file an annual return. At the end of the calendar year you receive a summary of the tax deducted by post, with the option to submit corrections.

The rate depends on your salary, marital status, and religion (for the church tax). You can estimate your net salary with the official Geneva salary calculator.

US citizens

You must still file US income taxes while resident in Switzerland. Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, so you would not be double-taxed — but you must still declare and file with the IRS. Consult a US tax professional experienced with foreign residents.

The Swiss pension system¶

Switzerland has a three-pillar system.

Pillar 1 (AVS/AHV) — the state pension. Contributions are split automatically between you and your employer.
Pillar 2 (LPP/BVG) — the occupational pension, mandatory for all UNIGE employees with annual salary above CHF 22,050. Both you and UNIGE contribute monthly. UNIGE's fund is CPEG (Caisse de prévoyance de l'État de Genève). Your personal contribution rate is set by your age; UNIGE contributes a larger matching amount. View your account through the CPEG member portal or my.swisslife.ch.
Pillar 3a — voluntary, tax-advantaged private savings. Contributions are tax-deductible up to a limit. Can be opened with most banks or insurers.

Pillar 2 capital belongs to you. It can be transferred between Swiss pension funds if you change jobs, or withdrawn under specific conditions — buying a primary residence in Switzerland, or leaving the country permanently.

Contribution rates below are 2024 figures

Rates for insured salary above the coordination deduction (CHF 25,725 in 2024). Confirm current rates with CPEG.

Age	Employee	UNIGE	Total
25–34	7%	14%	21%
35–44	10%	17%	27%
45–54	15%	22%	37%
55–65 (or retirement)	18%	25%	43%

The Pillar 3a annual deduction limit was CHF 7,056 in 2024 for those enrolled in Pillar 2.

Transport¶

Public transport¶

Depending on how much you travel, a pass from SBB (Swiss rail) or TPG (Geneva local transport) is worth having. For SBB, visit the website or the large office at Cornavin station, where staff will help you work out which pass suits your usage.

Many people hold an SBB demi-tarif (half-fare) card, which halves train fares nationwide and reduces Geneva bus fares from 3 CHF to 2 CHF.

Cycling¶

Facebook Marketplace is a good source of used bikes.
Watch out for tram rails — getting a wheel caught in one is genuinely dangerous.
Bike parking at Campus Biotech requires badge access. It is near Gare Sécheron, by the entrance to the ISG building.

Cars¶

Car sharing: Mobility is Switzerland's largest car-sharing service, with stations across Geneva near transport hubs and residential areas. Rent by the hour or day for errands, IKEA runs, or weekend trips. Sign up online with your driving licence and ID, then book through the app. Cost-effective if you only need a car occasionally.
Driving licences: foreign licences must be exchanged within 1 year of moving. The fee was 150 CHF — see the official Geneva guidance.

Learning French¶

La Maison des Langues offers language classes to UNIGE affiliates at a discount.
Ifage runs year-round classes at regular or accelerated pace, and can help you apply for the CAF training voucher (below).
DEFLE — intensive courses in French language and culture, recommended by a colleague for those at B2 aiming for C1. Unlikely to be feasible alongside a 100% appointment.
Praktika — a mobile app that builds a training plan and corrects grammar and non-idiomatic phrasing.
The city library maintains an article on where to learn French cheaply in Geneva.

The CAF training voucher¶

The CAF (chèque annuel de formation) is an annual training voucher worth 500–750 CHF, issued by the State of Geneva to fund professionally useful courses. It is popular for language courses. It is only issued for courses of at least 40 hours (54 periods of 45 minutes), from an approved list.

To apply:

Go to www.ge.ch.
Select Submit an online application to obtain an annual training check, then Select your training and complete the rest of the form.
Identify the course, its start date, and its CAF number.
Complete the application online.
Receive the voucher by email (if you applied through your e-démarches account) or by post.

If you are not a French speaker or not comfortable with the online process, go in person to the Cité des Métiers du Grand Genève, rue Prévost-Martin 6, 1205 Geneva.

Activities and meeting people¶

Clubs and associations¶

There is an association for everything, and they are the main way people meet each other here.

Club Alpin Suisse — hiking, climbing, alpinism, skiing
Mundolingo — language exchange
Sports associations — many, for team and group sports
Neighbourhood associations — meet people nearby, take part in local events and advocacy
Cultural societies — cultural events and seminars, often linked to an embassy
Meetup.com — social activities by interest
glocals — coordinates social activities for expats
GoSocial WhatsApp group — English-speaking expat group advertising social events; ask a member for an invitation

City of Geneva¶

Events for new residents
Sign up for a library card — many libraries have an English-language section

Music¶

Les Aubes (sunrise concerts at Bains des Pâquis in summer) · Fête de la Musique (a weekend of music around Plainpalais and the Vieille Ville in early summer) · Paléo Festival (large outdoor festival in Nyon) · Parc de la Grange, Scène Ella Fitzgerald (free concerts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in summer) · Montreux Jazz Festival (paid and free concerts) · Cully Jazz Festival · JazzOnze+

Eating and drinking¶

Les Caves Ouvertes — wineries open their doors for tastings on set days, by canton · Street Food Festival in summer, usually June, at Plainpalais since 2024 · Christmas Market from late November to 23 December, near Bains des Pâquis since 2023, with smaller markets around town including Carouge

Sport¶

Course de l'Escalade — the annual winter running event in Geneva
Queue d'Arve Centre Sportif — large complex for climbing (top rope and bouldering), cycling, tennis, squash, and bocce. Bring your own gear; nothing is rented. Swimming and ice skating next door.
Climbing gyms: Planet Climbing for bouldering (Petit-Lancy and Plan-les-Ouates); Grimper.ch for top rope, bouldering, and auto-belay (large complex in Satigny)

Shopping¶

Home goods and electronics¶

The large stores — IKEA, Conforama — are out towards Meyrin and Vernier. In the city: Interdiscount, Maxi Bazar (Plainpalais), Emmaüs (Carouge), Caritas (four second-hand shops in Geneva).

Second-hand¶

Buying second-hand is very common here.

Plainpalais flea market — on the plaza Thursdays and Saturdays; good for household items and clothing.
Many second-hand clothing shops in Plainpalais.
On the 1st and 15th of each month residents may put out large items such as furniture. Since leases end at month's end, walking the neighbourhood on the morning of the 1st is a good way to pick up free items left by people moving out.

Sport and online¶

Sporting goods: Decathlon and Ochsner Sport (multiple locations), Ekosport (Annemasse), Bächli (Lausanne).
Online: Galaxus (a large general platform, comparable to Amazon), Zalando (mainly clothing and accessories). Amazon works if needed — best from the French, Italian, German, or UK sites.

Markets and groceries¶

Farmers' markets: Plainpalais (Wed and Fri 8am–12pm, Sun 8am–5pm) · Carouge (Sat/Sun) · Grottes (Thu) · Ferney-Voltaire (Sat, a bit further, very good) · Vevey (Sat, further still, also very good)

Grocery stores: Coop, Migros, Lidl, Denner — roughly in descending order of price. Bring your own bag or you will have to buy one.

Opening hours

Grocery stores are closed on Sundays and after 7pm on other days, except at Cornavin station and Geneva airport. Tabacs, convenience stores, and specialty shops may open later. Plan around this — it catches out almost everyone in their first month.

Grocery shopping in France is possible by bus; Carrefour near the border is often cheaper than Swiss stores. Ask colleagues about specialty grocers around the city — Asian, Italian, organic, wine.