Residence permits in Geneva
In Geneva, residence permits are issued by the OCPM (Cantonal Office for Population and Migration) under federal rules: free movement for EU/EFTA nationals, admission limited to qualified people for third countries. Here are the 6 permits, each with the Geneva procedure.
5 years (EU/EFTA) · 1 year
B permit (residence permit)
The B permit is the residence permit for foreign nationals living in Switzerland long-term for a set purpose (work, study, family, living without work). For EU/EFTA nationals with a contract of at least one year it is valid for five years; for third-country nationals it is issued for one year and renewed.
Open-ended (card checked every 5 years)
C permit (settlement permit)
The C permit is the settlement permit: an open-ended, unconditional right of residence granted after five or ten years in Switzerland. It gives unrestricted access to the labour market. The SEM sets the date from which the canton can issue it.
Length of the contract (up to 12 months in total for EU/EFTA)
L permit (short-term permit)
The L permit is the short-term permit, as a rule for less than a year. EU/EFTA nationals are entitled to it with a contract of three months to one year; under three months per calendar year, an online notification is enough. For third-country nationals it is subject to quotas.
5 years (contract > 1 year
G permit (cross-border commuter)
The G permit is the cross-border commuter permit: the person lives abroad, works in Switzerland and returns to their main home at least once a week. For EU/EFTA nationals it is valid for five years with a contract of more than one year and covers the whole of Switzerland.
Length of the main holder's posting
Ci permit (families of international staff)
The Ci permit is the residence permit with work rights for spouses and children up to age 25 of officials of intergovernmental organisations and members of foreign representations. It is valid only for as long as the main holder's posting.
Provisional
S permit (people in need of protection)
The S permit is the provisional residence document for people in need of protection, issued since 2022 in particular to people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Starting, ending or changing paid work must be notified, and any change of address within eight days.