Free guide · For newcomers
Practical guide to Geneva: settling in and living in Geneva
Paperwork, health insurance, housing, banking, transport, emergencies and French: everything you need to know to make your arrival in Geneva a success, all in one place.
Getting started
Your arrival in Geneva, step by step
Settling into a new city means handling paperwork, housing, health insurance, transport, banking and your phone all at once. This free practical guide from the Alliance Française de Genève brings together the essentials, with links to the canton’s official sources.
Start with your administrative situation, organise your health cover and housing, set up your daily life… then find your bearings in French.
- the key deadlines: 14 days, 3 months, 30 November;
- useful expressions and dialogues for everyday situations;
- official links at every step;
- a quiz on the French spoken in French-speaking Switzerland.
9 practical guides
Everything you need to know to live in Geneva
Choose the topic that matches your situation. Also discover the expressions to use in everyday life.
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Settling in Geneva
Prepare your arrival, your documents and your first steps.
Read the guide -
Administrative procedures
OCPM, permits, address, certificates and departure.
Read the guide -
Health insurance
LAMal, deductible, premiums, subsidies and changing insurer.
Read the guide -
Housing
Searching, application, lease, deposit and move-in inspection.
Read the guide -
Banking and phone
Account, TWINT, QR-bill, mobile and roaming.
Read the guide -
Transport
TPG, Léman Express, Mouettes, unireso and Léman Pass.
Read the guide -
Daily life
Groceries, waste, culture, Geneva festivals and meeting people.
Read the guide -
Emergencies and useful numbers
117, 118, 144, 112, Centrale Santé and support services.
Read the guide -
Learning French and integrating
Courses, practice, French in French-speaking Switzerland.
Read the guide
French in context · 9 themes
Useful expressions for everyday life
For each theme, find French expressions to use in everyday situations. They will help you communicate more easily in Geneva. You can also practise understanding the replies and keeping the conversation going in our French courses.
Choose a situation to discover example dialogues.
Situation 01
Settling in Geneva
Arrival and first bearings
When you arrive
You can say
« Bonjour, je viens d’arriver à Genève. Où puis-je obtenir des informations ? » (Hello, I’ve just arrived in Geneva. Where can I get information?)
Possible answer
« Bienvenue ! Vous pouvez consulter le site du canton de Genève. » (Welcome! You can check the website of the canton of Geneva.)
Asking for directions
You can say
« Excusez-moi, comment puis-je me rendre au centre-ville ? » (Excuse me, how can I get to the city centre?)
Possible answer
« Vous pouvez prendre le tram à l’arrêt juste en face. » (You can take the tram at the stop right opposite.)
Asking for help
You can say
« Je ne connais pas encore bien la ville. Pourriez-vous m’aider ? » (I don’t know the city well yet. Could you help me?)
Possible answer
« Bien sûr ! Que cherchez-vous exactement ? » (Of course! What exactly are you looking for?)
Situation 02
Administrative procedures
At the counter and at appointments
Making an appointment
You can say
« Bonjour, je voudrais prendre rendez-vous pour annoncer mon arrivée. » (Hello, I’d like to make an appointment to register my arrival.)
Possible answer
« Bien sûr. Avez-vous déjà rempli le formulaire ? » (Of course. Have you already filled in the form?)
Preparing your documents
You can say
« Quels documents dois-je apporter pour mon dossier ? » (Which documents do I need to bring for my file?)
Possible answer
« Vous trouverez la liste des pièces à fournir sur notre site. » (You’ll find the list of required documents on our website.)
Asking for clarification
You can say
« Je n’ai pas bien compris. Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? » (I didn’t quite understand. Could you repeat that, please?)
Possible answer
« Bien sûr. Je vais vous expliquer à nouveau. » (Of course. I’ll explain again.)
Situation 03
Health insurance
At the insurer or at the doctor’s
Comparing insurance
You can say
« Pouvez-vous m’expliquer la différence entre la prime et la franchise ? » (Can you explain the difference between the premium and the deductible?)
Possible answer
« La prime est payée régulièrement ; la franchise est la part des frais à votre charge. » (The premium is paid regularly; the deductible is the share of costs you pay yourself.)
Asking for a certificate
You can say
« J’aurais besoin d’une attestation d’assurance, s’il vous plaît. » (I’d need an insurance certificate, please.)
Possible answer
« Nous pouvons vous l’envoyer par courriel. » (We can send it to you by email.)
Describing a symptom
You can say
« Bonjour, j’ai mal à la gorge depuis deux jours. » (Hello, I’ve had a sore throat for two days.)
Possible answer
« Avez-vous aussi de la fièvre ? » (Do you also have a fever?)
Situation 04
Housing
Viewing, rent and contract
Arranging a viewing
You can say
« Bonjour, est-ce que cet appartement est toujours disponible ? » (Hello, is this flat still available?)
Possible answer
« Oui. Souhaitez-vous convenir d’une visite ? » (Yes. Would you like to arrange a viewing?)
Understanding the rent
You can say
« Est-ce que les charges sont comprises dans le loyer ? » (Are utilities included in the rent?)
Possible answer
« Non, les charges sont facturées séparément. » (No, utilities are billed separately.)
Preparing the application
You can say
« Quels justificatifs faut-il joindre au dossier de location ? » (Which supporting documents should I attach to the rental application?)
Possible answer
« Nous vous communiquerons la liste des documents demandés. » (We will send you the list of documents required.)
Situation 05
Banking and phone
On the phone, at the bank and in the shop
Opening an account
You can say
« Je souhaiterais ouvrir un compte bancaire. Quels documents faut-il ? » (I’d like to open a bank account. Which documents are needed?)
Possible answer
« Nous vous demanderons une pièce d’identité et les justificatifs nécessaires. » (We will ask for an ID document and the necessary supporting documents.)
Paying a bill
You can say
« Est-ce que je peux régler cette facture avec le code QR ? » (Can I pay this bill with the QR code?)
Possible answer
« Oui, vous pouvez scanner le code avec votre application bancaire. » (Yes, you can scan the code with your banking app.)
Choosing a plan
You can say
« Je cherche un abonnement mobile sans engagement. Quelles sont vos offres ? » (I’m looking for a mobile plan with no commitment. What do you offer?)
Possible answer
« Je peux vous présenter les différentes formules. » (I can show you the different options.)
Situation 06
Transport
Bus, tram and train
Finding the right route
You can say
« Excusez-moi, quel tram dois-je prendre pour aller à la gare Cornavin ? » (Excuse me, which tram should I take to get to Cornavin station?)
Possible answer
« Vous pouvez consulter le trajet sur l’application des TPG. » (You can check the route on the TPG app.)
Buying a ticket
You can say
« Où est-ce que je peux acheter un billet de transport ? » (Where can I buy a transport ticket?)
Possible answer
« Vous pouvez l’acheter à un distributeur ou dans l’application. » (You can buy it at a ticket machine or in the app.)
Checking the stop
You can say
« Est-ce que ce bus s’arrête près de l’hôpital ? » (Does this bus stop near the hospital?)
Possible answer
« Oui, mais il faut descendre à l’arrêt suivant. » (Yes, but you need to get off at the next stop.)
Situation 07
Daily life
In the shop and in the neighbourhood
Doing the shopping
You can say
« Bonjour, vous avez des produits sans lactose ? » (Hello, do you have any lactose-free products?)
Possible answer
« Oui, ils se trouvent au rayon des produits frais. » (Yes, they’re in the fresh produce section.)
Understanding a promotion
You can say
« Excusez-moi, ce produit est-il en action cette semaine ? » (Excuse me, is this product on offer this week?)
Possible answer
« Oui, il est en promotion jusqu’à samedi. » (Yes, it’s on promotion until Saturday.)
Sorting waste
You can say
« Où puis-je déposer le verre et le papier dans le quartier ? » (Where can I drop off glass and paper in the neighbourhood?)
Possible answer
« Il y a un point de collecte à quelques minutes d’ici. » (There’s a collection point a few minutes from here.)
Situation 08
Emergencies and useful numbers
Asking for help and explaining an emergency
Reporting an emergency
You can say
« J’ai besoin d’une ambulance. Une personne est inconsciente. » (I need an ambulance. A person is unconscious.)
Possible answer
« Quelle est l’adresse exacte où vous vous trouvez ? » (What is the exact address where you are?)
Giving your location
You can say
« Je suis au [numéro et rue], au deuxième étage. » (I’m at [number and street], on the second floor.)
Possible answer
« Merci. Quel est votre numéro de téléphone ? » (Thank you. What is your phone number?)
Saying you are lost
You can say
« Je suis perdu(e) et j’ai besoin d’aide. Pouvez-vous m’indiquer où aller ? » (I’m lost and I need help. Can you tell me where to go?)
Possible answer
« Bien sûr. Où souhaitez-vous vous rendre ? » (Of course. Where would you like to go?)
Situation 09
Learning French and integrating
Understanding, replying and getting to know people
Asking someone to repeat
You can say
« Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous parler un peu plus lentement ? » (Excuse me, could you speak a little more slowly?)
Possible answer
« Bien sûr, je vais parler plus doucement. » (Of course, I’ll speak more slowly.)
Checking your understanding
You can say
« Si j’ai bien compris, le rendez-vous est jeudi à 10 heures ? » (If I understood correctly, the appointment is on Thursday at 10 o’clock?)
Possible answer
« Oui, c’est exactement ça. » (Yes, exactly.)
Getting to know people
You can say
« Bonjour ! Je suis nouveau / nouvelle à Genève. Vous connaissez des activités dans le quartier ? » (Hello! I’m new in Geneva. Do you know of any activities in the neighbourhood?)
Possible answer
« Oui, il y a plusieurs associations et événements près d’ici. » (Yes, there are several associations and events near here.)
These dialogues are examples to help you practise; replies vary depending on people and situations. In a real emergency, contact the emergency services.
Want to go further? In class, practise the questions, answers and everyday exchanges with your teacher.
Discover our French coursesThe calendar
What to do and when?
The deadlines to remember when settling in Geneva.
| When? | What? | Who with? |
|---|---|---|
| Before arrival | Check your residence permit (non-EU/EFTA nationals: generally before entry) | Employer, OCPM |
| Within 14 days | Register your arrival and your address | OCPM |
| Within 3 months | Join a health insurer and submit the certificate | Health Insurance Service |
| As soon as possible | Open a bank account, get a mobile number, choose a transport pass | Bank, mobile operator, TPG |
| Before 30 November | Cancel your health insurance if you want to switch on 1 January | Your insurer |
| 14 days after moving | Report your new address within the canton | OCPM |
| 2 weeks before leaving | Report your departure from the canton, where required | OCPM |
General deadlines given by the canton of Geneva and the Confederation; always check your personal situation.
Your move
The 4 main steps
Your administrative situation
Identify the procedures that apply according to your nationality, work, studies and family.
Health and housing
Health insurance within 3 months and a rental application ready in advance.
Your daily life
Banking, phone, transport and emergency numbers.
Your bearings
Language, local habits, activities and meeting people.
Mini-quiz · French-speaking Switzerland
Do you know the French spoken in Geneva?
Septante, Natel, panosse… 10 questions, about 3 minutes.
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In Geneva, how do people usually say the number 70?
- Soixante-dix
- Septante
- Setante
Answer: Septante. In French-speaking Switzerland, “septante” is the usual word for 70.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: septante
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: septante
- 🇫🇷 France: soixante-dix
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: soixante-dix
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In Geneva, how do people usually say the number 90?
- Quatre-vingt-dix
- Nonante
- Neuvante
Answer: Nonante. In French-speaking Switzerland, “nonante” is the usual word for 90.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: nonante
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: nonante
- 🇫🇷 France: quatre-vingt-dix
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: quatre-vingt-dix
-
In Geneva, how do people usually say the number 80?
- Huitante
- Quatre-vingts
- Octante
Answer: Quatre-vingts. In Geneva, “quatre-vingts” is the usual form. “Huitante” exists in French-speaking Switzerland, but its use depends on the canton.
- 🇨🇭 Geneva: quatre-vingts
- 🇨🇭 Some cantons: huitante
- 🇫🇷 France: quatre-vingts
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: quatre-vingts
-
In Switzerland, what is a “Natel”?
- A mobile phone
- A transport card
- A cash machine
Answer: A mobile phone. “Natel” is a very well-known word in Switzerland for a mobile phone; “portable” and “mobile” are also used.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: Natel, portable
- 🇫🇷 France: portable
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: GSM
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: cellulaire
-
In a Swiss shop, what does “en action” usually mean?
- On promotion
- Unavailable
- Reserved
Answer: On promotion. In Switzerland, an “action” very often means a temporary sales promotion.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: en action
- 🇫🇷 France: en promotion
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: en promotion
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: en spécial
-
What does “parquer la voiture” mean in French-speaking Switzerland?
- To repair the car
- To park the car
- To rent a car
Answer: To park the car. In French-speaking Switzerland, “parquer” is commonly used to mean park.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: parquer
- 🇫🇷 France: garer
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: parquer, stationner
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: stationner
-
Traditionally in French-speaking Switzerland, which meal is “le souper”?
- Breakfast
- The midday meal
- The evening meal
Answer: The evening meal. In traditional Swiss-French usage, “souper” means the evening meal.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: déjeuner, dîner, souper
- 🇫🇷 France: petit-déjeuner, déjeuner, dîner
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: déjeuner, dîner, souper
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: déjeuner, dîner, souper
-
In French-speaking Switzerland, what is a “panosse”?
- A floor cloth
- A saucepan
- A blanket
Answer: A floor cloth. “Panosse” is the usual word in French-speaking Switzerland for what is called a “serpillière” in France.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: panosse
- 🇫🇷 France: serpillière
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: loque
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: vadrouille
-
In Switzerland, what is a “fourre” for documents?
- A folder or sleeve
- An invoice
- A postal envelope
Answer: A folder or sleeve. In Switzerland, a “fourre” is a folder or sleeve for keeping documents.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: fourre
- 🇫🇷 France: pochette, chemise
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: farde
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: pochette
-
In French-speaking Switzerland, a “linge de bain” usually means…
- A bath towel
- A swimsuit
- A bar of soap
Answer: A bath towel. In French-speaking Switzerland, “linge” can mean a towel, notably in “linge de bain”.
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland: linge de bain
- 🇫🇷 France: serviette de bain
- 🇧🇪 Belgium: essuie
- 🇨🇦 Quebec: serviette
Usage varies by canton, region, generation and speaker.
Alliance Française de Genève
Learn French where you live
The Alliance Française de Genève, a member of the worldwide network of Alliances Françaises, helps newcomers become more independent: courses at all levels, online or in Geneva, cultural events and a welcoming French-speaking community.
Test my level for freeOfficial information
Official sources
Rules and procedures may change and depend on your situation. Always check the information published by the authorities before taking any step.
Frequently asked questions
Practical questions before settling in Geneva
What procedures do I need to complete when I arrive in Geneva?
First check your residence status, then register your arrival with the Cantonal Office of Population and Migration (OCPM): the canton states a general deadline of 14 days. Then organise your health insurance (within 3 months), housing, bank, phone and transport.
Which documents should I prepare before coming to Geneva?
A valid ID or passport, an employment contract or proof of enrolment, a lease or accommodation certificate, and civil-status documents if you are coming with family. The exact list depends on your situation.
How long do I have to take out health insurance?
For people subject to Swiss health insurance, cover must be effective within 3 months of taking up residence in Geneva. Special rules exist for certain international situations.
How do I find housing in Geneva?
Start early, prepare a complete file (ID, proof of income, extract from the debt enforcement register) and check the rent, utilities, deposit and lease before committing.
How do I get around Geneva without a car?
With TPG buses and trams, the Léman Express, the Mouettes genevoises on the lake, cycling and walking. Cross-border tickets exist for neighbouring France.
Do I need to speak French to live in Geneva?
French is the official language of the canton. It makes paperwork, appointments, work and social life easier. The Alliance Française de Genève offers courses at all levels and a free placement test.
Where can I find official information for newcomers?
On the website of the canton of Geneva (ge.ch), which publishes a guide for newly arrived people, and from the Bureau de l’intégration et de la citoyenneté.
Can the Alliance Française de Genève help me integrate?
Yes: French courses, cultural events and a community of members let you practise the language, understand local life and meet new people.
Last updated: October 2026 · Guide written by the Alliance Française de Genève
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