Living in Geneva: Registering with the OCPM Districts, Life by the Lake
Newcomer's Guide to Geneva
Geneva: International City Where the Rhône Leaves the Lake
for newcomers
Geneva lies at the south-western tip of French-speaking Switzerland (Romandie), where the Rhône leaves Lake Geneva. With 211,152 inhabitants on 1 January 2026, Geneva is the second-largest city in Switzerland after Zurich and the most densely populated municipality in the country; 50.6 per cent of its inhabitants do not hold a Swiss passport. Apart from New York, Geneva hosts the most international organisations, including the UN, WHO, ICRC, WTO and CERN, as well as missions of 175 states. The official language is French.
For newcomers, the formalities come first: according to the canton, you register your residence with the OCPM within 14 days, and compulsory health insurance under LAMal applies from the date you take up residence. Besides the organisations, work is offered by watchmakers such as Rolex, which has its headquarters here, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, as well as private banks and multinational companies. You declare household goods from Germany to customs with form 18.44. We do not quote specific rents because we have no reliable current source. We handle the transport as a home removal from Berlin.
Request a Fixed Price for Your Move to Geneva
One Contact from Berlin to Geneva
Call us on 01625978461 if you are moving to Geneva. After a survey we quote a fixed price for the route of around 1,116 km; your belongings are covered under the HGB, and additional insurance is available for valuables. The route is described on the page Moving Berlin – Geneva.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
Who Does What When Moving to Geneva
Clear tasks before moving day
We have no branch in Geneva: the lorry sets off from Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and drives around 1,116 km via the A9, A4 and A5 and, from Basel, via the A2 and A1. Beforehand we ask about the floor, lift and access – whether in Champel, Pâquis or Eaux-Vives. Where the lorry may stop outside the new address, we clarify in advance according to the rules of the City of Geneva. We give you the fixed price after the survey; liability is under § 451e HGB (€620 per m³). You register with the OCPM yourself – according to the canton within 14 days of arrival. Read more about crossing the border on the page on the international move.
Packing Service
Furniture assembly
Storage
Access sorted
Arriving in Geneva: What Comes First
The removal van is empty – now the arriving begins. Newcomers in Geneva should take care of these six points in the first few weeks; we handle transport, assembly and access, while the trips to the authorities are up to you.
Important for families: according to the canton, schooling is compulsory in the canton of Geneva from age 4 to 15, after which young people must complete education or training until 18. So register your children early.
OCPM within 14 days
Take out health insurance
Choosing a neighbourhood
Tram, bus, Léman Express
Book bulky waste collection
Deregister in Germany
Shared Load to Geneva
Anyone coming to Geneva to study or for a first job with an organisation often brings only a few pieces of furniture. With a shared load, your belongings use free load space on a trip heading towards Geneva. We agree collection in Berlin and delivery in advance; this trip, too, is covered under the HGB.
Geneva
for Newcomers
Anyone moving to Geneva has quite a bit to do in the first few weeks: registering with the OCPM within 14 days, health insurance under LAMal, notifying the tax administration and – for work lasting more than three months – the residence permit. Then there are the customs papers for household goods, choosing a district and, with children, school: in the canton, schooling is compulsory from age 4 to 15. This guide brings together what newcomers should know – from the first week to everyday life with tram, bus and boat – so that your start by the lake goes smoothly.
Paperwork and deadlines
Flat and neighbourhood
Organising everyday life
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Geneva
The Eight Districts of the City of Geneva – and the Neighbouring Municipalities
Since 2013 the City of Geneva has been divided into eight districts: Acacias Bâtie, Champel, Eaux-Vives Cité, Grottes Saint-Gervais, Pâquis Sécheron, Plainpalais Jonction, Saint-Jean Charmilles and Servette Petit-Saconnex. According to the city, Champel on the left bank is green and quiet, with blocks of flats and villas; the Pâquis on the right bank of the lake are densely built and cosmopolitan, and international organisations are based in the Nations area.
Places such as Carouge, Lancy, Onex, Vernier, Meyrin or Le Grand-Saconnex are not city districts but separate municipalities in the canton of Geneva – this makes a difference for registration and for municipal services such as bulky waste collection.
Working and Studying in Geneva
According to Wikipedia, more than 28,000 people work directly for the roughly 30 international organisations and 172 accredited missions in Geneva, including the UN, WHO, ICRC, WTO and CERN. Geneva is also one of the world's most important watchmaking cities: Rolex has its headquarters here, and Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin are also based here. Multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble have their European headquarters in Geneva, plus the financial centre with its private banks.
The University of Geneva goes back to Calvin's academy, founded in 1559; in 2008 the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) was established. The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland is represented by several schools. Since December 2019 the CEVA line of the Léman Express has linked the Swiss and French rail networks, for example to Annemasse.
What the move costs
Our price structure is clearly laid out: 1 room from €339, 2 rooms from €594, 3 rooms from €894 and 4 rooms from €1,279. For larger properties such as houses and villas, the calculation is made individually according to effort. We also offer long-distance moves from just €4.25 per kilometre. For an exact price, we recommend a free survey on site.
How the Price for Geneva Is Calculated
Volume, distance (from €4.25/km), floor as well as lift and parking restriction zone – all of this goes into our individual quote. You can also add furniture assembly or a shared load.
What we take on during the move
We think your move through from start to finish – here are our services in detail.
- Furniture transport · Safe transport of single pieces of furniture.
- Home move · For your private change of home – stress-free and reliable.
- Clearance · Professional clearing with a disposal service.
- Part load · Transport cheaply thanks to shared cargo space.
- Move with assembly · All-round carefree package with assembly service.
- Company move · So your business is back at work quickly.
From Berlin to Geneva
We come from Berlin-Moabit; Geneva is around 1,116 km away, and the lorry takes about 17 hours including breaks, so we plan two drivers or an overnight stop. The return trip to Berlin is also possible.
Registration in Geneva: OCPM, 14-Day Deadline and Health Insurance
Anyone wishing to settle in the canton of Geneva registers their residence, according to the canton of Geneva, with the Office cantonal de la population et des migrations (OCPM). According to the information on ge.ch, the deadline is 14 days after arrival. There is a separate residence permit form for EU and EFTA nationals. Since 1 January 2021, British nationals are no longer treated as EU/EFTA citizens but as third-country nationals.
Key points according to the canton of Geneva:
- Health insurance: from the date you take up residence in Switzerland, health insurance under LAMal is compulsory.
- Taxes: the change of residence must also be reported to the tax administration.
- Work: EU/EFTA nationals who work in Geneva for more than three months per year need a residence permit with gainful employment. For assignments of up to three months per calendar year no permit is required, but an online notification to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is mandatory.
Which documents and fees each form requires is not stated on the overview page. Check these details directly with the OCPM before planning your appointment. The canton's pages are in French (as of October 2026).
For the transport across the border, you can find the procedures in our moving guide for Geneva and on the page on the international move.
Geneva's Districts and Everyday Life: Eaux-Vives, Champel and Pâquis
According to its website, the City of Geneva is divided into eight districts: Acacias Bâtie, Champel, Eaux-Vives Cité, Grottes Saint-Gervais, Pâquis Sécheron, Plainpalais Jonction, Saint-Jean Charmilles and Servette Petit-Saconnex.
- Champel lies on the left bank of the Rhône and is regarded as a green, quiet residential district of large blocks of flats and villas. The Léman Express stop „Champel-Hôpital“ connects the district.
- Pâquis Sécheron lies on the right bank of the lake and is described as dynamic and cosmopolitan. The Pâquis are the densest part, with many restaurants, and international organisations are based in the Nations area.
- Eaux-Vives Cité is described as central, on the lakeside and lively.
Handy for moving day: the City of Geneva collects bulky waste free of charge for city residents. Seven medium-sized items are taken per appointment. You can book online or on 0800 22 42 22 (Mon to Fri, 7 am to 12 noon). Put the items out no earlier than 8 pm the evening before and no later than 6.30 am on the collection day. Complete flat clearances and electrical appliances are excluded.
According to the canton of Geneva, as a tenant you also need liability insurance. Schooling is compulsory for children from age 4 to 15, and young people aged 16 to 18 must complete education or training. The Bureau de l'intégration et de la citoyenneté (BIC) advises newcomers on request by phone or in person. Read more about the districts in the Geneva guide.
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