Stay in Switzerland

Discover more about your stay in Switzerland from the beginning to the end of your duties.

International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI)

The International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI) (Centre d'Accueil de la Genève Internationale) was launched in 1996 to guide, inform, and help integrate the community of international civil servants, and members of diplomatic missions, consulates, and non governmental organizations (including families), working in the Geneva region.

The CAGI is a private non-profit organisation, and recognised as being of public utility. It represents a partnership between the Swiss Confederation and the Canton of Geneva, cofounders, as well as between the public and private sectors.

The mission of the Centre is threefold:
Le CAGI est une association de droit privé à but non lucratif reconnue d'utilité publique et soutenue par la Confédération suisse et l'État de Genève, co-fondateurs, ainsi que par des entités nationales et locales, publiques et privées.

La mission du CAGI s'articule en trois volets :

  • Offering practical assistance to newcomers - particularly with housing, schooling, and other issues - and answering the various questions internationals have throughout their stay in Geneva.
  • Instructing, in collaboration with the appropriate authorities, the requests of international NGOs, wishing to set up an office in Geneva.
  • Launching or supporting projects with a view to promote cultural and social exchanges between “International Geneva” and the local communities.

The CAGI has developed a number of top-quality services, and established itself as a much appreciated interlocutor for both international organisations and their staff and the private-sector organisations in Geneva it works with. In this way the International Geneva Welcome Centre makes a major contribution to raising Geneva's attractiveness as a hub of international co-operation.

Read more about CAGI

Specialist Contact

International Geneva Welcome Centre (CAGI)
Villa “La Pastorale”
Route de Ferney 106,
P.O. Box 103
CH - 1211 Geneva 20
Tel. +41 (0)22 546 14 00
Fax +41 (0)22 546 14 19

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday:
09:00 - 05:00 p.m. (without a break)

Staying in Switzerland at the end of functions

Staying in Switzerland of the staff members of permanent missions and international organisations, as well for the family members after withdrawal of the FDFA legitimation card of type “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”, “G”, “I”, “L”, “P” or “R”

Nationals of a member States of the European Union (EU) or of member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are also subject to the provisions of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP, not available in English).

According to current practice, the Population Office of the canton of residence may agree to grant a residence permit (B permit) or a permanent residence permit (C permit) without gainful employment to former holders of FDFA legitimation cards who meet the conditions defined, or, depending on the nationality of the applicant, issue a favorable notice to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) that will take the decision.

The conditions to be met are explained in the Instructions of the SEM, Immigration sector, chapter 7, which are applicable and which must be referred to:

  • Retirement of the principal beneficiary (sub-chapter 7.2.5).
  • Independent status for the spouse and children (sub-chapter 7.2.6).
  • Death, divorce or permanent transfer of the principal beneficiary (sub-chapter 7.2.7).

Granting of a C permit is also subject to integration criteria and language requirements in application of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA, Article 58a, Paragraph 1) and the Ordinance on the admission, residence and exercise of a gainful activity (OASA, Article 62, Paragraph 1b, not available in English). The person must prove that they have oral knowledge of the Swiss national language spoken in the place of residence (level B1) and written skills (level A1).

The persons concerned are invited to submit an application for a permit in advance to the Population Office of their canton of residence. The examination of the requests, on the basis of a complete file, by the Swiss authorities requires a certain period of time.

The Instruction of the SEM are available in the official Swiss languages (French, German and Italian).

Specialist Contact

Permanent Mission of Switzerland to UNOG  
Good Offices and Security Section
Rue de Varembé 9-11, P.O. Box 194
CH - 1211 Geneva 20
Tel. +41 (0)58 482 24 24

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