Relocation for international organisations in Geneva

How relocation for international organisation staff differs from a standard work permit

Switzerland is host to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Labour Organization and dozens of other bodies, alongside permanent missions and a dense network of NGOs. Staff, experts and diplomats posted to these organisations are accredited by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) through its Protocol in Geneva, rather than going through the cantonal migration office that handles ordinary work permits.

This accreditation gives eligible staff and their recognised family members a legitimation card (often called a Carte de légitimation or 'Carte B'), which serves as both residence document and, in most cases, work authorisation for accompanying spouses under the relevant agreements. Because the process sits outside the standard permit quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals, it can move faster, but the organisation's human resources or protocol department, together with the FDFA, controls key steps that a private employer would not.

Who is eligible for a legitimation card

Legitimation cards are issued to staff formally employed by an eligible international organisation, to accredited diplomatic and consular staff of permanent missions, and in defined circumstances to their spouse, registered partner and dependent children. The exact category and card type depend on the employing organisation, the staff member's grade and the applicable headquarters agreement, which is why the first practical step is always to confirm status directly with the organisation's HR or protocol office.

Short-term consultants, interns and locally recruited staff are not always eligible for the same card type, and some fall back into the ordinary Swiss permit system instead. Getting this classification right at the outset avoids delays later, since a change of status after arrival is more complex than confirming it before the move.

Family members, spousal employment and dependants

One of the most common questions from arriving staff concerns whether an accompanying spouse or partner can take up employment in Switzerland. For many organisations, the FDFA has agreed reciprocal arrangements that allow a legitimation card holder's spouse to work under a simplified authorisation, but the conditions and the paperwork vary by organisation and by canton of residence, and are not automatic in every case.

Dependent children are generally included on a family member's card and can attend Swiss public school, an international school or a bilingual programme; school registration in Geneva, Vaud or another canton runs through the ordinary cantonal process regardless of legitimation status. Partners who are not married or in a registered partnership should check eligibility carefully, since recognition differs across organisations.

• •Confirm with HR whether your card category permits spousal employment before assuming it does
• •Register dependent children with the cantonal school authority as early as possible
• •Keep proof of civil status (marriage or partnership certificate) ready and, where required, apostilled or legalised
• •Ask about health insurance rules specific to your organisation, since some negotiate their own scheme separate from the standard Swiss LAMal system

Housing and settling in around Geneva's international district

Most intergovernmental organisations, permanent missions and their NGOs cluster around Geneva and the surrounding communes, with a smaller but growing presence in Zurich and Basel for specific bodies. Housing near the international district is in high demand, so staff typically weigh proximity to the office against commuting time, school catchment and budget across communes in canton Geneva and neighbouring canton Vaud.

Diplomatic and legitimation-card status does not remove the practical steps of an international move: opening a Swiss bank account, registering your address with the commune, arranging health cover and finding a home. Coordinating these steps alongside the accreditation process, rather than sequentially, is what tends to shorten the overall settling-in period.

Practical support for a smooth arrival

Our team works alongside your organisation's HR or protocol office rather than in place of it: we do not issue legitimation cards or accreditation decisions, which remain the responsibility of the FDFA and your employer. What we do is manage everything around that process so you can focus on starting your role.

This includes home finding in the communes near your workplace, orientation on schooling options, help opening the accounts and services you need in the first weeks, and guidance on the practical questions that come up once you and your family have arrived.