Staying in Switzerland: Residence permits and health insurance.

The requirements for granting a student visa/permit are different for EU/EFTA nationals and third-country nationals.

If you come from an EU/EFTA country, you don’t need a visa to come to Switzerland.

As soon as you arrive in Geneva, you must take the necessary steps with the cantonal authorities.

If you are from a non-EU/EFTA country, please contact the Swiss representation in your place of residence.

You will need to enclose a number of documents with your application, which may vary from country to country. We advise you to consult the website of the Swiss representation in your place of residence for details of the procedure.

Don’t forget to take the necessary steps well in advance. The response time varies between 12 and 16 weeks. You must wait for the Swiss authorities to reply to your visa application in your country.

How do you go about it?

First, you must register for a 20-hour course (20 periods of 45 minutes) per week. Our Intensive French course meets this requirement.

At the time of enrolment, you must pay the enrolment fee of CHF 100 and the first month’s tuition. The certificate of enrolment and study plan required for your visa application will be sent to you once we have received your payment.

Once your file has been compiled, you are ready to submit your application to the Swiss consulate in your country of residence.

Our team will do everything it can to help you put together your file.

What do I do once I’ve obtained a residence permit and arrived in Switzerland?

You must take out health and accident insurance. It’s very important to do so, because the cost of healthcare in Switzerland is very high. As a student, you’ll benefit from lower prices. You can also apply for exemption from compulsory health insurance if you have international coverage equivalent to that required for treatment in Switzerland.

A list of student insurances is available from our secretary’s office.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Geneva isn’t always easy. Look for one well in advance.

The school does not provide accommodation for its students, but you can consult the following link:
https://www.geneve.ch/public/jeunes/trouver-logement