Residency in France or Switzerland
What are the legal requirements for a foreign national wishing to buy real estate in the Canton of Geneva?
A foreign national needs to be in possession of either a valid residency permit or valid work permit: permit C,B,G (secondary residence), L (student permit), or be able to justify a family resettlement to be able to move into the Canton of Geneva.
The following may also freely acquire real estate:
  • Foreigners who have the C permit as long as they are acting for themselves and the financing does not come primarily from foreign sources (more than 80%).
  • Citizens of the European Union if they already have a domicile in Switzerland.
  • Citizens of countries outside of the European Union who have a permit B, as long as the real estate being purchased will be their principal residence.
  • All foreign nationals, even those not having residency in Switzerland, as long as the real estate being purchased will be entirely dedicated to commercial activities.
    • Except for the cases described above, foreign nationals desiring to purchase real estate need to ask for the proper authorization.
    In Geneva, the officials who provide this authorization are located at the “Direction des affaires juridiques du Département de l’économie, de l’emploi et des affaires extérieures” : www.etat-ge.ch
    Which administrative procedures are necessary to move to France?
    If you are a resident of Geneva, go to the mayor of your future residence if you want to transfer your residency to France. After submitting the required administrative paperwork, you will be issued a receipt acknowledging an application for a resident’s permit valid for three months while waiting for the prefecture to issue you a residency permit which is valid for 5 years.
    Residents of Switzerland need to inform the authority responsible for residency in their canton of their intention to move to France.
    There is a 12 month grace period from the date of the transfer of residency during which all belongings need to be moved to the new residence.
    Additional information may be obtained by contacting the French customs authorities: www.finances.gouv.fr/douanes
    Your move to and integration into France can be prepared in advance by consulting the web site www.cityexpat.com. A wide variety of information is available there including lodging, sport, culture, schools, etc …
    Sources: www.frontalier.com and www.cityexpat.com