Citizen Guides: US, UK, Australia & Canada in Switzerland & France

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Citizen Guides: US, UK, Australia & Canada in Switzerland & France

All foreign Embassies exist to represent their nation to their host country nationals, providing information and services on trade, tourism and culture in the home state. 

All Embassies have a Consular Section which exists to provide information and services to its own nationals visiting or living in the host country. 

Most country consulates in Switzerland and France request that citizens report their arrival so that their names can be added to a citizens' register.

Citizens Guides for French Residents

Many embassies organise events for their expatriate nationals to integrate and network.

• Relevant information for expatriates living in the Swiss border zones of France see: Citizens Guides for French Residents

International Geneva Welcome Centre

The International Geneva Welcome Centre (IGWC) provides practical assistance and advice to members of the following:

• International Organisations
• Non-Governmental Organisations
• Consulates
• Permanent Missions

The Centre organises social and cultural activities between the international and local communities. It also provides advice on various issues relevant to foreigners in Geneva including: schooling, housing and real estate, employment, residence permits, health and insurance, sport, leisure and tourism, vehicles, driving and religion.

• Geneva Welcome Centre (IGWC) 
  At: Villa La Pastorale, 106, route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva
  Tel: +41 (0)22 918 02 70
  Open: Monday to Thursday 10:00-12:30 and 16:00-17:30. Fridays 10:00-12:30
  Website 

US Citizens

The Embassy of the United States of America  has a website with up-to-date information for American citizens living in Switzerland and can provide information on doing business in Switzerland

• United States of America
  At: Jubilaumstrasse 95, 3005 Berne
  Routine calls: +41 (0)31 327 72 34
  Emergencies: +41 (0)31 327 70 11
  Fax: +41 (0)31 357 72 80
  e-mail
  Counter service: Monday to Friday 09:00-11:30
  Website

The US citizen's service - Consular agency - can provide detailed information on the following: information on passport details and the registration of intended residence; registration of births, marriages and deaths; judicial assistance information, information for travellers and more.

• Consular Agency Geneva
  At: 7, rue Versonnex, 1207 Geneva
  Mailing Address: c/o U.S. Mission, 11 rte. de Pregny, 1292 Chambésy
  Tel: +41 (0)22 840 51 60
  Fax: +41 (0)22 840 51 62
  e-mail 
  Open: Monday to Friday 10:00-13:00

The Swiss Embassy in the United States is a rich resource of relevant information for Americans planning a visit to Switzerland. It also gives information on legal matters, getting married in Switzerland and more.

• Embassy of Switzerland in the United States
  Website

Geneva is the world headquarters of the American Citizens Abroad (ACA) group which provides advice to US citizens during their time overseas.

• American Citizens Abroad 
  At: 5bis, rue Liotard, 1202 Genève
  Tel: +41 (0)22 340 02 33
  Fax: +41 (0)22 340 02 33
  e-mail
  Website

Voting in US Elections 

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) has complete information and online registration and absentee ballot request forms for the Federal Post Card Application (OFPCA). They provide a toll free number for citizens outside of the US to call for information.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Voting in the US Presidential Elections
• Toll Free number to call from within France: 08 00 91 73 04 
• Toll Free number to call from within Switzerland: 08 00 89 56 23

UK Citizens

The British embassy in Berne is responsible for services such as advising British travellers to issuing visas, and promoting trade and investment opportunities.

• Bristish Embassy
  At: Thunstrasse 50, 3005 Berne
  Tel: +41 (0)31 359 77 00
  Fax: +41 (0)31 359 77 65
  Emergencies: +41 (0)79 607 25 70
  Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-12:30 and 13:30-17:00
  Website

British citizens in Geneva can receive consular services - passports, visas and advice - from the Consular office in Geneva.

• British Consulate General
  At: Avenue Louis Casai 58, 1216 Cointrin in Geneva
  Tel: +41 (0)22 918 24 00
  Fax: +41 (0)22 918 23 22
  Emergencies: +41 (0)79 476 66 51 / +41 (0)79 476 66 54
  Open: Visas and passports Monday to Friday 08:30 to 11:30

The UK government provides information online for Britons considering moving abroad and for those already there. It includes tax, health and education advice as well as a section on what to do when returning to the UK. 

• Direct.gov.

Australian Citizens

It is estimated that almost 5,000 Australians live in Switzerland. The Australian government provides information online for those living overseas (Australians Travelling) and for those returning to the country after time away (Returning to Australia).

The Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate General is based in Geneva. 

The Consulate General can provide the following assistance and advice: registration of Australian citizens in Switzerland, registration of births, legal processes, visa and immigration, voting overseas, marriage in Switzerland and consular and visa services on behalf of Papua New Guinea.

• Australian Permanent Mission and Consulate General
  At: 2, Chemin des Fins 2, Case Postale 172, 1211 Geneva 19
  Tel: +41 (0)22 799 91 00
  Website
  Open: Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 and 09:00-12:00 for passports.

The Southern Cross Group is a global organisation that exists to "Promote mobility in the Global Community", and communicate with expatriated Australians throughout the world. Their work includes lobbying for changes in laws that improve or simplify the life of Australians abroad. The website has detailed information on the legal and practical aspects of: citizenship, voting, visas, health insurance, taxation and more.

• The Southern Cross Group
• The Southern Cross Group in Switzerland

Citizens Guides for French Residents

Below is useful information and contacts for nationals of the United Sates of America, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

US Citizens

The Embassy of the United States, Paris France has a website with up-to-date news on matters of relevance to Americans living in France.

The US Citizens Service is the consular section which provides detailed information on all legal matters including: 

• information on passports and the registration of intended residence
• registration of births, marriages, deaths
• employment issues for the employer and employee
• housing, vehicle buying, selling and registering
• the voting process when out of the country

The US Consulate-General in Paris has jurisdiction over the Ain (01) and Haute-Savoie (74) regions. There is an American Presence Post in Lyon which is able to provide limited consular services.

• US Consular Services, Paris
  At: 2, rue Saint-Florentin, 75001 Paris
  Tel: +33 (0)1 43 12 22 22
  e-mail
  Open: 09:00-12:30, 13:00-15:00
• American Embassy
  At: 2 avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
  Tel: +33 (0)1 43 12 22 22
  Fax: +33 (0)1 42 66 97 83
• Lyon (American Presence Post)
  At: 1 quai Jules Courmont, 69002 Lyon
  Tel: +33 (0)4 78 38 33 03 
  Fax: +33 (0)4 72 41 71 81 
  e-mail
  Website

The Embassy of France in the United States is a rich resource of relevant information for Americans planning a visit or move to France. It includes information and guidelines on living, working and driving in France, the metric system, marriage in France and more: 

• Embassy of France in the United States

US citizens living overseas in France are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in the General Presidential Elections. 

• See INFOrmation page: Voting in the US Presidential Elections

UK Citizens

The British Embassy of France has up-to-date news on matters relating to French-British relations, as well as issues of politics, health and safety and immigration. The website of the British Embassy and British Consulate has a "Living in France" section with articles catering specifically to UK residents in France.

• The British Embassy in France

Consular information for Britons is available from the Embassy in Paris. 

• The British Embassy 
  At: 35 rue du Faubourg St Honoré, 75383 Paris Cedex 08
  Tel: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00
  Fax: +33 (0)1 44 51 41 27
  Open: 09:30 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:00
  Out-of-hours Emergency Service: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00
  Consular website

Britons living in Ain (01) and Haute-Savoie (74) fall under the Lyon Consular district.

• British Consulate-General Lyon
  At: 24 rue Childebert, 69002 Lyon
  Tel: +33 (0)4 72 77 81 70
  Fax: +33 (0)4 72 77 81 79
  Open: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:30
  Out-of-hours Emergency Service: +33 (0)4 72 77 81 78
  Website

Australian Citizens

The Australian Embassy in Paris is home to the Consular section for Australians living in or visiting France. 

• Australian Embassy in France
  At: 4, rue Jean Rey, 75724 Paris Cedex 15 
  Tel: +33 (0)1 40 59 33 00
  Fax:+33 (0)1 40 59 33 10 
  Open: Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00 
  e-mail
  Website
  Australian Consular Services

The Southern Cross Group is a global organisation that exists to "Promote mobility in the Global Community", and communicates with expatriated Australians throughout the world. Their work includes lobbying for changes in laws that improve or simplify the life of Australians abroad. The website has detailed information on the legal and practical aspects of: citizenship, voting, visas, health insurance, taxation and more.

• The Southern Cross Group
• The Southern Cross group in France 

Canadian Citizens

The Canadian Embassy in France website has some very useful information for Canadian citizens planning a move to, or living in France. The information includes notes, checklists and tips on all aspects of the move: planning the departure, the time spent in the country and the return. It also gives access to tax information and instructions on tax returns, at the appropriate time of year.

• Canadian Embassy Consular Services 
  At: 35 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris 
  Tel: +33 (0)1 44 43 29 02
  Fax: +33 (0)1 44 43 29 86
  Open: Monday to Friday 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:30
  Canadian Embassy in France (Consular services)