Hmmm, after consulting the websites of the SAN (Service d'automobiles et de navigation) of the cantons of Geneva and Vaud it seems you can only get an international driving license with a Swiss permit, but this site seems to say that you can get one from the canton where you live.

Usually in EU countries you don't need an international driving licence if yours is written in a roman language. On the TCS travel site you can check for every country you're visiting (only in French/German/Italian).

Thanks eva77m, do you know if there's website for driving licence in Switzerland like dmv.gov in US?

not that i know of. every canton has a service d'automobiles, that's where you get your permit, exchange it, change your address etc. for geneva it's http://www.ge.ch/san/

if you google "driving license switzerland" you'll come across a few websites with useful info in english.

I checked on that site using google toolbar was able translate. it says:

Are you certain that they will accept CDL (swiss permit) instead of Swiss licence to issue IDP?