hi Nadia

I don't know about living in Berlin, but about "cheating the system"" here: first of all it depends on what permit you have. With a B permit, you can leave Switzerland for up to 6 months without the need to declare it. With a C permit, you can leave Switzerland for up to 2 years and keep your permit provided that 1) you declare it 2) you give proof of your intention to come back, e.g. you keep your apartment here.

The permit is usually linked to your job, therefore as soon as you leave your job, the OCP is automatically notified, therefore there is no "cheating" option.

Thanks for your reply Federica.

I'm actually a Swiss national, so I do not have a permit problem in Switzerland 

And I don't really mean super cheating the system. Actually, it's about having one foot here and one foot there. I do not want to leave Gva officially as I want to keep my freelance job, I was thinking of staying in Berlin and coming back to CH about once every two/three weeks for a few days, whereas my children will stay permanently in Berlin (they are old enough to stay there alone, one of them will be of age soon).

I don't know about registration, jobs, housing, etc...

ooooh sorry!!! I completely took for granted you were an expat :)

I am sure someone else will be able to help you out soon.

Hi Nadia,

I am a Berliner and just moved to Geneva in Jan. So if you ask more specifically, I´m sure I can help you.

As a Berlin aborigine, I wouldn´t know about the international community there, though. But maybe give you some tipps nevertheless :-)

Cost of living: A LOT LESS than here!

Connie