I think this is what you're looking for:

http://ge.ch/vehicules/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-deleve/echange-dun-permis-de-conduire-etranger

You just go to your local Office de Circulation with proof of communal residency, and most importantly, with your 90 CHF, and they will give you a brand new Swiss licence right on the spot  (unless it's different in your canton) 

Dont forget to take an ID Picture for the driver's licence.

If you come from a EU country, you will need:

- The form Formule d'échange d'un permis de conduire étranger

- Original of your driver's licence

- View/Eye test from a certified opticien (opticien agréé) http://ge.ch/vehicules/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-eleve/opticiens-agrees

- 1 colour ID picture

- your ID card

- 100 CHF (or more) for the Swiss driver's licence

- and I guess you also need a proof of your address in CH.

Please note that you have to present yourself personally to get your licence.

I have just done this (EU-> Ch licence). Good reply by (just-me)  and you need to bring your work permit or residence permit. In Zurich, you pay the fee afterwards by invoice (105 CHF).

Ray. You have got all the correct answers.  It is a painless procedure although best to arrive early in the monrning, join the queue and when you have your place, ask any questions you need to.  If you miss the 12 month deadline you might get away with it.  Think my wife exchanged hers after 3 or 4 years but best not to take the risk as you could end up having to take a driving test and if you have been drivingn a few years.....!!!

Ray - a word of advice (maybe too late!!) which no-one else has mentioned.

Take a full COLOUR photocopy of your EU licence before handing it over to the Swiss Authorities.  You may never see it again 

Not sure if you have an Irish/EU/ or British licence, but you can bet your bottom boo-boo, that if you need to revert back to your Irish/EU/British licence, should you leave Switzerland, then they (DVLC for UK) will  have lost all records of your original licence on your return and charge you a humongeous fee for a replacement.

A precautionary, but maybe necessary, piece of advice! 

Following on from Carolyn’s good advice, I would add that one should always give a colour photocopy of any document to the Swiss authorities, never the original, because you are unlikely to get it back.

That’s how I lost my hand-written (copper-plate!) birth certificate, which meant I then had to go through all the hassle of getting an authentic copy from the UK.

A bon entendeur!

Hi I noticed your post about the licence change i seem to have good knowledge on the subject. I have a further question, i have actually been in Geneva from UK for 2 years just over, but am yet to change the licence to Swiss, do you know if this brings added complications of taking tests, or is this untrue?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Nygel

Hi, I recently changed my UK  licence after being here 2 1/2 years with no problem at all. 

Nygel. As you can see, Samantha had no problem, my wife had no problem after four years (UK licence) but they could be awkward.  My wife used the excuse that she had not been driving in Switzerland and she was covered because the car was in my name.  I would just go ahead and do it.

Thanks everyone.  It's my project of the day, so I will report back later!

Good luck! when I went I went so I was there when it opened. Not sure how busy it will get during the day...

Just back from the vehicle licence office.  Happy to say the process took 24 minutes from arrival to receiving my new licence.  

All the information here is good, except that the fee is 150CHF.  They will accept debit cards but not credit.

So if anyone is in the same position, this thread now has all of the up to date info.

Many thanks to all for your help.

Ray :)

One other point of information...the woman who handled the licence for me said that getting a licence change after more than a year in Switzerland isn't a problem, provided you have not been driving.

To me this seems to suggest that if you had an incident after being here a year with out having the new licence it may create difficulties.

Seems very smart just to get it done soon as poss.

R

Ray - thanks for giving feedback. So often people do not bother.  Your last post would explain how my wife managed after around 4 years. She had not been driving

When they give you the Swiss one, can you still keep your UK one? I really want to keep my UK one since for some reason, I may never go back to there again.

Thanks for advice.

I imagine the process is the same for all EU licences.  I was told that mine would be mailed back to the authorties in Dublin.

R