Hi Mitch,

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

They aren't militant about the 1 year chage over, at least for EU licenses (not sure about North American) as I did it in my 4th year of residency (almost 3rd with a permit). As long as you change your license within 5 years, they won't make you take the additional tests. If you don't change within 5 years, they'll assume you haven't been actively driving and will make you do the whole driving test process.

There's normally a line of 10-15 people, but it goes relatively fast

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

You also need to have a color passport sized photo and a certificate from an approved eye doctor.

And if you haven't found it yet, fill out this form : 

http://ge.ch/vehicules/sites/siteofficielocv/files/ocv/formulaires/permis-eleve-conducteur-et-echange-permis-conduire-etranger_0.pdf

Get an eye test :

http://ge.ch/vehicules/permis-de-conduire-et-permis-eleve/opticiens-agrees

(print out the form, the optrician will fill it out)

And get a photo taken for the passport. All is painless and quick. 

It is true that they are not too strict on the one year rule but it is safer to adhere to it.  The worst case is that if you do not you might have to take your test again and if you have been driving a while.....

There is a photobooth there. Did not know you had to take an eye test when just changing your licence but I presume Martin is correct.  It is really a painless procedure

Heres a follow on: 

Your new Swiss licence does it start from the date your recieve it or it adopts your previous Licence start date? 

I ask as a Friend of mine recently surrendered his Irish licence for a UK one, and the start date was set to the day he picked it up. Makes sense right, but he did not realize this, and was informed so at teh Hertz desk in Charles de Gaulle airport that he has not held his licence long enough to hire a car. 

I travel a lot and hire cars a lot, so little nervous about giving up my little pink friend. 

Whats the word?

Kevin, both dates are on there - on the back of the license it is shown when you obtained it, and on the front it shows when you got the physical card. 

cheers for that!

Of course, what was I thinking, it is Switzerland, does it also show blood type?

See:

no, but you can however use it to unlock sigarette machines :-)