Hi David,

Best thing would be to contact your school as they will have most of the answers to your domiciliation questions and alternatives (Switzerland [Geneva/Vaud] vs France) - they will know the type of permit you will be getting, which should normally entitle you to work part time (20 hours per week) but again depending upon the type of permit that you will get.

No worries mate !

Hi David,

I'm a Master's student here in Geneva, and you're right about the dreaded housing crisis. I understand how you feel (with a US passport etc.).

From what I understand, it's not possible for you to live in either France or Vaud because, if you are here as a student, you have a Type B student permit. If you are able to obtain a Type B general or work permit you might have an easier time.

In the mean time, I would prepare for trying to find a place here in Geneva. Speaking from personal experience, it might be easier for you to find something in the more rural areas like Bernex or Meyrin, depending on which side of the city you're on. Glocals is a great resource. Also, your university should have an office or administrative capacity of some sort for helping students find housing - and they tend to give preference for the most senior and newest people at the university.

The most frustrating thing is that, even though you are on scholarship, you won't have a work contract, so you can't use that as part of a regie application, meaning you must sublet, unless your university can provide something similar to a work contract and "three months pay slip." Don't worry too much about finding a sublet - people love to sublet to Ph.D. students because they are perceived as stable and mature. You will definitely find something even if it is not your imagined ideal.

Good luck!

Hello,

What you are saying is true. If you have a non-EU passport then you can't live in France, not even with a 'real' B permit (the one given to work not to study).

Find a room to start with. It will take months to find a studio at a reasonable price.

Good luck!

Thank you kindly for your replies.

What is a reasonable price exactly, say for in Geneva and some other surrounding places? The PhD salary is very good, much better than in Australia where the cost of living is similar. I don't mind paying but would rather not live in a shoebox for four years. I may weigh up living further out but being able to afford a car, verses closer to the city but no car. I have spent 2 weeks driving on the right and now feel somewhat comfortable hahaha.

Luckily there is accomodation at the observatory (I am staying there now whilst doing my honours degree) that can be used temporarily whilst trying to find accomodation.

Marissa, so there is no way you can get "your own place"? Ideally I would like an unfurnished place and I guess with subleting that's not possible? Also subleting for four years might not be possible, at least not in the same place? I understand that unfurnished places are really....completely bare but if staying here for 4-5 years then having to buy appliances wouldn't be too bad. I have some money saved up that I could use initially. Of course I realise that you cannot be very picky in Geneva as everyone is looking for places and they just barely exist :(

I will of course ask the relevant people at university for more technical details.

Hi David,

Myself and my girlfriend are leaving Geneva on the 1st October and looking fo someone to take over her apartment. It's a 3.5 piece apartment for rent which is readily available from the 1st October. 72 square meters with spacious living room, bedroom and kitchen/ dining area. 

The apartment is in a secure quiet maintained building which is away from the main street. The location is Rue de Vieux-College which is just minutes from the main shopping street and a 5 minute walk to the Old Town. The rent will be paid directly to the owner on a permanent basis (not a sublet).

If interested contact +41 76 447 68 27 and I'll answer any questions which you may have.

Cheers,

James

David:

It's extremely rare to find an unfurnished sublet; I have searched far and wide for one and if they do exist, they are gone almost immediately.

With regards to the lengths of sublets: Actually, most people who are looking for a sublet want someone fairly stable, maybe for at least one year, sometimes two. Since that's the case, I've heard of instances where the subletter will allow the subletee (if I may use these words) to negotiate with them regarding furniture. You can also always sell the furniture you don't like, especially if the apartment is already sparsely furnished. The high turnover of expats here guarantees a revolving door of people needing and selling furniture.

I forgot to mention, something that will save you a lot of headache is if you ensure that your sublease contract is approved by the regie. Often, qualified people will take up apartments to rent, and then sublet them at outrageous prices (this has happened to me twice now, they are really tricky). You can learn more about it here: http://www.asloca.ch/ . A quick look around the forums here can teach you a lot about the do's and don't's of renting in Geneva, and this website is usually the source of the best advice.

For price, it depends on what you are looking for. In some places, you can find nice studios for around 1200.-, but don't expect to find a nice 1BR (2.3 or 3 pieces by GVA terms) for less than 2000.-. If you're willing to have a roommate, you can expect to pay between 800.- and 1100.-. Heating and water are usually included, as is electricity, but you will most likely have to pay an extra 50.- or more for internet/TV/etc. depending on your carrier.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that real estate in Geneva is not at all affected by the normal things that affect the price of real estate in other places (noise of an airport/bars/bad neighborhood/proximity to the city center), so you can't exactly say that an apartment in Chene will be less than an apartment in Carouge. Since that's the case, try to look for something around 2000.- in the area you need to frequent.

I hope this helps!

Thank you very much Marissa. You have been most helpful!

I have another question. I know that living in France and working in Geneva is probably ruled out due to my lack of EU passport, but what about living and working in a different Canton? I say this because I have looked at places around Lyon that seem more affordable/bigger and only fractionally further away from the observatory than Geneva is, but this is in a different Canton. Are there issues here? I read that you need to get permission, but hopefully this is easier than getting permission to live in France?

 Oh yes, my mistake, I meant Nyon! Even with a permit, living in Lyon might be a bit far away!

Hi David,

I am positive you cannot live in Vaud, unless you have a C permit/are a permanent resident or are a Swiss citizen.

Since immigration is done at the cantonal level and not at the federal level, you must migrate to the canton where your primary economic activity will be (that is the law). Therefore, as a B permit holder, you cannot become a resident of Vaud and then work in Geneva, because it would mean you are living and working in two different immigration jurisdictions. Also, if you tried to migrate to Vaud, they would have no grounds to admit you to the canton, as your primary economic activity will be in Geneva.