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French visa refused Geneva ONU

Mar 12, 2026 @ 16:01

Hi all, looking for some advice!

We are a British family of four living in the Geneva region. The principal earner is an international civil servant working for a UN agency in Geneva, holding a Swiss Carte de Légitimation. We applied for French long-stay visitor visas (VLS-TS visiteur) at the Consulat général de France à Genève, intending to take up principal residence in the Pays de Gex while continuing to commute to Geneva.

All four applications were refused. The stated reason was that as holders of a Swiss residence permit, we had not demonstrated the necessity of residing in France rather than Switzerland. We met all of the statutory conditions under articles L.312-2 and L.426-20 of the CESEDA - sufficient resources, health insurance, no professional activity in France - but the consulate applied what appears to be an additional requirement not found in the legislation.

We are aware that many international civil servants live in France and commute daily to Geneva, and that this visa has been granted to others in comparable situations.

Has anyone else encountered this specific refusal ground? Were you able to overcome it on reapplication, and if so, what made the difference? Any experience with this consulate on this issue would be very helpful.

Thanks!

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Hi all, looking for some advice!

We are aware that many international civil servants live in France and commute daily to Geneva, and that this visa has been granted to others in comparable situations.

Thanks!

Mike CMar 12, 2026 @ 16:01

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Re: French visa refused Geneva ONU

Post 1

Mar 17, 2026 @ 03:56

Not really. Do you already have a rented apartment in France? If not, that might be a problem. Also, if you have kids and you live in France, they may not be allowed to attend school in Switzerland. Some of my colleagues had to move back to Geneva for this reason.

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Ishan Bhatkoti, Mar 17, 2026 @ 03:56

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Re: French visa refused Geneva ONU

Post 2

Mar 26, 2026 @ 21:32

Hi, Mike C, Just to clarify, was the Carte de Légitimation held only by the principal applicant (the civil servant), or did all four family members have CdL cards?

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Hi, Mike C, Just to clarify, was the Carte de Légitimation held only by the principal applicant (the civil servant), or did all four family members have CdL cards?

Hicrettin DURNA, Mar 26, 2026 @ 21:32

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Re: French visa refused Geneva ONU

Post 3

Mar 30, 2026 @ 16:01

Hi, Mike C, Just to clarify, was the Carte de Légitimation held only by the principal applicant (the civil servant), or did all four family members have CdL cards?

Mar 26, 26 21:32

Hi, all four of us have cdls (tied to the principal's employment, fixed term contract). We met all of the conditions for visa: accommodation, insurance, financial means, and a promise not to work in France.

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Mike C, Mar 30, 2026 @ 16:01

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Re: French visa refused Geneva ONU

Post 4

Mar 30, 2026 @ 21:07

That's really strange. You can contest that decision, I think

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That's really strange. You can contest that decision, I think

Ishan Bhatkoti, Mar 30, 2026 @ 21:07