Horizon – February 2025

A new staff member at reception

Catia Antunes joined our team in January 2025 and works alongside Jacqueline Casella at the CCSI reception and information desk. Catia speaks Portuguese, French, English and Spanish. Jacqueline and Catia will welcome you and provide information tailored to your situation.

In collaboration with the social workers, and depending on your needs, they will refer you to the appropriate consultations within our association, or to another service in Geneva.

Information sessions

Several times a year, the CCSI organizes collective information sessions in several languages on a wide range of topics. These information sessions are free, open to all and without registration.

To find out the topics, languages and dates of the next sessions, please check the screens in our waiting rooms, or visit the page “Help and information” on our website, where a tab is dedicated to information sessions.

Before the session, always check on our website that the date and time have not changed!

Parascolaire and school meals for children

Depending on your income, your children are entitled to free after-school care and activities (the parascolaire in French), wherever you live in Geneva. Please note that you must apply for the exemption at the start of each school year. Depending on where you live and your income, financial aid is also offered for the school restaurant. Ask CCSI if such aid is possible for you.

Please note that you must always inform the parascolaire program if your child will be absent from lunch or after-school care. If you do not, you risk being unsubscribed.

2025-2026 registration

Registration for after-school care and school meals will take place between March 23 and May 6, 2025

DO NOT MISS THESE DATES – or your child will not be able to attend when school starts!

As last year, parents who do not have an “e-démarches” account can register by telephone.

More information is available at www.giap.ch

Primary school: registration

All children living in Geneva have the right and obligation to attend school, regardless of whether the family has a residence permit or not. This year, all children born before 31.07.2021 will start school on 18 August 2025.

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will take place during the week of March 3 to Saturday March 8, 2025. If you haven’t yet enrolled your child, please contact the nearest school administration by telephone.

To attend school, your child must have health insurance. CCSI is responsible for affiliating children without a residence permit. Make an appointment with us, bring your ID and that of your child. He/she will be able to start school as soon as this process is completed.

Extra-school activities

Are you looking for an activity for your child outside of school hours or during holidays? Would you like to know if there is any help available to pay for these activities?

The CCSI has prepared documents that explain the different options for your child, and help you find the information you need. Don’t hesitate to ask for this document the next time you visit the CCSI, or to consult it on our website.

Daycare (crèches)

It is very difficult to find a place in daycare for pre-school children. CCSI can help you increase your chances but cannot guarantee a place. If you live or work in Geneva city, please contact the Bureau d’Information de la Petite Enfance (BIPE, rue du Cendrier 8). If you live in another area of the canton of Geneva, contact the “service de la petite enfance” of your commune – if there is one. If not, pre-register your child in the daycare center(s) closest to your home or workplace. To do so, you must present your child’s insurance certificate.

CCSI can write a letter of recommendation to support your request. For this, you will need to make an appointment with the Childhood, education and health consultation at CCSI. Please note that there is no guarantee that your child will have a place in daycare. The cost of childcare depends on your income. There is currently no financial aid available to help you pay the monthly fees.

Family allowances (allocations familiales)

From January 1, 2025, the gross salary to be entitled to family allowances is 630 CHF per month.

More information is available at www.ocas.ch/af

Health insurance subsidy

The subsidy (a financial aid from the State) for your child’s health insurance must be requested each year before 30 November. If you haven’t yet done so, please make an appointment with CCSI. Several documents are required for the process. Our reception can give you the list. If you have a permit or are taxed at source (directly deducted from your salary), please inform the reception when you make the appointment. As soon as you receive the subsidy, please bring a copy of the certificate to our reception.

The subsidy covers a maximum of CHF 128.- of your child’s insurance premium. You will have to pay the remaining amount each month.

It often takes time for your insurance company to register your subsidy. In the meantime, it is advisable to pay the first invoices (which will be reimbursed later). If you can’t afford it, contact your insurance company or CCSI to try to block the bills. Please note that the health insurance subsidy does not cover supplementary insurance, which is not compulsory.

French language test for regularisation application

When applying for a residence permit in Switzerland, make sure you take the fide French test and not another language test.

The fide exam is recognised by the Swiss authorities and is regarded as valid proof of your French language skills. Opting for another exam could delay or complicate the processing of your application. The fide test is also recognised for other permit procedures.

More information on dates, examination centres and registration procedures can be found on the official website https://fide-service.ch/en/

Withholding tax adjustment attention to the deadline!

You have until end of March to apply for tax rectification. To do so, please fill in and sign the form received at home and send it not later than 31 March, 2025 (midnight) to:

Administration fiscale et cantonale
Service de l’impôt à la source
Case postale 3937
1211 Genève 3