HORIZON – September 2026

Back-to-school allowance

The back-to-school allowance (or « allocation de rentrée scolaire » in French) is a form of financial support provided by the City of Geneva to help families buy what their children need for school (supplies, clothes, bags, etc.). It is issued in the form of a card worth CHF 130 (primary-school children) or CHF 180 (children attending the « cycle d’orientation »), which can be used to buy items in certain stores.

All children who live in the City of Geneva, with or without a permit, who attend primary or secondary school, and whose parents meet the income requirements are eligible for the back-to-school allowance.

If you have a file with the CCSI, you can make an appointment to apply for the back-to-school allowance. The application must be submitted before 31 October 2026. On the day of your appointment, please bring a copy of your children’s 2026 health insurance subsidy, valid passports, and pay slips if you have them.

GIAP 2026-27 (after-school activities and school meals)

Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be eligible for a discount on extracurricular activities.

To apply, you must complete the form « demande de rabais » and email it to facture@giap.ch as soon as your child’s enrolment has been confirmed by GIAP.

Along with the « demande  de rabais » form, you must submit the following documents:

– your 2025 tax assessment notice or your 2025 income certificate if you hold a licence or are registered for tax purposes.
– the ‘Certificate of Financial Status’ issued by the CCSI if you do not hold a licence and are not subject to tax at source.

If you do not have any of these documents and do not hold a licence, please contact the CCSI.

Depending on where you live in Geneva, and on your income, you may also be eligible for a discount on school meals. The CCSI can provide you with further information and submit the application on your behalf, if possible.

Please note that you must always inform the GIAP if your child will be absent for lunch or after-school care. If you do not do so, you risks being unsubscribed.

Child health insurance subsidy

The health insurance subsidy must be applied for each year before November 30. If you have not already done so, make an appointment at the CCSI as soon as possible to complete the process.

Please note that several documents are required for this, so ask at reception which ones to bring to your appointment. If you have a permit or are taxed at source, please mention this when you make your appointment.

As soon as you receive the subsidy, please bring a copy to the CCSI reception desk.

The subsidy covers a maximum of CHF 132 of the children’s insurance premium. You will have to pay any amount above this sum each month.

It takes time for your health insurance company to register your subsidy. In the meantime, it is best to pay the first premium bills yourself (you will be reimbursed later). If you are unable to pay, contact your insurance company or the CCSI to try to block the bills.

Changing your health insurance provider – how to do it

Every year, you can change health insurance providers, for example to get cheaper monthly premiums. To do so, you must send a registered letter (or a “recommandé”) to the insurance company you want to leave before November 21, 2026.

For your request to be accepted, you must pay all bills from your current insurance company (including the December premium!). If you do not pay all pending bills, you will not be able to make the change.

Family allowances (allocations familiales)

The CCSI has produced a new leaflet on family allowances, a monthly financial support designed to cover part of the costs associated with the care and education of children.

The leaflet explains the eligibility criteria and the procedure for applying. This leaflet is available in our waiting room or on request from reception.

Supplementary health insurance

Supplementary health insurances are not compulsory. They cover medical expenses that are not covered by mandatory health insurance (LAMal), such as dental care and alternative medicine.

Please note that health insurance subsidy does not cover supplementary insurances. If you take out this type of insurance, you will be responsible for paying the entire premium.

If you have signed up for such an insurance, you have 14 days to cancel the contract. If you decide to keep the insurance, it will be valid for at least three years. After that, you can request termination of the contract, but this must be done at least one month before the end of the contract period.

In both cases, you will need to send a registered letter to the insurance company. A template letter is available on request from the CCSI reception desk.

Personal liability insurance

Personal liability insurance (« assurance responsabilité civile » or RC in French) covers damage caused by you or your family members to other people or their property (e.g. your child breaks a neighbour’s window while playing football or you scratch a car when leaving a car park).

This insurance is compulsory for enrolling your child in nursery (“crèche”), for holiday camps, for renting accommodation, or for driving a car.

It costs around CHF 120 per year and covers also minor children who live with you. You can take out this insurance at any time of the year. Ask for more information at your next appointment or at the CCSI reception desk.

Services offered by municipal libraries

Municipal libraries offer a wide range of free services to the public: book loans in various languages for adults and children, access to international newspapers and magazines, a multimedia area, children’s activities, cultural events, and more.

These services are available to everyone. Find your nearest library and its opening hours here.

Some municipal libraries also offer a free, confidential and drop-in public writer service to help you understand and draft every day administrative documents in French.

Check the timetables and locations here.

Support CCSI’s work

The CCSI is an association that campaigns for the rights of migrants. Its services are funded by grants and donations from public and private donors.

To be able to continue its work, the CCSI also needs your support.
That is why we invite everyone who attends our consultations to make a financial contribution of between 2 and 10 CHF per year, depending on your means.

Thank you in advance for your contribution, which helps us to continue our work on behalf of migrants!

CCSI’s next information sessions
(Sept-Dec 2026)

• Rights and obligations in the domestic work sector in Spanish in collaboration with SIT, on October 26 at 6:00 pm.
• Withholding tax in French, on November 9 at 6:00 pm.
• Withholding tax in Spanish, on November 25 at 6:00 pm.
• Early C permit in French, on December 7 at 6:00 pm

All sessions take place at the CCSI and a childcare service is available for free during each session.

A few days before the session please check our website to ensure that the date and time have not changed.