Following your Spouse – Geneva Edition: A Personal and Practical Relocation Guide

Author photo

by Miguel Poñe
Director of Customer Success - Impactpool


When my spouse accepted a role at a UN agency in Geneva, I imagined a smooth transition: a beautiful city, an international crowd, and plenty of opportunities to settle in quickly. In reality, it was exciting but also full of logistical challenges, learning curves, and moments of uncertainty about exactly where I fit.

I am a South African with dual nationality, using my EU passport to travel around Europe, and I work remotely for Impactpool (Stockholm-based, in case you didn't know). This flexibility allowed me to support my spouse and family while maintaining my career, and gave me space to integrate into a new country and culture.

This is my honest reflection. Please take what you need from it, and well done for supporting your spouse in pursuing their dreams! 

What You Really Need to Know

Geneva and the surroundings are run on systems. Once you understand them, life flows smoothly — but at the start, it can feel overwhelming. A few things I learned quickly:

  • Everything requires paperwork, often in multiple copies.

  • Geneva is deeply international, yet integrating locally takes effort.

  • As a spouse, you need to create your own structure and community.

Language and Job Opportunities

My wife speaks French, but I do not. While it is not strictly necessary to speak French in the area — especially on the French side — I would suggest learning at least some basic French to improve your quality of life and day-to-day interactions.

For those considering working in the region, job opportunities differ between Switzerland and France:

  • Switzerland generally offers much higher salaries, a bit more English-speaking jobs, although knowledge of German is often a hard requirement.

  • France typically has fewer jobs for English speakers, and most roles require fluency in French, unless for an international organisation
    NOTE: I did not search for jobs myself, so I cannot personally vouch for the speed and experience in the job market.

Relocating with our Baby and a Cat
We moved with our 18-month-old daughter and our cat, which added another layer of planning. Flights that allow pets were limited; we flew into Zurich and then took a 3-hour train to Geneva with our baby and cat.

The train journey was stunning, winding through the rolling hills of Switzerland, past charming towns like Lucerne and Bern, along Lake Thun, and through the snow-capped Alps. The Bernese Oberland scenery made the trip memorable despite the logistics.

France or Switzerland? Choosing Where to Live

Choosing where to live was one of the first major decisions. Switzerland offered convenience and proximity to the UN HQ, but came with extremely high rents and a competitive housing market. France (Pays de Gex) offered more space, a slower pace, and better value, although daily commuting and navigating cross-border systems were considerations.

We ultimately chose France, settling in the semi-rural town of Prévessin-Moëns. It has a farm-town feel, it is minutes away from Geneva, with open land, mountain views, and quiet residential streets. Though rents are high everywhere, this location offered a balance of space, affordability, and community. 

Why Ferney-Voltaire and Prévessin-Moëns are popular

Ferney-Voltaire has a lively but small town centre, markets, and cafés, while Prévessin-Moëns offers quiet streets and green spaces. Both are filled with people in similar situations — newcomers, expats, and UN/CERN/INGO spouses — which makes settling in easier. You are 5 minutes away from Geneva Airport, you will hear a lot of planes ;), 

A huge bonus for outdoor enthusiasts is the proximity to numerous ski resorts. Weekends and holidays can easily be spent on the slopes in the Alps. 

 


Set Up Essentials - First Steps

Here’s what I focused on first to get life on track: and survive :) 

  1. Local Bank account – essential for rent and bills, and needed to open anything else (Mobile, Internet, etc) - You need your passport or right to live/work Visa.

  2. Phone and internet – crucial for appointments and daily life.

  3. Health insurance – mandatory and worth it.

  4. TPG Travel Card - dont play the taxi game :) 

  5. French tax and social security registration – complex; I relied on a local personal assistant who specialises in expats.

  6. Childcare (crèche) – we needed a bilingual (French-English) crèche for our daughter. These are in high demand and expensive, costing around €2,200+ per month per child.

  7. Residence permits and registrations – book early. For non-EU nationals, see Visa process for non-EU nationals.

  8. Finding accommodation is time-consuming; most rental agents only work with you once you are in the country, so pre-planning was difficult. We solved this by flying over to see the apartments ourselves and paying to secure one before moving.

Integrating locally helps a lot! 

I joined the local football club, first as a player and then also as a senior team coach. This allowed me to meet locals my age, practice the language, and experience French culture beyond the UN bubble. I also joined several Facebook expat groups, which proved invaluable for finding apartments, furniture, toys for my daughter, understanding bureaucracy (this is a big one), getting recommendations, and networking. Practical advice: check old posts, attend meetups and coffee mornings, and reach out privately — most expats are happy to help.


Favourite Trips and Adventures (so much to see!) 

Living near Geneva made it easy to explore the surrounding areas. Some of my favourite trips included Chambéry, Annecy, Montreux, Annonay, Évian-les-Bains, and attending a Champions League game in Lyon. Other beautiful nearby towns include Yvoire and Gruyères. Weekend and day trips to charming towns became highlights of our time in the region. I would recommend you start exploring this right away. We waited too long, so many beautiful towns to see.  The Geneva Christmas market was also a highlight for the little one. Don’t forget all the mountains surrounding the area, you are literally 15 minutes away from a Ski resort.

The Expat Community
The expat network in Ferney-Voltaire and Prévessin-Moëns is incredibly supportive. Everyone understands the lifestyle: international careers, frequent moves, partners working long hours. These connections became a lifeline during the early months and beyond. Some of these became friends that we really miss.

 

Challenges and the Honest Truth

Moving to this area of the world came with challenges:

  • High rent – prepare documentation early, and motivational letters to secure your tenancy

  • Childcare – dual-language crèches are expensive and limited.

  • Taxes and social security – complex without local help.

  • Taxis are extremely expensive - Uber is not used over the border  in many cases -  use the amazing public transport system
     

I still miss the cheese!! — the creamy Brie de Meaux, the nutty Comté, the tangy Bleu de Gex, the buttery Beaufort, the aromatic Munster, and, of course, Gruyère and Raclette from Switzerland. Nothing quite compares to enjoying these local treasures straight from their regions!

 

 Final Thoughts

Since our time in Geneva, we have moved to Budapest following my wife’s next posting at another International organisation.  Our family is also expanding — we are expecting a baby boy in late May 2026.

 Moving as a UN spouse isn’t just relocation; it’s reinvention. With planning, support, and patience, the region offers an incredibly rich quality of life. Between international energy, calm towns, some smaller events can feel like a culture melting pot, integration through sports and community, ski trips, exploring beautiful towns, and amazing local cheeses, I gradually felt at home — and the journey continues in Budapest.