Menu
The Swiss Integration Agenda (SIA) is a joint programme between the Confederation and the cantons. In Geneva, the programme has been in force since 1 May 2019.
The AIS consists of a range of measures and programmes aimed at people in the field of asylum, in order to encourage their social and professional integration upon arrival in Switzerland.
Irrespective of age, personal or professional situation, persons who satisfy the condition below are entitled to AIS benefits.
In order to benefit from the AIS, you must have obtained a protection decision from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) after 01.05.2019 and reside in Geneva, for the following permits:
Note: all persons staying in Geneva and having received a protection decision from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) before 01.05.2019, are followed mainly by the Hospice General and do not benefit from AIS.
All AIS beneficiaries have a certified level of French between A2 and B2 and have completed basic, continuing or vocational training in Switzerland with a recognised certification. People in the field of asylum have a sure potential to be valorised on the labour market. If necessary or at the will of the employer, thanks to the AIS, they also have the possibility to pursue various training courses in employment. A close collaboration must be made between employers and the professionals who follow these people through their integration process. In fact, persons in the asylum field are taken care of from the moment they arrive in Switzerland by the professionals, who are part of the existing ordinary structures in the canton of Geneva, so that they can integrate socially and economically as quickly and sustainably as possible.
The Integration Agenda Switzerland provides individual support and care for each person newly arrived in Switzerland. Professionals from the existing ordinary structures in the canton of Geneva are responsible for accompanying them during their integration process and guiding them until they enter either basic and/or professional training, the job market, or another social integration measure.
A rich network of professionals in Geneva gravitates around the beneficiaries, including guidance counsellors, language teachers, trainers, educators, social workers, psychologists, mediators, etc.
As an employer, on the one hand you are an integral part of this network of professionals-they are involved in the integration of people in the field of asylum-and on the other hand, this network is a key resource that you can rely on and contact if necessary.
Whether it is language courses, basic, further or vocational training or other integration measures, people in the field of asylum have access to a range of services related to integration.
If you have any questions, you can contact the orientation and information desk of the Office for the Integration of Foreigners (BIE):
REPUBLIC AND CANTON OF GENEVA
Département de la cohésion sociale (DCS)
Office de l'action, de l'insertion et de l'intégration sociales
Bureau de l'intégration des étrangers
Permanence d'information et d'orientation AIS
Route de Chancy 88
12013 Onex
Tel: +41 22 5467499 reachable from Monday to Friday morning from 09-11h
E-mail: ais@etat.ge.ch
Website : https://www.ge.ch/dossier/geneve-soutient-integration-etrangers
Contact person: Sylvain Lehmann, project manager at the Bureau de l'intégration des étrangers (BIE)
E-Mail: sylvain.lehmann@etat.ge.ch
Direct line: +41 22 546 74 88
You wish to:
Through the AIS, professionals from the canton of Geneva allow you to :
No later than two months after your arrival in Geneva, you will receive an invitation by mail from the Canton of Geneva to participate in a collective information session.
During this session, you will be with other refugees and community interpreters will translate the session into your mother tongue or the language you speak.
During the session, the Canton of Geneva will give you all the necessary information for your arrival in Geneva and to understand how the Swiss system works.
2) Interviews
After this session, you will receive an invitation by e-mail, mail or telephone to interview professionals from the institutions in Geneva to assess your language and training level.
3) Program Proposals
After the interviews, the professionals will offer you different programs according to your background, your profile and your needs.
You do not need to register or fill out any paperwork.
It is the persons responsible for the different AIS programmes who are responsible for informing you either orally, by telephone or in writing about the different programmes and for registering you.
For example, for French courses:
First, your level of French will be evaluated by professionals. Then, depending on your needs and your level, the professionals will offer you French courses in an institution in Geneva.
If you accept, the professional will do the registration for you.
Afterwards, you will receive a letter either by mail or e-mail, or information by phone, with all the details concerning the place and time.
Thus, to benefit from the various services offered by the AIS, it will be the professionals who will contact you. You don't need to do the paperwork.