Hi, I am a non-EU student in Geneva with D visa. My visa started from September 2024. I have arrived here during the last week of November since my visa expires on 18th December, 2024. I booked an airbnb at the French border, unaware that my address couldn’t be in France. I applied for my residence permit on November 26. But due to this address issue the OCPM did not process my permit. They also did not inform me about it. Now I have booked another place in Geneva from 14th December. However with the weekend in between I will only have 2 days before my visa expires. I have also sent the OCPM a mail notifying my change of address from 14th December. Do you think I have to depart by 18th December without a residence permit? Or should I stay back and wait from the response from OCPM?
Welcome to the forum. 
So long as you are resident in Switzerland by the time the visa expires it should be no problem. The visa is only for entry into the country. Once you are here it doesn’t have any purpose.
As long as the permit application is in process and not rejected, it should not be a problem. The only issue is that you should not travel outside Switzerland. If you need to before the permit arrives, then you need to get a temporary visa on your passport before leaving.
The visa expiry is just the latest date you can enter the country. Nothing to do with how long you can stay. Permits take ages to process. I wouldn’t rely on email for updating your address - go in person and make sure it is done.
Thank you so much for your responses. It has been really helpful.
But I am still worried because the place I have rented is until the end of December 2024. Now it is very difficult for me to find a place to rent since all student housings are closing for holidays and even airbnb is very expensive here. Do you think I can go back to my country by the end of December and come back later while they process residence permit? Do I have to apply for a retour visa before 18th December? Or I can do that later as well?
Thank you.
If you leave now you will need a new entry visa as your first one has expired.
I want to leave temporarily by the end of December. Can I apply for a retour visa? If yes, does that have to be before 18th or I can do that later? Or should I apply for a visa extension by 18th? Because I don’t think they’ll process my residence permit application before the holidays.
You should apply for it now. Nothing happens quickly here and they will close over Christmas and New Year. The 18th date is not important for anything anymore, it was a single entry visa and you have used it. However, you will still need an address whilst you are away and your permit is in process.
Thank you so much. This has been very helpful.