GENEVA, Switzerland-Six minutes-that is exactly how long it takes to get from the airport to Geneva’s city center, thanks to the proverbial punctuality of Swiss public transport and modest geographical distances.

“Geneva is very small,” a cashier at the ticket counter kept repeating to foreigners on a recent afternoon.

Despite its relatively small dimensions, this city is home to one of the world’s most vibrant international communities. Geneva has less than 187,000 residents, but over 50 percent of them hold a foreign passport. Figures for the broader canton-the state within the Swiss federation that houses Geneva-show a very high foreign presence, with non-Swiss citizens from 180 countries making up almost 40 percent of the population.

The Palais des Nations in the middle of Ariana Park, one of the city’s greenest areas, has been the pulsating heart of Geneva’s international landscape since 1936, when the League of Nations headquarters were moved there. In 1966, the European Office of the United Nations took over its place and has since been known as the United Nations Office at Geneva. It now employs around 8,500 people from across the globe.

Other U.N. agencies are based here, including the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Several major nonprofits and global organizations, such as the World Economic Forum, World Trade Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross, have also set up their headquarters in Geneva. The city hosts one of the world’s largest scientific communities - the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN - which has the biggest particle physics laboratory on Earth.

Work visas? Not a problem, especially for UN staff

Organizations under the U.N. umbrella encounter no particular difficulties in bringing foreign employees to Geneva. Other international organizations, however, must demonstrate that they could not find other suitable candidates for vacant positions in Switzerland or within the European Union.

Swiss authorities are said to be supportive of international organizations seeking work permits for foreigners.

“We were in the U.N. system, and when we moved out of the U.N. system one of the issues was whether we would have difficulties being able to bring people here while we were not in the U.N.,” said Marc Van Ameringen, executive director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition. “And it has not been a big challenge.”

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria had a similar experience. Like GAIN, it registered as a Swiss institution after leaving the U.N. system.

“Essentially, we are a Swiss foundation,” Global Fund Recruitment Specialist Tania Rogerson said. “We have, however, negotiated with the Swiss government to enable us to recruit non-Swiss nationals; staff are then provided with a legitimization card.”

The lure of Geneva

The dynamic international community and friendliness of Swiss authorities certainly make Geneva appealing to non-governmental organizations.

Eylah Hamouda, coordinator of children’s rights network Terre des Hommes International Federation, also stressed the value of U.N.’s proximity to the group’s work. Other advantages, she added, include NGO-friendly policies, the presence of an international airport and a vast number of international NGOs.

“Switzerland is very keen to working with the private sector,” GAIN’s Van Ameringen argued. “Many multinational companies work here, and many international organizations are not in the U.N. system. So it’s fairly good working here.”

Finding work, and staying in town

Foundations such as GAIN and the Global Fund increasingly value expertise from the private sector when recruiting people for vacant positions. Experts previously employed in the private sector make up about 60 percent of GAIN’s staff, for instance.

“We really want to reach out to people with a wider scope of experience, and the private sector is very much of interest to us,” Rogerson said.

Geneva’s vivacity when it comes to finding new jobs with international organizations is also crucial for those who are nearing the end of their careers or want to change jobs.

One human resources official, who asked to remain anonymous, told Devex that he opted to stay in Geneva when the organization he worked for moved some of its departments to a cheaper location in Europe.

“I found some freelance jobs here in NGOs and embassies,” the HR expert said. “If you have a specialization like mine, and language skills, you will always find something in Geneva.”

But those who want to remain with their employer may have to pack their bags and leave before long. This is the case with many U.N. staff, according to Ron Redmond, former UNHCR chief of communications.

“It’s a requirement of about all of the UNHCR offices that they rotate,” he noted. “They can come to Geneva for a year, then they have to go to the field.”

An easy place to live

But why would foreigners want to live in Geneva?

“You have all the infrastructure,” Van Ameringen said. “You’re in the middle of Europe. It’s a very attractive location too for people to be located, so people do want to come here for the environment, but for the lifestyle as well.”

Located on the southwestern end of Lake Geneva, the city is surrounded by the Alps, which makes for a beautiful scenery both in summer and winter. The city is relatively safe and clean.

Sports teams, including American football clubs, and English-language broadcasts from World Radio Switzerland-on 88.4 FM in the Lake Geneva region-present some of the comforts foreigners enjoy here. Many of them frequent places such as the English pub Mr. Pickwick in Rue de Lausanne and La Clémence café in Place du Bourg-de-Four, both located in the city’s “old town,” to hang out.

French is the Canton of Geneva’s official language, but that is certainly not the main language among children riding a public bus on a typical day. The city offers a good number of international schools. At the International School of Geneva, for instance, students can have lunch with parents working in the International Organization for Migration, whose cafeteria is located right next door.

But Geneva may not be the best place to form friendships, as most foreigners come there for temporary assignments.

Jemini Pandya, IOM’s media and public information officer, moved to the U.K. from India before she first came to Geneva to work with the Red Cross years ago. She recalled a British colleague who gave her a very cold welcome and later apologized, saying she would rather not get too close to people as they would have to leave sooner or later.

“She was tired of making friends and seeing them going,” Pandya said.