Where to scan your form near Geneva
You're heading back to Switzerland after shopping in France. Your tax refund form must be validated before you cross the border, before you leave EU territory.
Several Franco-Swiss border crossings have PABLO kiosks. No detour to the airport required.
PABLO kiosks at the border
| Border crossing | Mon — Fri | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| St-Julien / Bardonnex | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Ferney-Voltaire airport | 06:00 — 23:00 | 06:00 — 23:00 | 06:00 — 23:00 |
| Geneva Cornavin station | 06:30 — 20:45 | 06:30 — 20:45 | 06:30 — 20:45 |
| Ferney-Voltaire road | 06:00 — 20:00 | 06:00 — 20:00 | 06:00 — 20:00 |
| Vallard-Thônex | 06:00 — 20:00 | 06:00 — 20:00 | 06:00 — 20:00 |
| Delle / Boncourt | 06:00 — 20:00 | 06:00 — 20:00 | 06:00 — 20:00 |
| Ferrière-sous-Jougne / Vallorbe | 06:00 — 20:00 | 10:00 — 20:00 | 10:00 — 13:00 |
| La Cure | 09:00 — 16:30 | 11:00 — 17:00 | Closed |
| St-Gingolph | 07:00 — 18:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Basel St-Louis motorway (B10) | 09:00 — 20:00 | 12:00 — 20:00 | Closed |
| Basel St-Louis motorway (B8) | 05:00 — 09:00 / 20:00 — 22:00 | 05:00 — 13:00 | Closed |
| Saint-Louis Basel station | 08:00 — 16:00 | Closed | Closed |
Which crossing to use
Most convenient: St-Julien / Bardonnex. Open 24/7, 365 days a year. The only border post in the region that never closes. Late-night return or Sunday shopping trip: go here.
From Geneva airport: Ferney-Voltaire airport. The kiosk sits on the French side of the airport. Open 06:00 to 23:00, including Sundays.
By train: Geneva Cornavin station. If you took a train from France to Geneva, you can scan your form at the station before crossing into Switzerland.
Near Basel: Saint-Louis motorway. Two sites cover an extended window. B8 handles early mornings and evenings, B10 takes over during the day. Both closed on Sundays.
Restriction for Geneva station and airport
The PABLO kiosks at Geneva Cornavin station and Geneva airport (French sector) are reserved for Swiss residents who traveled from France by train or plane. If you drove to France for groceries and are driving back, you must validate at a road border crossing.
How it works
- You arrive at the border crossing.
- You find the PABLO kiosk (blue "Détaxe / Tax Refund" signage).
- You scan the barcode on your tax refund form.
- Green screen: validated. Your refund will be processed within 3 to 5 days.
- Red screen: go to the customs desk with your passport, receipts, and the purchased goods.
Since December 2020, you can scan the barcode from your smartphone. No need to print if your operator provides a digital form.
Sundays and public holidays
Three crossings stay open on Sundays:
- St-Julien / Bardonnex: 24/7
- Ferney-Voltaire airport: 06:00 to 23:00
- Ferrière-sous-Jougne / Vallorbe: 10:00 to 13:00 (short window)
The rest close. If you shop on Saturday, validate the same day or use Bardonnex on Sunday.
FAQ
Can I validate my form at any border crossing? Yes. Your form works on any PABLO kiosk in France: airport, train station, or road border post.
Are the kiosks self-service? Yes. You scan the barcode yourself. A customs officer steps in only if the kiosk shows a red screen or for a random inspection.
What if the kiosk is broken? Go to the customs desk at the border post. An officer can validate your form manually. If no officer is available, drive to another open crossing.
Does my form expire? Yes. You have 3 months from the purchase date to validate. After that, no refund is possible.
I shop in France every week. Do I scan every time? Yes. Each form must be scanned individually. With Belcova, your purchases for the day are grouped into a single form. One scan per shopping trip.
Belcova is launching soon. Get notified.