The Papyrus Project, which officially began in February 2017, is a project of the Canton of Geneva, supported by the Swiss Confederation. The project aims to initiate a process of regularisation of undocumented migrants in Geneva and to address the economic sectors affected by undeclared work and unfair remuneration. Operation Papyrus was developed and implemented with the active participation of Geneva associations and trade unions, which advised and supported migrants in the preparation of their regularization file.

The operation was guided by the public interest, which is reflected in its three components:

1) a process to regularise the residence conditions of well-integrated undocumented migrants,

2) a monitoring system (compliance with working conditions, compliance with wage obligations, payment of social security) and a system to address economic sectors particularly affected by undeclared work and unfair remuneration (in particular the domestic economy sector), as well as

3) an integration system (domestic economy job exchange, information campaign for employers). 

The process of regularising the conditions of residence was carried out in accordance with the following criteria: 

• continuous stay of 5 years for families with school children or 10 years for the other categories; 

• successful integration; 

• no criminal conviction;

• economic independence.

An evaluation of the progam (in French), released by Genevan authorities in December 2019, found that the project overall had been positive not only for those involved, but also for the local labour market and social security.