The Senate of Switzerland has voted in favor of changes to the temporary protection for Ukrainians. Find out more about the new conditions for obtaining S protection status and what restrictions have been introduced for refugees from Ukraine, including those already in the country

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

GET

On June 12, the Council of Cantons of Switzerland decided to change the rules for granting temporary protection status S to Ukrainians fleeing the war. Now only those who come from the occupied territories or regions with active hostilities can apply for this status. This was reported by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ).

New conditions for granting temporary S protection in Switzerland

The proposal, made by the vice-chairman of the Swiss Council of Cantons, Esther Fredli, was supported by 23 votes to 19. Most of the votes were cast by the far right and center-right. However, this decision still needs to be approved by the lower house of parliament, the National Council.

According to the voted amendment, the S protection status will be granted only to Ukrainian refugees from regions that are “fully or partially occupied by russia or where intense hostilities are taking place.” In addition, the federal government should revoke this status from those Ukrainians whose last place of residence was in regions under Ukrainian control where there is no fighting.

"Solidarity in Switzerland has its limits. In my country, communities no longer know where they can accommodate refugees,” Fredli said.

Visit Ukraine on social media: Telegram | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

Restrictions for non-Ukrainian citizens

In addition, Switzerland will no longer provide protection to non-Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The S protection status, which has been in effect since March 2022, exempts Ukrainians from the asylum procedure, granting them the right to housing, financial support and medical care. This status is currently valid until March 2025. According to government data, about 64.3 thousand Ukrainian citizens and about 800 people with other citizenships have been granted this status in Switzerland.

If you need legal assistance on migration issues, please contact Visit Ukraine lawyers. Our experts will answer your questions, help you solve urgent problems with submitting or obtaining the necessary documents, and advise you on the current rules for leaving Ukraine, changing the country of temporary protection, or other migration issues.

We remind you! Earlier, the situation with obtaining protection for Ukrainians in Switzerland was subject to certain complications. In particular, the duration of consideration of applications for S status has significantly increased. Read more about the reasons for this and what to expect for refugees planning to obtain temporary protection in Switzerland in 2024.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Ihor Usyk is the Head of Legal Department at Visit Ukraine

Before moving to a new country or staying in it, use the legal support of our service. Useful advice for your safety!