No lifting of protection status S
Bern, 08.10.2025 — In response to the ongoing instability in Ukraine, the Federal Council has decided at its meeting on 8 October to maintain protection status S for individuals seeking protection from Ukraine until at least 4 March 2027. Support measures under Programme S, which provide assistance to those holding this status, will also be extended until that date. Following a parliamentary decision, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) now distinguishes between regions where return is reasonable and those where it is not when granting temporary protection.
The decision reflects the continued precarious security situation and persistent Russian attacks across large parts of Ukraine. Despite international peace efforts, a lasting stabilisation that would allow for safe return is not expected in the medium term. The Federal Council therefore considers the conditions for maintaining protection status S to remain fully justified.
Providing clarity and stability
By extending protection status S until 4 March 2027, the Federal Council is offering clarity for those affected, as well as for cantonal and communal authorities and employers, over the next 18 months. Should the situation in Ukraine improve on a long-term basis, the Federal Council will reassess the status accordingly.
As Switzerland is a member of the Schengen area, the Federal Council places strong emphasis on close coordination with the European Union. On 13 June, EU member states agreed to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2027, without geographical restrictions.
Security situation under continuous review
Following the adoption of the Friedli motion (24.3378), the Federal Assembly decided to limit protection status S to individuals whose last place of residence was in occupied or contested regions of Ukraine. A distinction is now made between areas where return is considered reasonable or unreasonable when assessing eligibility for temporary protection. Currently, return to the regions of Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi is deemed reasonable.
This regulation does not affect individuals who already hold protection status S in Switzerland, nor does it apply to family members of status S holders who remain in Ukraine. As the security situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, SEM will review this list on an ongoing basis and adjust it if necessary.
Individual case assessment by SEM
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will continue to assess each application on a case-by-case basis. If an application is rejected because the applicant comes from a region where return is considered reasonable, a removal order will be issued. However, if enforcement of that order is not permitted or not reasonable, the person will be granted temporary admission to Switzerland. Individuals excluded from protection status S may still apply for asylum under the regular procedure.
The new regulation will come into effect on 1 November and will apply to all applications assessed after that date, including those submitted earlier. An amendment to current practice – also taking effect on 1 November – will allow persons with protection status S to stay in Ukraine for up to 15 days per half-year, rather than 15 days per quarter.
Extension of integration measures
In line with the extension of protection status S, the Federal Council has also decided to prolong the specific support measures under Programme S, originally adopted on 13 April 2022, until 4 March 2027. The federal government will continue to contribute CHF 3,000 per person per year to cantonal integration efforts, with a particular focus on language support, access to education and labour market integration.
Documents
For the complete documentation see the pages in German, French or Italian.