Protection status S for qualifying Ukraine-displaced persons

The Federal Council shall decide whether and according to which criteria Switzerland will grant temporary protection

Under protection status S, the persons concerned receive an S permit. This is limited to a maximum of one year, but can be extended.

Persons who have already been granted protection status S based on the Federal Council’s general ruling of 11 March 2022, replaced by its ruling of 8 October 2025, will retain this status.

On 19 August 2026, the Federal Council adopted a new general ruling. Under the new ruling, the following categories of persons will be eligible for protection status S from 20 August 2026: Ukrainian citizens seeking protection and their family members (partners, minor children and other close relatives who were fully or partially supported at the time of flight) who were resident in Ukraine before 24 February 2022. Persons of other nationalities and stateless persons seeking protection and their family members as defined in pargrapha a) above who held international or national protection status in Ukraine before 24 February 2022. Persons of other nationalities and stateless persons seeking protection and their family members as defined in paragraph a) above who can prove by means of a valid short-term residence permit or residence permit that they have a valid right of residence in Ukraine and cannot return to their home country in safety and on a permanent basis. Persons seeking protection who fall under one of the categories listed above will only be granted temporary protection in Switzerland if, prior to leaving Ukraine, they were last resident in a region where they were exposed to a tangible risk of death or injury due to the situation of general violence and if they do not meet any of the legal grounds for rejection (Art. 73 AsylA). SEM also reserves the right to refuse a person temporary protection based on the principle of subsidiarity.

Persons who are required to perform military service in Ukraine will only be granted protection status S if they have fulfilled their military obligations.

People who have recently arrived in Switzerland and have no accommodation are to make their way to the federal asylum centre (BAZ) in Urtenen-Schönbühl where they are then registered. SEM collects their personal data and fingerprints and checks each application individually (security check and verification that the person is eligible for protection).

We request that those seeking protection who already have a private address in Switzerland and have not yet registered should submit their application online via the RegisterMe web portal.

After registration, the individuals are assigned to a canton.

Spouses of persons in need of protection and their minor children shall be granted temporary protection if:194 a. they apply for protection together and there are no grounds for rejection in terms of Article 73; b. the family was separated by events such as those cited in Article 4, wishes to be reunited in Switzerland and there are no special circumstances that preclude this.

Persons who are granted protection status S may travel abroad and return to Switzerland without a travel permit (Art. 9 para. 8 TDocO). If they take up gainful employment, this must be reported to the relevant authorities.

After five years, persons in need of protection may receive a B residence permit, which is valid until the temporary protection is lifted (Art. 74 AsylA).

In contrast to protection status S, S permits are valid for one year. Applications for an extension must be submitted no earlier than three months and no later than 14 days before the permit expires. The migration office of the respective canton is responsible for their extension.

Status S is valid until the Federal Council withdraws it (Art. 76 AsylA), and depends on the continued existence of serious general danger in Ukraine (Art. 4 AsylA).