Entry and asylum in Switzerland

Be alert of possible abuses during your journey. For more information consult this page

This page provides information on the following topics:

Questions and answers for refugees from Ukraine on multiple topics, including protection status S, and entering and leaving the country, are provided by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration.  

We also invite you to take a look at the Information brochure for people seeking protection.

Travel within the Schengen area and beyond

Ukrainian citizens can travel in the Schengen area without biometric travel document or visa for up to 90 days.

Cantonal migration authorities can issue free public transport tickets to refugees who need to complete administrative procedures (including transport to a federal asylum centre).

Please note that UNHCR is not in a position to resettle or relocate you and your family from Switzerland to any other country.

Entry to Switzerland for Ukrainian nationals and Ukrainian resident permit holders

In view of the current emergency situation, Ukrainian citizens and Ukrainian resident permit holders can enter Switzerland without a biometric travel document or a visa since 28th February 2022. They can stay on Swiss territory without a visa up to 90 days. During the 90-day stay, there is generally no entitlement to social welfare support and health insurance cover. In principle, it is not possible to work without a visa. Those who wish to continue their stay in Switzerland after the 90 days without applying for protection and who fulfil the conditions for legal residence can apply for a visa at the cantonal migration office.

For additional information please visit the dedicated page of the Swiss migration authorities: Questions and answers for refugees from Ukraine or send an email at [email protected].

The Swiss Refugee Council has also put in place a hotline to answer your questions. You can reach it at the following number: +41 31 370 75 90 or send them a message via this contact form.

You can also select the dedicated webpage of your Canton of residence in the following document to obtain more specific information provided by local competent authorities.

Protection status S in Switzerland 

Eligibility  

On 11 March 2022, the Swiss authorities activated a specific temporary protection status, the protection status S, for refugees from Ukraine. The persons concerned receive an S permit which is granted for one-year (renewable) without having to go through the standard asylum procedure.   

Persons seeking protection who are eligible for protection status S include:  

  • Ukrainian citizens who were resident in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;  
  • non-Ukrainian nationals and stateless persons who had international or national protection status in Ukraine before 24 February 2022;  
  • non-Ukrainian nationals and stateless persons seeking protection who were resident in Ukraine before 24 February 2022, can prove it, and cannot return to their home countries in safety and on a permanent basis.  

The Swiss Parliament has adopted a political motion which requests that the Government restricts these eligibility criteria for new applicants. It is not yet clear what actions the Government will take in response.  This will require time. For now, and until further notice, the criteria outlined above remain applicable.     

 

What do you have to do to obtain protection status S in Switzerland? 

Since 1 January 2024, all registrations for new arrivals take place in Bern. More information can be found here: RegisterMe help / Допомога / Помощь. Here you can find the link to the online application form: RegisterMe.

If you arrive in Switzerland with a large group of people (more than 30) or with groups of vulnerable people (i.e. unaccompanied children, people with disabilities), you should contact the authorities a few days before your arrival at a federal asylum centre by sending an email to [email protected]. This will enable the authorities to organise registration and sufficient accommodation for the group.

If you already have private accommodation you can alternatively book an appointment  through this online platform. If you wish to remain in your current private accommodation after the registration process, you should fill in this form and bring it with you on the day of your appointment at the federal asylum centre. If you have questions, you can contact [email protected].

When you apply for protection status S, you will have to fill out a form. You will be given the possibility to mention whether you have reasons for seeking protection in addition to the general threats of the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine. Should this be the case, we strongly advise you to contact the legal aid service in the center and discuss with them whether to apply for asylum.

It is also very important that you already inform the Swiss authorities during the registration process, if you have any specific needs. This could include health issues (illness or disabilities), if you feel you need psychosocial support, or if you have experienced violence or abuse on your journey to Switzerland.

After registration at the federal asylum center, beneficiaries of the status S are assigned to a canton and accommodated free of charge in a cantonal center or with private hosts organized by the Swiss Refugee Council. Please find more information here. If you do not have private accommodation, you can expect to be accommodated in the federal asylum center for an initial period of at least 7 days.

The decision of allocation to a Canton will be notified to you once you are granted protection status S. If you wish to change your assigned canton , you should contact the SEM in writing (see this dedicated form) within 30 days, stating your reasons. Send your request to this address: State Secretariat for Migration SEM, Taskforce Kantonswechsel Ukraine, Quellenweg 6, 3003 Bern-Wabern. Indicate both the assigned and requested canton of residence and list all persons to be included in the change of canton.

Non-Ukrainian nationals seeking protection who held a valid residence permit for Ukraine until the outbreak of hostilities are granted protection status S under certain conditions. If third-country nationals who do not belong to the above-mentioned categories apply for protection in Switzerland, a standard asylum procedure is followed. This ensures that all persons who need protection receive it. If your application for protection status S is rejected, but you cannot safely return to your country of origin, you can also lodge an asylum application. Your application will then be examined through the standard asylum procedure.

N.B. Protection status S is not granted to persons who already resided in Switzerland at the time of the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Those who wish to remain in Switzerland with their family, beyond their current residence permit, will have to regularize their stay in application of the ordinary Swiss legislation (application for a renewal of residence permit or standard asylum procedure). Be aware that spouses or registered partners of EU/EFTA nationals or nationals of UK, Canada, US, New Zealand or Australia, may not be granted protection status S, if Swiss authorities conclude that they can establish themselves safely in the partner’s home country. Protection status S will also not be granted to those who have already obtained a protection status in another European country.

More information is available in Ukrainian and Russian here: Інформація для осіб з України, що потребують захисту (admin.ch).

If you need legal advice on the above, contact RBS Bern ([email protected]) during the procedure to obtain protection status S or contact one of the free legal aid services available in your Canton of residence or contact a cantonal bar association.

Family reunification

Under Swiss national law, family reunification for S status holders is possible with spouses/registered partners and children (under 18 years old). 

These family members can join beneficiaries of S status in Switzerland, where they will receive protection status S themselves upon arrival. 

For an overview of the right to family reunification for beneficiaries of other status, please see: Residence status.

If you do not know where your family is you can also contact the Swiss Red Cross Tracing Service. They have a hotline for the Ukraine situation: 0041 58 400 43 80 or they can be contacted by email: [email protected].

Have you travelled to Switzerland with your pets?

Dogs, cats, and ferrets brought by their owners may enter Switzerland and currently have to meet all import conditions. All information can be found in the webpage of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office: Travelling with pets (admin.ch).

If you need a veterinary service in the canton in which you are currently located, you can consult the list of contacts here. An interactive map is also available in English and in Ukrainian.

For additional queries, please consult the following digital help platform: Swiss Help For Ukrainian Pets.