Switzerland

What changed

Switzerland and India have signed two important agreements: a Migration and Mobility Partnership and another agreement for training exchanges for young professionals. The Migration and Mobility Partnership makes official the existing cooperation on migration, creating legal ways for people to move and addressing issues like irregular migration, human trafficking, and forged documents. The agreement for young professionals will provide training placements to help people improve their professional and language skills.

What changed

The Swiss Federal Council has significantly increased funding for integration promotion by the Confederation and the cantons. It approved a commitment credit of 334.5 million Swiss francs for the years 2028 to 2032, a rise of 5.4 million Swiss francs annually compared to the current period. This enhanced funding targets language development, educational pathways, and labour market integration, primarily benefiting immigrants and refugees through strengthened cantonal programmes and national projects. The change takes effect for the new programme period starting in 2028.

What changed

The Swiss Federal Council has rejected the popular initiative 'Stop Asylum Abuse! (Border Protection Initiative)', which sought to impose systematic border controls and cap annual asylum grants at 5,000. On 18 September 2026, the Federal Council adopted a dispatch recommending to Parliament that the initiative be rejected without any counter-proposal. This decision applies nationwide in Switzerland and signifies the government's opposition to the initiative's far-reaching proposals.

What changed

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has awarded new contracts. These contracts are for care, medical services, and basic provisions in its federal asylum centres across Switzerland. These contracts start on 1 January 2027. ORS Service AG and Convalere AG secured the contracts. This followed a tender process that began on 5 May 2026. The new contracts aim to improve service quality. They will do this by adding regional management, specific childcare, and better staff training standards.

What changed

The Swiss Federal Council has started a public consultation. This is about changing the Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Employment (VZAE). The change will make the system for registering foreign guests at places to stay digital across Switzerland. This aims to make it easier to collect and send foreign guest information. Accommodation businesses will be able to send reports using computers. They will not need a guest's physical signature. The consultation for this plan began on 26 August 2026 and finishes on 27 November 2026.

What changed

The Federal Council has extended Protection Status S for Ukrainian people in Switzerland. It will now last until 4 March 2028. This means they will continue to get support. From 20 August 2026, new applications for Protection Status S will have a new condition. Applicants must meet their military duties in Ukraine. This rule makes Switzerland's policy the same as the European Union's recent decision. This change gives clear information to affected people, cantons (Swiss states), communes (local councils), and employers for the next 18 months.