Switzerland

What changed

The Swiss Federal Council has extended protection status S for people from Ukraine. This status will now last until 4 March 2028. The Council made this decision on 19 August 2026. A new rule also starts on 20 August 2026. New applicants for protection status S must follow their military duties in Ukraine. This rule applies to Ukrainian citizens who are old enough for military service, those on the reserve list, and those who joined the armed forces by choice. This new rule does not affect people who already have protection status S.

What changed

The Swiss Federal Council wants to change Asylum Ordinance 2. This change lets cantons set their own social assistance rules for people with protection status S who have lived in Switzerland for five years or more. It will start on 1 March 2027. This happens because the federal government will stop paying subsidies to cantons for this group on 1 January 2027. This decision is part of the 2027 relief package. Cantons can then make their support rules the same as for local people. Or they can keep lower benefits. Or they can set benefits somewhere in between. The federal government also plans to pay cantons a one-time amount of 1300 Swiss Francs. This is for emergency aid costs for each person whose protection status S is removed. This payment is only made if there is a legal decision to remove the person from Switzerland.

What changed

Switzerland made visa rules stricter for people from Somalia and Guinea. This started on 12 August 2026. This change matches decisions the European Union (EU) made on 25 June 2026 (for Somalia) and 10 July 2026 (for Guinea). This stops several helpful processes in the visa application. Before, it was easier to provide documents, get faster decisions, avoid fees for people with diplomatic or service passports, and get multiple-entry visas. These benefits will no longer apply. The new rules affect all people from Somalia and Guinea who want a visa for Switzerland.

What changed

Switzerland has approved changes to rules. These changes will make the ordinary naturalisation process digital. Starting 1 August 2026, cantonal authorities and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will exchange applications and messages using a digital system. This system is part of the Central Migration Information System (ZEMIS). This change means cantonal naturalisation authorities and SEM will send applications to SEM digitally. They will also receive federal naturalisation permit decisions digitally. The system needs new data fields in ZEMIS. Cantonal authorities also need new online access rights.

What changed

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the City of Brugg, and Canton Aargau have agreed. They will extend the temporary federal asylum centre (BAZ) in Brugg. This extension starts on 1 July 2026. It will last for three more years. The center's maximum capacity for asylum seekers was 440 places. This will change to a regular capacity of 250 places. The centre can temporarily increase to 350 places. This needs approval from the Brugg city council. The decision was made with the Swiss Army. It continues using military halls for asylum accommodation.

What changed

On 19 June 2026, the Swiss Federal Council approved a change to the Asylum Sectoral Plan (SPA). This plan guides how asylum facilities are set up. The change adds the new object sheet TZCH-2 Buosingen to the plan. It also takes out the object sheet ZSCH-2 Schwyz (Wintersried) from the plan. This change sets the stage for planning and approving a new federal asylum centre (BAZ) in Buosingen. This centre is expected to have 170 places for people to stay. The new federal asylum centre is expected to start working in 2031.