Switzerland changes rules: Ukrainians from western regions may lose protection

The Swiss government is restricting the S status for Ukrainian refugees. The new rules will affect people from regions where there is no fighting, particularly western Ukraine. Find out when the new rules will come into effect and who they may affect

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The Swiss Federal Council has decided to tighten the criteria for granting temporary protection to Ukrainians. From now on, S status will only be granted to those who have arrived from regions where fighting is ongoing or which are under occupation. For residents of western Ukraine, returning home is considered safe, so deportation is possible in certain cases. At the same time, the validity of S status has been extended until March 4, 2027, according to the Federal Council.

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New rules for Ukrainian refugees

On October 8, the Federal Council acknowledged that due to the ongoing instability in Ukraine, a mass return of refugees is not possible in the near future. At the same time, the government decided to tighten the conditions for granting protection, limiting it only to persons from areas of active combat operations.

This means that Ukrainians from the Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi regions may be denied S status and, if their application is rejected by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), be subject to deportation.

Who remains under protection?

Persons who already have S status will not be deported. The SEM will assess new applications individually, taking into account the current security situation in the regions. At the same time, the list of “safe” regions may change depending on developments in Ukraine.

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When will the changes take effect?

The new rules will take effect on November 1, 2025, and will apply to all applications, including those submitted earlier. The government has also allowed Ukrainians with S status to visit Ukraine for a short period of time — up to 15 days within six months.

The support program for Ukrainians with S status, including integration measures, has been extended until March 2027.

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Reminder! Ukrainians residing in Poland are facing significant changes in the rules for receiving social assistance, which will particularly affect families with children, the elderly, and those without official employment. In response, the Ukrainian government is preparing a support programme for citizens who have decided to return to their homeland. Here we explain what support measures are available for Ukrainians planning to return home from Poland.

Photo: Stephanie Lecoq (EPA-EFE)

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