The Swiss Federal Council has decided to maintain the temporary protection status (S status) for displaced persons from Ukraine until 4 March 2027. Support measures for beneficiaries under the “Programme S” are also extended to this date.
The Federal Council determined that the conditions for maintaining protection remain fulfilled, as a lasting stabilization in Ukraine is not foreseeable in the medium term. This decision provides clarity for cantons, municipalities, and employers for the next 18 months. Switzerland will reassess the situation if conditions in Ukraine improve significantly.
Also, following a parliamentary motion by Councillor Esther Friedli, Switzerland has introduced a new rule distinguishing between Ukrainian regions.
Temporary protection will now only be granted to people from areas under Russian occupation or active conflict zones. Returns are currently deemed possible to the regions of Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi.
Individuals already holding S status and their family members in Ukraine are not affected by the change. The State Secretariat for Migration will regularly review which regions are considered safe and adjust the list as needed.
Applications for S status will continue to be assessed individually. If a person comes from a region where return is deemed reasonable, the application will be rejected, though they may apply for asylum or receive provisional admission if return is impossible.
The new regulation takes effect on 1 November 2025 and applies to all pending and future S status applications. On the same date, new travel rules enter into force, allowing S status holders to visit Ukraine for up to 15 days per semester (instead of per quarter).
The Federal Council also extended funding for integration measures under Programme S until March 2027. The Confederation will continue contributing CHF 3,000 per person per year to support language learning, education access, and labour market integration.