The Swiss Confederation announced that it will extend the stay of people from Ukraine seeking protection in federal asylum centres, particularly those who have received a negative decision. This measure is made possible by a decline in new asylum applications, which has reduced the occupancy rate of federal centres to below 60%.
Since early 2026, asylum applications have decreased to about 1,300 per month, compared to around 2,100 per month in autumn 2025. As a result, since early March 2026, Ukrainian applicants with negative decisions are allowed to stay an additional 20 days in federal centres.
At the same time, some temporary centres opened during peak demand periods will close at the end of March 2026, including those in Moudon, Plan-les-Ouates and Steckborn.
Other closures are due to planned renovations or reassignment for military use. However, these facilities can be reactivated if the number of asylum requests rises again.
The closures will not affect the Confederation’s support for cantons, as sufficient capacity remains.
From April 2026, Switzerland will continue operating 31 federal asylum centres with a total of 7,000 places.
- State Secretariat for Migration | Staatssekretariat für Migration | Secrétariat d’État aux migrations | Segreteria di Stato della migrazione (10 March, 2026), La Confédération héberge plus longtemps dans ses centres pour requérants d’asile les personnes en quête de protection venues d’Ukraine [The Confederation is accommodating people seeking protection from Ukraine for longer periods of time in its asylum centres],