Protection status S to continue, subject to further restrictions
Bern, 19.08.2026 — There is still no sign of lasting stabilisation in the situation in Ukraine. Status S for people from Ukraine seeking protection will therefore be extended to 4 March 2028. Support measures for people with protection status S (Programme S) will also continue until that date. The Federal Council decided this at its meeting on 19 August, following consultation with the relevant stakeholders. In addition, protection status S will be restricted for certain further groups of people from 20 August.
As there is no prospect in the short or medium term of a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine, protection status S will be extended until March 2028. In the Federal Council’s view, protection status S is currently the best solution for continuing to provide effective protection for persons from Ukraine and for relieving pressure on the asylum system. This provides clarity for those seeking protection, the cantons, communes and employers for the next 18 months. Should the long-term situation in Ukraine improve, the Federal Council will reassess its position on protection status S accordingly.
Additional restrictions on protection status S
Switzerland has so far coordinated closely with the EU on protection status S and will continue to do so. On 30 July, EU member states decided to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2028. At the same time, they decided to restrict access to temporary protection in the EU: since 31 July, temporary protection has been granted only to those who are complying with the military obligations that apply in Ukraine. The requirement to comply with military obligations applies in particular to Ukrainian nationals of conscription age, those on the reserve list and those who have voluntarily joined the armed forces. Switzerland is not legally bound by this decision taken by the Council of the EU. However, the Federal Council takes the view that it is in Switzerland’s interests to align its practice with that of the EU. Consequently, protection status S will now only be granted to individuals who are in compliance with the military obligations they may have in Ukraine. This new rule applies to all new applications submitted on or after 20 August. It has no impact on individuals who have already been granted protection status S.
The restriction of protection status S that applies to persons required to do military service necessitates an amendment to the Federal Council’s general ruling of 8 October 2025 on the granting of temporary protection in connection with the situation in Ukraine. By implementing the Friedli motion (24.3378), the Federal Council has, since November 2025, already restricted protection status S to persons whose last place of residence was in occupied or conflict-affected regions of Ukraine.
Continuation of integration measures
On extending protection status S, the Federal Council also decided to continue the specific support measures for refugees from Ukraine with this status until 4 March 2028; these measures, known as Programme S, were first adopted on 13 April 2022. The federal government is contributing CHF 3,000 per person each year to the cantons' integration efforts, in particular for language support and access to education and the labour market. Persons who, after five years’ residence in Switzerland, are granted a B residence permit linked to protection status S are entitled to integration support under the cantonal integration programmes.
Changes after five years’ residence
From March 2027, the first Ukrainians to seek protection in Switzerland will have been here for five years. This five-year period has implications for these individuals’ residence status. The Asylum Act provides that persons in need of protection are entitled, after five years, to a residence permit (B permit) linked to protection status S. If protection status S is revoked, these residence permits will automatically cease to be valid. The permits are granted by the cantonal authorities and do not require SEM’s approval.
Notwithstanding this, persons in need of protection may, subject to certain conditions, apply for a residence permit that is independent of protection status S under the provisions in the Asylum Act on cases of hardship. Provided that the conditions are met, cantonal authorities may, with the approval of SEM, grant a hardship permit to a person who is resident in their canton.
Documents
The documents are not available in English. For the complete documentation see the pages in German, French or Italian.