|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
Interpretation services were expanded to include rare languages. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Federal Council launched the process to reduce the waiting period for family reunification for people with temporary admission, following a judgment from the ECtHR in 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The Federal Council approved amendments to facilitate the integration of refugees and beneficiaries of temporary protection into the labour market. Measures included an increased awareness among employers and jobseekers, the recognition of diplomas and the assessment of skills, and simplifying the process for temporary residence permit holders to change cantons for work-related purposes. It also lifted certain work permit requirements for individuals in hardship cases and those in preparatory vocational training. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The federal and cantonal authorities made efforts to improve security in reception facilities and address recidivism of repeat offenders among asylum applicants and beneficiaries. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Federal Council approved legal amendments to allow the State Secretariat for Migration to analyse data from devices (e.g. phones and computers) to verify the identity, nationality or travel route of applicants when other methods are insufficient. The changes entered into effect in April 2025. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
The national programme was approved to receive 1,600 refugees during 2024-2025, although all operations have been suspended since April 2023 due to the pressure on the reception system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The State Secretariat for Migration closed nine temporary federal asylum centres, reducing accommodation capacity by about 1,735 places due to a lower-than-expected number of asylum applications in autumn 2024. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A collaborative process among the confederation, cantons and municipalities was launched to develop a new comprehensive asylum strategy. Key objectives are the continuous improvement of fast and fair asylum procedures, the dignified accommodation of people seeking protection, and the quick and systematic return of people not entitled to protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Federal Council took note of a package of measures to reduce costs in asylum and optimise available resources. The aim is to save around CHF 700 million by 2028 by reducing the number of pending cases, speeding up procedures and increasing the employment rate among beneficiaries of temporary protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The State Secretariat for Migration awarded contracts for legal advice and representation services for asylum seekers in federal asylum centres. Various organisations, including Caritas Switzerland, the Bern Legal Advice Centre and OSEO, will provide these services. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
New measures were announced to improve security and support services in asylum centres. They included clarifying the legal framework for the operation of asylum centres, explicitly defining when force or police measures can be used and establishing rules for temporary detention to prevent imminent danger. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
To improve data protection and facilitate the implementation of return processes, providers of legal advice are now given limited access to MIDES, an information system on accommodation at airports. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Benin was removed from the list of safe countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The 24-hour fast procedure, which had been tested on a small scale, was extended to all federal states. The aim of the procedure is to quickly process asylum applications that have low chances of success and to relieve the workload for case officers and pressure on the reception system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
From June 2024, the Federal Council is able to contribute to the operating costs of cantonal departure centres when there is a high volume of illegal entries. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Switzerland |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Federal Council is proposing changes to the Asylum Ordinance 2, including the duty to consider the length of time people received social assistance subsidies during their provisional admission before obtaining refugee status. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
In March 2025, an amendment to the Reception Act on accommodation of applicants entered into force. The aim is to reduce private apartment housing in favour of accommodation provided by the Swedish Migration Agency (SMA). According to the amended law, applicants will need to move into and live in the allocated accommodation in order to be entitled to receive daily and special allowances. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Migration Agency launched a tender for a new framework agreement for at least 4,500 accommodation places in preparation for the reform of the reception system. The agreement aims to provide collective housing managed by private service providers. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Agency introduced new standard operating procedures and templates to support case officers with the identification of special needs and exclusion grounds and to aid them in drafting decisions. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Agency requested an increase to its budget for the coming years to maintain capacity in examining applications, managing the impacts of the war in Ukraine and investing in digitisation and IT security. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new legal position was published on financial support during the application process, namely the maintenance obligation. Financial support from the state is limited when a spouse can support the partner. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Agency introduced a simplified procedure for notifying asylum decisions, aiming to increase the number of decisions that gain legal force. The applicant is considered to be notified 2 weeks after the decision is mailed and can then appeal the decision within the following 3 weeks. If they do not appeal in that time, the decision becomes legally enforceable. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Sweden updated its legal position on the assessment of Yemeni passports. It established that passports issued by offices in areas controlled by the Houthi militia are no longer considered valid travel or identity documents. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Sweden updated its legal position on the assessment of cases by Afghan women. It established that case officers are only required to consider factors related to the applicant's sex and nationality, but not any other personal circumstances. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |
|
Sweden |
2024 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
In December 2024, the Migration Agency announced the suspension of the examination of applications made by Syrian nationals. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2025 |