Summary

Since November 1, 2025, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has differentiated between Ukrainian regions when granting status S protection. Persons from seven western Ukrainian regions (Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi) are no longer entitled to protection in Switzerland as a general rule. By the end of February 2026, this regulation affected 573 persons, of whom 104 were rejected. The SEM examines on a case-by-case basis whether a return is reasonable.

Persons

Topics

  • Swiss asylum policy
  • Ukraine flight
  • Protection status S
  • Regional differentiation

Clarus Lead

The practice adjustment marks a tightening of Swiss asylum policy toward Ukrainian refugees and implements a parliamentary motion. It signals that Switzerland distinguishes between safe and unsafe regions of the country – an approach that is central to decision-makers in migration policy. Rising examination periods and declining applications indicate practical implementation challenges.

Detailed Summary

The SEM has classified seven western Ukrainian regions as fundamentally safe for returns. This classification is based on the parliamentary motion Friedli (24.3378), which the Federal Council implemented on November 1, 2025. The regulation applies retroactively to applications submitted before this date but not yet decided – a total of 303 persons were affected.

Of the 573 affected persons (as of end of February 2026), 104 were rejected. Of these, 29 decisions were final, and 20 others were pending before the Federal Administrative Court. 84 persons withdrew their applications, and 145 departed independently. Only 20 applications were approved due to individual circumstances. The SEM conducts an individual case review with each rejection to determine whether return is reasonable for the affected person. The new regulation has significantly increased the investigation effort – particularly in medical matters and validation of evidence. The SEM regularly reviews and adjusts the list of regions. Applications from the seven regions are declining; a reduction of approximately 50 percent was recorded in Transcarpathia.

Key Statements

  • Seven western Ukrainian regions have been classified as fundamentally safe for returns since November 1, 2025
  • 573 persons were affected by the new regulation by the end of February 2026
  • 104 rejection decisions issued, 29 of which are final; 20 pending before the Federal Administrative Court
  • Examination duration increased due to necessary additional investigations and evidence validation
  • Applications from affected regions declining (Transcarpathia: −50 %)

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence Quality: On what current security analyses is the classification of the seven regions based? Are these data regularly validated by independent sources (e.g., UNHCR, international human rights organizations)?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: What role did migration policy cost savings play in the selection of these seven regions compared to other parts of Ukraine?

  3. Causality: How is a distinction made between persons who withdraw their application because they can actually return and those who abandon it because they see no chance? What alternatives (e.g., other countries) do the 145 persons who "departed independently" pursue?

  4. Feasibility: How does the SEM ensure that the 20 persons with positive decisions based on "individual circumstances" are not decided arbitrarily? What criteria apply?

  5. Retroactivity: Is the retroactive application to 303 already submitted applications legally and ethically justifiable if the security situation in these regions has not changed?

  6. Processing Duration: By what percentage has the average processing time per file increased due to the new investigation requirements?

Source Directory

Primary Source: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – Press Release on Practice Adjustment Western Ukraine (02.04.2026) https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/iF8gzpGDk8peD0o7eRBDz

Verification Status: ✓ 02.04.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 02.04.2026