S status

S protection status gives people fleeing the war in Ukraine the right to stay in Switzerland without going through an individual asylum procedure. On 19 August 2026 the Federal Council decided it will not be lifted before 4 March 2028. Since November 2025, it is no longer granted automatically: the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) checks which region of Ukraine you come from.

In short

• Not lifted before 4 March 2028, by Federal Council decision of 19 August 2026 (an earlier decision of 8 October 2025 had set 4 March 2027). Since 20 August 2026 a further restriction applies to new applications.
• You can work straight away, employed or self-employed, once your employer registers the job with the cantonal migration office.
• You must take out health insurance within three months and register with your municipality, usually within 14 days.
• Spending more than 15 days per half-year in Ukraine can cost you your status. Report trips to the SEM in advance.
• You can switch to a B permit if you meet the conditions, which protects you if S status is ended.

What S status is

The Federal Council introduced S status on 11 March 2022 by activating the Protection Ordinance. The legal basis is Art. 66 of the Asylum Act (AsylA, SR 142.31), which lets the Federal Council grant temporary protection to a group in a mass exodus. It is not asylum in the strict sense (Art. 3-7 AsylA). It gives you a right to stay at once, but it is limited in time and the Federal Council can end it.

Change since November 2025. The SEM now examines your region of origin. People from regions that, in the SEM's view, are not currently directly affected by the war may be refused S status. The SEM directives set out the details and are updated regularly.

Who can get it

• Ukrainian nationals;
• their family members (spouse, registered partner, minor children), whatever their nationality;
• people who had recognised protection status in Ukraine, for example refugees recognised by UNHCR there;
• some third-country nationals with permanent residence in Ukraine, if they cannot safely return to their own country.

If you were already in Switzerland with a valid B permit before 24 February 2022, you keep that permit and do not get S status.

Your rights

Residence. You may stay for as long as protection lasts, and the Federal Council has decided not to lift it before 04.03.2028. The SEM allocates you to a canton using its distribution key (by analogy with Art. 27 AsylA). You can ask to change canton for a valid reason, such as family ties or a job.

Work. You may work as an employee or be self-employed, with no three-month waiting period as for N permit holders (Art. 75 AsylA). Your employer must register the job with the cantonal migration office. You must be paid and treated no worse than local employees.

School and university. Children attend the local public school. You can apply to a university or university of applied sciences on the usual conditions; swissuniversities or the cantonal education authority recognises Ukrainian qualifications.

Health care. You must take out health insurance within three months (Art. 3 KVG, SR 832.10). If you have no money, the canton pays the premiums through asylum social assistance. You can get emergency medical care from the day you register in the canton.

Family reunification is made easier for your spouse, registered partner and minor children. Apply to the SEM; processing took about 2-4 months as of November 2025.

Travel. You can move freely within Switzerland and travel to Schengen countries with your S permit and passport. Travel to Ukraine is allowed with restrictions: spending more than 15 days per half-year there puts your status at risk, as it suggests you no longer need protection. Report trips to the SEM in advance.

Your obligations

• Live in the canton you are assigned to.
• Register with your municipality within the cantonal deadline, usually 14 days.
• Cooperate: report changes of address and attend when summoned.
• Take out health insurance within 3 months.
• If you work: AHV/IV/EO social security contributions from day 1 (Art. 1a AHVG, SR 831.10), and occupational pension (BVG) contributions from an annual income of CHF 22,050 (2024 figure).

Switching from S to a B permit

By decision of 12 January 2024, the Federal Council made it easier to switch from S status to a normal B permit. The SEM guidelines set the conditions, which usually include:

• a job or other income that covers your living costs;
• language skills, usually spoken A2 in the local official language;
• integration under Art. 58a of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA, SR 142.20);
• no dependence on social assistance;
• no significant criminal record.

Switching is voluntary. A B permit lasts longer, makes family reunification easier and lets you change jobs without cantonal authorisation. If the Federal Council ends S status, it ends for everyone still on it, but anyone who has already switched to a B permit keeps it.

If S status is ended

The Protection Ordinance says that ending S status must come with an appropriate transition period. You would typically get:

• a deadline for voluntary return to Ukraine, with return counselling and SEM return assistance (Art. 93 AsylA);
• the option to apply for asylum if you still need protection (Art. 18 ff. AsylA);
• the option to apply for a B permit if you meet the conditions.

Where to get help

• Asylum and protection questions: the Swiss Refugee Council (OSAR, www.osar.ch), SOS-Asylum, or your cantonal Caritas or HEKS office.
• Legal questions such as switching to a B permit or family reunification: a lawyer registered in the cantonal bar register who speaks your language (Ukrainian, Russian, German, French or Italian).
• Social services, courses and housing: your cantonal asylum coordination office, linked from sem.admin.ch.
• Registration, canton changes and travel notices: your cantonal migration office.

The temporary protection rules are in AsylA Art. 66-79. Check the SEM Ukraine page for updates.