S protection status — Temporary protection for persons from Ukraine

What this is about

The S protection status is a separate form of temporary protection that the Federal Council introduced on 11 March 2022 for persons from Ukraine by activating the Protection Ordinance. The legal basis is Art. 66 of the Asylum Act (AsylG, SR 142.31), which stipulates that the Federal Council can activate temporary protection as a group status in the event of a mass exodus. The S status is not an asylum status in the strict sense (Art. 3-7 AsylG) – it immediately grants a right of residence without an individual asylum procedure, but it is limited in time and subject to the possibility of its political termination by the Federal Council.

Current period of validity (as of 04.11.2025)

By decision of 5 November 2025, the Federal Council extended the S status until 4 March 2027. This extension follows EU practice, according to which the temporary protection under the Mass Influx Directive was also extended until March 2027.

Material change from November 2025: The granting of S protection status will no longer be automatic for all persons from Ukraine. Since the November amendment, the SEM has been examining the region of origin of the applicants. Persons from regions that, in the SEM's assessment, are not currently directly affected by the war may be excluded from S protection status. Further details on this practice are provided in the relevant SEM directives, which are continuously updated in the source reference of this file.

Personal scope of application

The S protection status essentially provides:

• Ukrainian nationals,
• their family members (spouses, registered partners, minor children), regardless of the nationality of the family members.
• Persons who held recognised protection status in Ukraine (e.g. UNHCR-recognised refugees in Ukraine).
• certain third-country nationals with permanent residence rights in Ukraine, provided that their return to their country of origin is not possible without risk.

Persons who were in Switzerland with a B residence permit before 24 February 2022 and whose permit is still valid do not fall under status S – they retain their previous status.

Rights and Obligations of S Protection Status

Immigration Law

• Right to reside in Switzerland for the duration of the protection status (currently until 04.03.2027).
• Allocation to a canton by the SEM according to the distribution key (Art. 27 AsylA, by analogy).
• A change of canton is possible upon request if there is a valid reason (family ties, employment).

Employment

• Employment is permitted, without the three-month waiting period applicable to N permit holders (Art. 75 AsylA or the special provision for S protection status). Requirement: the employer must register the employment with the competent cantonal migration office.
• Both employed and self-employed work is permitted.
• Principle of equal pay: no less favourable treatment than that of domestic employees.

Education and Schooling

• Compulsory schooling for minor children in accordance with cantonal primary school legislation — the children attend the regular public school in their place of residence.
• University access: admission to a university or university of applied sciences subject to the general requirements; recognition of Ukrainian qualifications is carried out by swissuniversities or the cantonal education authority.

Healthcare

• Mandatory health insurance cover within three months (Art. 3 KVG, SR 832.10). If the person has no financial means, the canton will cover the premiums from social welfare (asylum social welfare).
• Access to emergency medical care from the date of registration in the canton.

Family reunification

• Family reunification is facilitated during protection status S for the immediate family (spouse, registered partner, minor children).
• Submit the application to the SEM; the processing time is currently approximately 2-4 months (as of November 2025).

Travel

• Free movement within Switzerland.
• Travel to Schengen countries is possible with an S protection status permit and a passport.
• Travel to Ukraine: permitted, with restrictions — anyone who spends more than 15 days per half-year in Ukraine risks the revocation of their status (an indication of no longer requiring protection). Travel must be reported to the SEM in advance.

Obligations

• Taking up residence in the assigned canton.
• Registration with the local municipality within the cantonal deadline (usually 14 days).
• Participation in the proceedings — notify changes of address, appear at the authority’s summons.
• LAMal registration within 3 months.
• In the case of gainful employment: AHV/IV/EO contributions from day 1 (Art. 1a AHVG, SR 831.10), BVG from CHF 22,050 annual income (as of 2024).

Transition from S protection status to B residence permit

By resolution of 12 January 2024, the Federal Council has provided for a facilitated transition from S protection status to an ordinary B residence permit. The requirements are set out in detail in the SEM guidelines and typically include:

• Gainful employment or independent income sufficient to cover living expenses.
• Language skills (generally A2 level in spoken form in the official language of the place of residence),
• Integration within the meaning of Art. 58a AIG (SR 142.20),
• no dependence on social welfare,
• no significant criminal record entries.

The transition is a voluntary option, not an automatic effect. Those who retain S protection status remain in the S regime; those who switch will receive a regular B residence permit with the associated rights (including a longer validity period, easier family reunification, and the possibility of changing jobs without requiring cantonal authorisation).

Please note: If the protection order is repealed (a political decision by the Federal Council), the S status will no longer apply to anyone who is still under the S regime at that time. Anyone who has switched to a B residence permit in good time will retain it, regardless of the repeal. This situation is the subject of individual consultation – see the reference path below.

What happens when S protection status is revoked (scenario)

The Federal Council has stipulated in the Ordinance on Protection that the revocation of protection status (status S) must be carried out with an appropriate transitional period. Persons who are in protection status (status S) at the time of revocation typically receive:

• Deadline for voluntary return to Ukraine (return counselling via REAG/GARP);
• possibility of submitting a regular asylum application if continued need for protection is claimed (Art. 18 ff. AsylA);
• Possibility of applying for an ordinary B residence permit if the requirements are met (see above).

The specific details of the transitional period and the procedures will be decided politically at the time of the repeal. SIP will update this file immediately (24-hour SLA in Switzerland) if a corresponding decision is made.

What SIP does not cover (Scope boundaries)

SIP does not provide advice on the strategy for an ordinary asylum application, which could be used instead after the S protection status has been revoked. SIP does not provide success forecasts for individual transitional applications from S to B. SIP does not advise on whether a specific family member is entitled to family reunification – this is a case-specific legal assessment and requires a lawyer on the cantonal bar register.

Redirect to individual questions

If you have specific questions about your own situation:

• Asylum-related emergencies: SOS-Asylum (24/7), Swiss Refugee Council (OSAR, www.osar.ch), cantonal Caritas or HEKS.
• Legal support (transition from S to B permit, family reunification, scenarios involving the lifting of restrictions): SIP referral list with lawyers verified by BFR, who speak the language of the canton of residence (Ukrainian, Russian, German, French or Italian).
• Social services, courses, accommodation: cantonal asylum coordination centre, linked on the respective cantonal website at sem.admin.ch.
• Administrative matters (registration, change of canton, notification of travel): competent cantonal migration office.

Cantonal Peculiarities

Detailed information on each canton can be found in the respective cantonal section.

Sources overview

• AsylA Art. 66-79 (temporary protection)
• Protection Ordinance of 11 March 2022, activation for persons from Ukraine
• Federal Council decision of 5 November 2025 — extension until 4 March 2027, subject to review of the region of origin.
• SEM: Ukraine topic page (quarterly updates)
• EU decision to extend the Temporary Protection Directive until March 2027

Update Triggers

This file will be updated without delay when:

1. Federal Council decision concerning S protection status (cancellation, extension, adjustment of the group of persons covered, transition from S to B permit),
2. Amendment to the SEM’s instructions regarding S protection status,
3. significant change in cantonal practice (e.g. new social welfare lump sums for S permit holders),
4. Significant suspension or resumption of admissions following international events.

HARD GLOSSARY — non-negotiable Swiss federal codes / agency names.

• "AIG" → "FNIA"
• "Ausländer- und Integrationsgesetz" → "Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration"
• "VZAE" → "OASA"
• "BüG" → "SCA"
• "Bürgerrechtsgesetz" → "Swiss Citizenship Act"
• "FZA" → "AFMP"
• "Freizügigkeitsabkommen" → "Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons"
• "AsylG" → "AsylA"
• "Asylgesetz" → "Asylum Act"
• "nDSG" → "revFADP"
• "DSG" → "FADP"
• "SEM" → "SEM"
• "Staatssekretariat für Migration" → "State Secretariat for Migration"
• "BVGer" → "FAC"
• "Bundesverwaltungsgericht" → "Federal Administrative Court"
• "Bundesgericht" → "Federal Supreme Court"
• "Fedlex" → "Fedlex"
• "Aufenthaltsbewilligung B" → "B residence permit"
• "Niederlassungsbewilligung C" → "C settlement permit"
• "Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung L" → "L short-term permit"
• "Grenzgängerbewilligung G" → "G cross-border permit"
• "Vorläufige Aufnahme F" → "F provisional admission"
• "Schutzstatus S" → "S protection status"
• "Asylsuchende N" → "N asylum-seeker permit"
• "Einbürgerung" → "Naturalisation"
• "erleichterte Einbürgerung" → "facilitated naturalisation"
• "ordentliche Einbürgerung" → "ordinary naturalisation"
• "Familiennachzug" → "family reunification"
• "Härtefall" → "hardship case"
• "Kantonales Migrationsamt" → "cantonal migration office"
• "OCPM" → "OCPM"
• "MIDI" → "MIDI"
• "SPOP" → "SPOP"
• "MEBEKO" → "MEBEKO"
• "BGFA" → "LLCA"
• "Anwaltsregister" → "cantonal bar register"
• "Apostille" → "apostille"
• "Schengen" → "Schengen"
• "Schengen-Overstay" → "Schengen overstay"
• "Wegweisung" → "removal"
• "Widerruf" → "revocation"
• "Beschwerde" → "appeal"
• "Verfügung" → "ruling"
• "Anmeldung" → "registration of arrival"
• "Genossenschaft" → "cooperative society"
• "Beirat" → "advisory board"
• "Redaktion" → "editorial team"