Switzerland extends Ukrainians’ protection until March 2025

Switzerland decided to extend the temporary protection status for Ukrainians and extended it until March 4, 2025,  the Swiss Federal Council announced.

The government reasoned this decision by expecting that"the situation won't gradually change in the future."

The Council also aims to employ 40% of refugees with S-level protection status, which allows them to travel abroad, and work in Switzerland for a year with the possibility of an extension.

Ukrainians will be able to access rights in the EU, such as right of residence, access to the labor market, housing, social, medical, and and other benefits.

As of the end of October 2023, about 66,000 Ukrainians had an active S status in Switzerland, which will be valid until it is canceled. A prerequisite for its cancellation is the sustainable stabilization of the situation in Ukraine.

The EU launched the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians seeking refuge from a full-scale war on March 4, 2022.

At the end of September this year, the Council extended the mechanism for refugees for another year, from March 4, 2024 to March 4, 2025, at the level of interior ministers.