New Regulation on the S Status Protection, Starting 1st November 2025

According to a decision by Parliament, Switzerland will limit the S Protection Status to persons who had their last place of residence in occupied or directly war-affected areas of Ukraine. The new regulation will come into effect on November 1st, 2025. It applies to all applications that are examined after this date, even if they were submitted before. Those who have already been granted protection status, as well as their family members living in Ukraine, will not be affected by this new regulation.

From now on, for granting temporary protection, a distinction will be made between regions where return is considered reasonable or not reasonable. Currently, according to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), return to the regions Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chernivtsi is considered reasonable.

However, each protection application will still be individually assessed. If the S status is refused because return is deemed reasonable, the SEM will order removal to Ukraine. In this case, you may apply for asylum in Switzerland. If removal is deemed not permissible or unreasonable in a particular case, temporary admission (F permit) will be granted in Switzerland.

If you need assistance regarding the new regulation, please contact us via email or chat (WhatsApp/Viber/Telegram). Unfortunately, we are currently unable to accept calls via WhatsApp/Viber/Telegram.

Legal Support in S-procedure

The S-Procedure

The S-procedure is designed to provide rapid, temporary protection in Switzerland for people who have fled from Ukraine. Once you receive "S-Status," you are allowed to work and travel abroad.

Detailed official information from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) about the S-procedure and frequently asked questions (available in German, Ukrainian, and Russian) can be found on this page.

Free Legal Support

In the S-procedure, you have the right to free Legal Support. This is provided by the Berne Legal Advice Office for People in Need (RBS Bern). We are independent of the state and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). We treat your information confidentially and represent only your interests.

How We Work

Our legal protection service consists of two teams: the Advisory Team and the Legal Support team. The Advisory Team supports you during your registration and remains available for your concerns afterward.

The Legal Support Team provides legal support throughout the S-procedure. They inform you about your chances, if required, prepare you for interviews conducted by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), and accompany you to these interviews. They discuss with you the submission of any evidence, draft statements, when necessary, review the decision with you, and inform you if there are grounds to file an appeal.

Important: We Must Stay in Contact!

To continue supporting you after your assignment to a canton, it is very important that you inform us immediately of your new address and any new phone number – preferably via email or WhatsApp. This ensures that we can promptly forward any information from the authorities to you and remain available to assist with any questions you may have.

You Have the Choice

As an alternative to the free Legal Support you are entitled to, you may also choose to hire a private lawyer to support you during the S-procedure. However, you must find and pay for this lawyer yourself. If you do not want or no longer wish to be represented by us, you must inform us.

Your Duties

In your procedure, you have a duty to tell the truth and to cooperate. The information you provide during your S-procedure must be truthful. You must attend your appointments with the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) on time and remain in the canton to which you are assigned during the process. Unreported absences may have consequences for your S-procedure: the SEM may dismiss your application. You must bring identity documents and evidence proving your residence in Ukraine before and during the war to both the interview and your appointment with legal representation.

If you are unable to personally receive a letter from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the postal service will leave a collection notice in your mailbox. You must pick up the letter from the specified post office within 7 days using this collection notice.

Contact Us!

If you need our help or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

By phone: +41 (0)31 370 15 81

Via WhatsApp/Viber/Telegram: +41 76 630 47 32

By email: s-verfahren.be@rbsbern.ch