BERN, Switzerland: Switzerland’s Ukraine status S rules will tighten from August 20 for new applicants who face military obligations in Ukraine, according to a Swiss government announcement.
Under the new rule, Switzerland will grant status S only to applicants who meet military obligations that apply to them in Ukraine.
However, the change will not affect Ukrainians who already hold status S. Their existing protection will remain in place.
The Swiss government said it was not legally required to follow the European Union’s approach. Still, Bern said aligning its policy with the EU was in Switzerland’s interest.
Meanwhile, Switzerland extended status S for Ukrainian refugees by another year. The protection will now remain available until March 4, 2028.
EU countries backed a similar restriction on August 5 for Ukrainian men considered fit for military service.
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Status S has operated in Switzerland since March 2022. It allows eligible Ukrainians to stay for one year, with possible annual extensions.
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The scheme also allows work with cantonal permission. Children covered by the status are eligible to attend school. More than 73,000 Ukrainians currently live in Switzerland under status S.
