The information on this page was collected from public resources and does not constitute legal advice.
General information on border crossing?People who are leaving Ukraine due to the war and seeking protection may currently enter Switzerland legally (and free of charge on public transport), even without a valid travel document or visa: Ukrainian nationals, people of other nationalities and stateless people โ each with their family members โ who can prove, by means of a valid short stay or residence permit, that they have the legal right to reside in Ukraine. Refugees from Ukraine are permitted to enter Switzerland, where they will be given accommodation and receive temporary protection (protection status S) if they need it. Your application to obtain protection status โSโ is handled by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). As part of this procedure, SEM will allocate you to one of Switzerland's 26 cantons. From then on, that canton will be responsible for your living accommodation and other care. This may include the payment of social assistance benefits, if necessary, to cover your basic daily needs in Switzerland. More information here Questions can be sent to or you can call the Ukraine helpline on +41 (0)58 465 99 11, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 12am and 2pm to 4pm. |
What documents do I need to enter?You can enter Switzerland with any of the following documents:
In order to prove family/marital status, birth certificates and a marriage certificate are required. The telephone number of the DPSU hotline ("Trust" Service) is 1598. You can use it for questions of a consultative nature within the competence of the State Border Service of Ukraine. For more information about the documents with which you can cross the border, and about the categories of citizens who are allowed to travel outside Ukraine, see here |
What happens after a border crossing?Persons who arrive in Switzerland after fleeing Ukraine can report directly to one of the six federal asylum centres with processing facilities In order to avoid waiting times, the SEM recommends that all persons seeking protection who are already accommodated apply for registration via RegisterMe |
How can I get from the border to the capital (a certain town)?Refugees from Ukraine have the opportunity to use public transport (2nd class) free of charge to travel to their destination in Switzerland or for transit. For free trips to the authorities, federal asylum centers or cantonal welfare authorities, you can be provided with appropriate travel tickets. |
How can I travel to another (specific) country?Ukrainian citizens and Ukrainian resident permit holders can travel in the Schengen area without biometric travel document or visa for up to 90 days. Many European companies are offering free transport options for refugees fleeing Ukraine. For more information on this and on protection in the EU Member States please consult the following page: Information for people fleeing the war in Ukraine | European Commission Refugees from Ukraine have the opportunity to use public transport (2nd class) free of charge to travel to their destination in Switzerland or for transit. For free trips to the authorities, federal asylum centers or cantonal welfare authorities, you can be provided with appropriate travel tickets. |
How long can I stay?You can stay in Switzerland for 90 days visa free. Once arrived you can apply for status S within these 90 days. Status S resident permit is currently limited to maximal 1 year, there is however the possibility to prolong it. After five years, persons in need of protection may receive a B residence permit, which is valid until the temporary protection is lifted. Persons who are granted protection status S may travel abroad and return to Switzerland without a travel permit. They may engage in gainful employment (including self-employment) without a having to wait a certain period to do. |
Where can an unaccompanied minor get help?It is very important that you register your arrival with the Swiss authorities so that you can obtain all the help you need. Go to the closest federal asylum centre (BAZ) with processing facilities. You can find the addresses here If you have arrived in Switzerland alone, make sure you inform the authorities and explain where your parents and you family are, if you know it. If you had problems during your journey, please share this information. If you need help you can also contact the following organizations which have experience in helping young people. Best is to talk to your parents or a trusted adult first, but you can also contact them on your own.
Important tips Take good care of your identity documents (such as ID card or passport) and show them only to the authorities or trusted organisations. Do not trust people you donโt know and that do not belong to any trusted organization, who offer to take you away from your family to give you a place to stay, for work or school. Donโt accept these offers if you donโt feel comfortable. It is normal to feel upset after having to leave your country and seeing or hearing about so many terrifying things. You may have difficulty to put things that you saw or experienced out of your mind. You may be separated from people you love and worried about them or worried what will happen next. You may feel like nothing is familiar. Talk to someone you trust about how you are feeling. Donโt hesitate to ask for help. |
Are there any Covid-related requirements and if yes, what are they?There are also no quarantine restrictions. People fleeing Ukraine may also enter Switzerland without being vaccinated. Information relating to coronavirus can be found on the FOPH website |
Where do I register for temporary protection?Persons who arrive in Switzerland after fleeing Ukraine can report directly to one of the six federal asylum centres with processing facilities In order to avoid waiting times, the SEM recommends that all persons seeking protection who are already accommodated apply for registration via RegisterMe You can also apply online |
Can I get temporary protection in this country if I have previously obtained temporary protection in another country?If a person has already been granted protection status in another EU country, he will not be granted S protection status in Switzerland, unless the EU country that granted it is a country particularly burdened by the war in Ukraine or a large number of migrants (e.g. Poland). |
How to extend the status of temporary protection?The Swiss authorities have announced that the country has decided to extend the temporary protection directive for Ukrainian refugees until March 4, 2024. The status will be extended automatically. Source |
What are my rights while I wait to get temporary protection?You must send the form via email to : anmeldung_ukraine@sem.admin.ch Following your online registration you should receive an invitation to present yourself at one of the 6 federal centres. Persons with protection status S have the right to reside in Switzerland, where they can apply for their family members to follow, are allowed to work and will be entitled to asylum social assistance and medical care. |
What documents will I receive once I get temporary protection?Under protection status โSโ, the persons concerned receive an S permit. This is limited to a maximum of one year, but can be extended. After five years, persons in need of protection may receive a B residence permit, which is valid until the temporary protection is lifted. |
May I temporarily return to Ukraine? What will happen to my protection status?The Swiss State Secretariat for Immigration (SEM) reports The SEM also determined that binational couples are not entitled to S protection status in Switzerland if one of the two persons is a citizen of the EU / EFTA countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, New Zealand or Australia. Also, if a person has already been granted protection status in another state, the protection status S will not be granted to him/her in Switzerland. |
Can I move around the country and the European Union freely while under temporary protection?Persons who are granted S status in accordance with the decision of the Federal Council of 11 March 2022 may travel abroad and return to Switzerland with a valid recognised passport without a travel permit. The entry regulations of the respective countries of entry apply. |
Can I apply for asylum while under temporary protection? What is the difference?Currently it is not possible to apply for asylum as a Ukrainian. All procedures have been put on hold. It depends on how the situation will develop. The temporary protection (Status S) has been introduced to facilitate the arrival of refugees from Ukraine. |
How and where can I apply for the residency?Under protection status โSโ, the persons concerned receive an S permit. This is limited to a maximum of one year, but can be extended. After five years, persons in need of protection may receive a B residence permit, which is valid until the temporary protection is lifted. |
How long I need to wait to get the residency?Under protection status โSโ, the persons concerned receive an S permit. This is limited to a maximum of one year, but can be extended. After five years, persons in need of protection may receive a B residence permit, which is valid until the temporary protection is lifted. |
What if I don't have the international passport?Switzerland is showing solidarity and will grant exemptions to Ukrainian citizens who do not have a biometric travel document and visa, unless there are compelling reasons in an individual case for refusing entry. To cross the border with Switzerland, it is enough to have a civil passport of Ukraine. |
How can a Ukrainian refugee register a newborn in this country?You can register the birth of a child only at the consulate. There, the determination of his origin and the assignment of his surname, first name, and patronymic are carried out. The application for registration must be submitted immediately, but no later than one month after the birth of the child, and in the case of a stillborn child - no later than three days. The registration process takes place at the place of birth or at the place of residence of the child's parents or one of them (with a written application). At the same time, in case of illness, death of the parents or for other reasons it is impossible to register the birth - the application can be submitted by relatives or other persons authorized by the representative of the health care institution in which the child was born or is currently. What is required for registration?
Registration is free, and based on its results, parents are issued a birth certificate. How to return to the homeland with a child born in the Switzerland? In order for Ukrainians to return home with a child born in the Switzerland, they must have with them:
Is the status of a citizen of Ukraine preserved during the birth of a child in the Switzerland? A newborn Ukrainian in the Switzerland retains the status of a citizen of Ukraine. Data on citizenship and nationality in the act record of birth and certificate are not filled in, which is why a corresponding entry is made in the column "For marks". In addition, a person whose parents or one of his parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of his birth is a citizen of Ukraine. The place of birth of the baby does not affect the possibility of him acquiring Ukrainian citizenship. |
Where to apply in case of death of a Ukrainian abroad? How to repatriate the deceased to their homeland?There are several steps involved in the process of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine: 1. Notify the authorities. The first step of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine is to contact the local authorities in Switzerland (the cantonal civil registry office), so you can register the death. Ukrainian embassy 2. Arrange the correct documents. Youโll need to have all the right paperwork before you can repatriate your loved one home from abroad to Ukraine. If you are repatriating a body to Ukraine for burial or cremation, the documents you will need include:
All the mentioned documents should be authenticated, legalized and translated into Ukrainian by the certified translator. The originals of abovementioned documents and notarized translations, must accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. The passport of the deceased person should be sent to the Embassy of Ukraine along with a notarized and authenticated copy of the Certificate of Death, and a translation to Ukrainian. The Embassy is to make correspondent procedures with the passport and can forward it back if it is required to accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. The Embassy is to be informed of the date, time, and the place of delivery of the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. Only the next of kin relatives of the deceased, or persons correspondingly authorized by them, can receive the casket or urn. 3. Transport the deceased to Ukraine. The casket containing the body, or urn with ashes, must be sealed by the Funeral Home. There are no strict requirements with respect to the urn with ashes; however, the body should be transported in a metal casket, made of zinc-plated steel or tinplate not more than 0,4 thick. For the air cargo transportation, it is necessary to specify a cemetery in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian Funeral Home which will take care of the casket, or the urn with ashes, in Ukraine. Both are a subject of private choice by the relatives or friends of the deceased person. Source |
Where can I translate my documents?You can contact certified translators You can translate your documents at any translation agency in your city. Search for ยซรbersetzung von Dokumentenยป on Google. |
How do I get Mobile phone/internet services?Some companies such as Sunrise The free SIM cards are available in every Sunrise Shop in Switzerland |
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