The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) reported that it received 2,122 new asylum applications in September 2026, 449 fewer than in September 2025 – an 18 % decline. Cumulatively, 18,367 people sought asylum during the first nine months of the year, down 17 % on the same period in 2025. Syrians remained the largest applicant group, followed by Afghans, Turks and Eritreans. SEM attributes the continued decrease to tightened visa-policy coordination along the Balkan route, resumed Dublin transfers from several EU partners and Switzerland’s fast-track processing model, which discourages unfounded claims by shortening adjudication times to an average of 38 days. For employers, the lower caseload eases pressure on cantonal authorities that also issue work permits to third-country specialists – a process often slowed when reception centres operate at capacity. Mobility teams should nevertheless note that the separate S-protection status for displaced Ukrainians has stabilised at about 59,000 holders and is not counted in regular asylum figures. Holders remain labour-market eligible without quota until at least March 2027. The new statistics will feed into the Federal Council’s 2027 quota deliberations and into budget planning for the network of six federal asylum centres. Companies relocating staff to Switzerland can expect predictable processing times for dependants with humanitarian backgrounds, but SEM warns that seasonal upticks in October and November could briefly raise waiting periods.
Source: EJPD media release
