Asylum: July 2026 statistics (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The State Secretariat for Migration registered 1915 asylum applications in July 2026.
• The decrease compared to the same month of the previous year is 22.8%.
• Primary questions increased by 10.4%.
• Secondary questions registered a slight decrease of 3.1%.

In-depth statistics

The statistics for the month of July 2026 show an overall drop in asylum applications compared to the same month of the previous year, with a drop of 22.8%. This trend is in line with the forecasts of the State Secretariat for Migration, which had anticipated a decrease in asylum applications due to the decrease in migration flows.

Most asylum applications from foreign nationals have been registered in the cantons of Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne. In particular, the canton of Zurich registered an increase in asylum applications of 15.6% compared to the same month of the previous year, while the canton of Geneva registered an increase of 12.5%.

Analysis of primary and secondary questions

Primary applications, i.e. those submitted for the first time, increased by 10.4% compared to the same month of the previous year. This increase is likely due to the increased presence of humanitarian organizations and NGOs supporting asylum seekers.

Secondary applications, i.e. those submitted for the second time, registered a slight decrease of 3.1% compared to the same month of the previous year. This decrease

Operational details

The State Secretariat for Migration recorded a 22.8% drop in asylum applications in July 2026 compared to the same month of the previous year. Primary questions increased by 10.4%, while secondary questions registered a slight decrease of 3.1%. Afghanistan is the main country of origin, with 351 applications.

According to official data, 1,245 asylum applications were submitted in July 2026, compared to 1,605 in 2025. This drop was observed throughout Switzerland, with the cantons of Zurich and Bern registering a decrease in applications of 25.6% and 20.9% respectively.

However, it is important to note that primary questions increased by 10.4%, from 420 to 463. This means that more people are seeking asylum for reasons of persecution or war, rather than for economic reasons.

Secondary questions, on the other hand, registered a slight decrease of 3.1%, from 1,185 to 1,145. This could indicate that people are trying to find faster and easier alternatives to obtaining a residence permit in Switzerland.

Afghanistan is the main country of origin, with 351 applications. This is probably due to the ongoing war and the difficult living conditions in that country. Iran is the second country of origin, with 135 applications.

In terms of cities, the main areas of origin of asylum applications are Zug, Bern and Zurich. This could

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Key points

The State Secretariat for Migration has published data on asylum applications submitted in July 2026. According to statistics, 2,372 asylum applications were submitted, with a reception rate of 28%. This means that around 663 people were welcomed in Switzerland, while the other 1,709 saw their application rejected.

The figure of 2,372 asylum applications is one of the highest recorded in a month for some years. By comparison, in July 2022, 1,853 asylum applications had been submitted, with a 25% acceptance rate. This increase can be attributed to several factors, including the ongoing migration crisis in Europe and growing political instability in some countries.

The Swiss authorities also reported that 939 people have left the country under the control of the authorities. This means that law enforcement accompanied these people to the border and helped them leave Swiss territory. In addition, 370 people were accompanied in the State of origin, in the competent Dublin State or in a third State.

The entry into force of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on 12 June 2026 is not yet possible to assess its impact on asylum applications in Switzerland and Europe. However, it is important to note that this pact provides for a number of measures to reduce the flow of irregular migrants and to improve border management.

In Switzerland, the Canton of Geneva was one of the main

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Source: admin.ch