How many asylum applications were submitted in the first half of 2026?

In the first half of 2026, for the first time since the beginning of 2022, fewer than 10,000 asylum applications were registered in Switzerland. This data led the Secretariat of State for Migration (SEM) to revise downwards the forecasts for the entire year 2026: from 26,000 to 22,000 total applications, a reduction of 4,000 applications compared to the initial estimates.

Which countries saw the sharpest decline?

Applications from Afghan, Turkish and Eritrean nationals suffered the sharpest decline in the first half of 2026. According to the SEM, two main factors explain this decrease: the reduction in Mediterranean crossings and the decrease in those who move along the Balkan route, phenomena that directly influence migration flows to Switzerland.

How does the asylum application process work in Switzerland?

Those wishing to apply for asylum in Switzerland must apply at a reception office of the State Secretariat for Migration. The procedure includes: initial registration with collection of personal data, formal examination of the application according to the criteria of federal law, possible hearing with an official in charge, finally official decision. During the examination, applicants receive accommodation in dedicated facilities and a daily allowance.

How did the requests for the S statute change in 2026?

Requests for the S statute, reserved for Ukrainian citizens, show a contraction compared to 2025. The SEM expects about 12,000 requests by the end of 2026, about 900 fewer than the previous year. This reflects the evolution of the Ukrainian situation and the diversified strategies that Ukrainian refugees adopt, such as voluntary repatriation to stabilised areas or relocation to other European countries.

What are the implications for the cantons?

The decline in asylum applications has direct repercussions on the territorial distribution of applicants. The cantons, responsible for reception and integration after the federal phase of the SEM, will be able to count on lower numbers than the initial forecasts. This creates breathing space and allows resources to be reallocated towards integration services, language training and job placement for applicants already present in the territory.

Asylum: applications drop in Switzerland in 2026 (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 25 August 2026

Swiss State Secretariat for Migration official documentation reviewing asylum application records

In the first half of 2026, for the first time since 2022, fewer than 10,000 requests were received. The SEM revises downwards: from 26,000 to 22,000 annual applications.

Context

In a nutshell

In the first half of 2026, asylum applications fell below 10,000 for the first time since 2022
The Confederation revises downwards the estimates: from 26,000 to 22,000 requests for the entire year
The decrease mainly concerns Afghan, Turkish and Eritrean applicants
Applications for S (Ukrainian) status drop to about 12,000 in 2026

Key facts

What: Marked drop in the number of asylum applications registered in Switzerland in 2026
When: First semester 2026 (less than 10,000 applications); full year forecast
Where: Switzerland
Who: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM); Afghan, Turkish, Eritrean, Ukrainian applicants
Revised estimates: from 26,000 to 22,000 requests in 2026
Articles of Association S: 12,000 expected by the end of 2026 (decrease of about 900 vs 2025)
Reasons: Decrease in Mediterranean crossings and Balkan route

Asylum applications continue to decline in Switzerland. In the first half of 2026, for the first time since the beginning of 2022, fewer than 10,000 applications were registered. A signal that prompted the Confederation to significantly revise the annual forecasts: the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) announced that the total applications for 2026 will be 22,000 instead of the 26,000 initially estimated.

The collapse of questions in the first semester

The downward trend is now consolidated. In the first half of 2026, the number of applications fell below the threshold of 10,000 units, a figure that had not been recorded since 2022. The downward revision of the

Operational details

Geopolitical dynamics and European migration flows largely explain this structural decline. The downward trend in Mediterranean crossings is not an isolated phenomenon in Switzerland, but involves all of Western Europe, where stricter controls and search and rescue operations continuously change available routes. The reduction of those using the Balkan route also signals a different balance in migration incentives and opportunities perceived by asylum seekers in various transit and destination countries.

Countries of origin and the weight of new balances

The decline concentrated on Afghans, Turks, and Eritreans is not coincidental. These three countries were historically among the main countries of origin for asylum seekers in Switzerland. The decrease in applications from these contexts signals that migration pressures are reorienting towards other European destinations, or that conditions at departure are changing. Factors such as perceived stability in countries of origin, local economic opportunities, or changes in regional conflicts directly influence flows reaching Swiss territory.

In the case of Ukrainians, the number of applications for S status decreases progressively. The SEM expects 12,000 requests by end of 2026, about 900 fewer than in 2025. This reflects the evolution of the Ukrainian situation and the diversified strategies that Ukrainian refugees adopt: voluntary repatriation to Ukraine as areas stabilize, or relocation to other European countries. S status, while remaining an effective protection instrument, has exhausted the peak of applications from the first months of the crisis.

For those receiving refugee status, integration into the Swiss labor market represents a priority in the integration process in the cantons.

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Key points

How the asylum application process works in Switzerland

Anyone wishing to apply for asylum in Switzerland must submit an application to a reception office of the State Secretariat for Migration. The procedure follows a structured process: initial registration with collection of personal data, formal examination of the application based on criteria established by Swiss federal law, possible hearing with an official in charge of the investigation, and finally official decision regarding approval or rejection. During the examination process, which can last for months, applicants receive accommodation in dedicated facilities managed by federal entities and a small daily allowance for living expenses. Once the SEM has issued the decision, the file passes to the cantons, which become responsible for reception, accommodation, and integration in the local territory if refugee status or provisional admission status has been granted.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many asylum applications were submitted in the first half of 2026?: In the first half of 2026, for the first time since the beginning of 2022, fewer than 10,000 asylum applications were registered in Switzerland. This data led the Secretariat of State for Migration (SEM) to revise downwards the forecasts for the entire year 2026: from 26,000 to 22,000 total applications, a reduction of 4,000 applications compared to the initial estimates.
Which countries saw the sharpest decline?: Applications from Afghan, Turkish and Eritrean nationals suffered the sharpest decline in the first half of 2026. According to the SEM, two main factors explain this decrease: the reduction in Mediterranean crossings and the decrease in those who move along the Balkan route, phenomena that directly influence migration flows to Switzerland.
How does the asylum application process work in Switzerland?: Those wishing to apply for asylum in Switzerland must apply at a reception office of the State Secretariat for Migration. The procedure includes: initial registration with collection of personal data, formal examination of the application according to the criteria of federal law, possible hearing with an official in charge, finally official decision. During the examination, applicants receive accommodation in dedicated facilities and a daily allowance.
How did the requests for the S statute change in 2026?: Requests for the S statute, reserved for Ukrainian citizens, show a contraction compared to 2025. The SEM expects about 12,000 requests by the end of 2026, about 900 fewer than the previous year. This reflects the evolution of the Ukrainian situation and the diversified strategies that Ukrainian refugees adopt, such as voluntary repatriation to stabilised areas or relocation to other European countries.
What are the implications for the cantons?: The decline in asylum applications has direct repercussions on the territorial distribution of applicants. The cantons, responsible for reception and integration after the federal phase of the SEM, will be able to count on lower numbers than the initial forecasts. This creates breathing space and allows resources to be reallocated towards integration services, language training and job placement for applicants already present in the territory.