The federal government extends protection status S until 2025: Ukrainians can stay longer

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The Ukrainians can breathe a sigh of relief. The Federal Council led by Minister of Justice Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) extends protection status S again for one year until March 2025. “A lasting stabilization of the situation in Ukraine cannot be foreseen,” the press release said.

Thanks to their protection status, refugees from Ukraine easily obtain a right of residence with us without an asylum procedure. They can immediately look for work and the children can go to school. Ukrainians are also allowed to travel. At the end of October 2023, approximately 66,000 people from Ukraine had active S status in Switzerland.

The protection status was previously valid until March 4, 2024. It is now being extended, as the European Union (EU) has already done.

“Stabilization cannot be foreseen”

The federal government writes in the press release that the condition for the withdrawal is a “sustainable stabilization” of the situation in Ukraine. “This means that the serious general danger no longer exists. The latest developments show that such stabilization is still not foreseeable. Acts of war should still be expected on the entire territory of Ukraine.

At the same time, the Federal Council wants more Ukrainians to work in Switzerland. “The Federal Council aims to increase the employment rate from the current level of around 20 percent to 40 percent by the end of 2024.” To this end, the federal government will develop and implement further measures together with the cantons and social partners. This not only serves to reduce the costs of social security, but also ensures that those seeking protection can participate in social life.

“In the future, the cantons will impose more binding requirements on the use of federal contributions. “They must now, among other things, provide linguistic support measures to all those seeking protection from Ukraine and clarify the potential and need for support in individual cases,” the federal government continued.

Planned to return

The Ukrainians can therefore remain safe until March 2025. What happens after that is still unclear. The Federal Council discussed a concept weeks ago that provides for the withdrawal of S status.

In its “base scenario”, the federal government expects that of the approximately 90,000 Ukrainians in Switzerland, 70,000 will have to leave the country. After the S status was withdrawn, approximately 56,000 people would voluntarily return, 14,000 would not. The project team recommends a uniform departure period for everyone from six to nine months, with an exception for students.

However, the willingness to leave will likely decrease the longer the protection status is maintained. If you have stayed continuously for five years, you also have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit.

To make it easier for Ukrainians to return to work at home, the federal government also wants to pay return support. Depending on the variant, you expect 123 or 191 million francs.

Source:Blick