Breaking:

The return of Google Glass? Search giant partners with Magic Leap for secret project

Be careful with these cat kibbles sold throughout France (contaminated with salmonella)

Football: Kylian Mbappé will officially become a Real Madrid player

Boursorama, Your partner for investing

The revolutionary solid-state battery could soon arrive at Tesla’s biggest competitor

War in Ukraine – Refugees from Ukraine: Switzerland activates protection status for the first time S – News

11 March 2022

Those seeking protection from Ukraine who had to leave their homeland because of the war are given protection status S in Switzerland.
In this way, the refugees quickly receive a right of residence without having to go through a regular asylum procedure.
The Federal Council decided today. In the consultation, the introduction of protection status S was unanimously welcomed.

People who fled Ukraine because of the war are given protection status S in Switzerland from midnight. This means that they can stay in Switzerland for a year, work and go to school without an asylum procedure. This status is intended to enable those in need of protection to be admitted as quickly and unbureaucratically as possible. The Federal Council has also lifted the three-month waiting period for taking up gainful employment.

Legend:

2.5 million people have fled Ukraine, said Justice Minister Keller-Sutter. Many of them found shelter in neighboring countries, most of them in Poland.

key stone

This change compared to the definition of protection status S according to the Asylum Act was decided at the ordinance level. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the cantons are still examining whether measures to learn the national languages are necessary.

Also applies to citizens of third countries

The Federal Council specified in its statement that not only citizens of Ukraine receive the S permit, but also people from third countries who had to leave Ukraine because of the war. The prerequisite is that they have a valid Ukrainian residence permit and cannot return to their home country.

Switzerland does not grant protection status S to people who have already received protection status in an EU country. According to the Federal Council, protection status S largely corresponds to the regulation in the EU. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, more than two million people left the country for the Schengen area, he writes.

Affected persons receive protection in Switzerland quickly and unbureaucratically – without having to go through a proper asylum procedure.
You will receive an S permit. This is limited to a maximum of one year and can be extended.
After five years at the earliest, they receive a B residence permit, which is limited until the temporary protection is lifted.
Protection status S grants those in need of protection a right of residence, they can join their family members and, like temporarily admitted persons, are entitled to accommodation, support and medical care. Children can go to school.
The S permit allows those affected to travel abroad and return to Switzerland without a permit.
Those affected receive social assistance and they have the opportunity – without a waiting period – to engage in gainful employment (this can also be self-employment).
The cantons receive the global flat rate from the Confederation for people with status S. This includes a portion for rental costs, social assistance and care costs, health insurance premiums, etc.
Status S is a return-oriented status. The federal government creates the conditions for a future return.

According to the SEM, around 2,100 refugees have been registered in Switzerland so far. Around two-thirds of them are housed in federal asylum centers, the rest with private individuals. Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter told the media that the actual number of refugees could be higher because Ukrainians can enter Switzerland without a visa and can stay in Switzerland for 90 days, and many have therefore not reported to the authorities.

Protection status S has been regulated by law since the total revision of the Asylum Act in 1998. The status was created as a reaction to the mass exodus in connection with the Yugoslav wars in order to avoid any overloading of the regular asylum procedures. However, the Federal Council has never activated protection status S.