New Swiss measures regard Syrian asylum and return programs

The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has confirmed that it will resume processing asylum applications from Syrians starting May 1st, after a suspension following the fall of the Ba'athist regime in December 2024.

The decision, announced in an official statement released by the government on Friday, was based on the findings of a specialized fact-finding mission that conducted a field visit to Syria and Lebanon in November 2025. The mission gathered accurate data and information on the situation on the ground.

Based on this data, Swiss authorities have begun processing approximately 850 pending asylum applications from Syrian nationals residing in Switzerland, a move aimed at resolving the legal status of applicants in light of the new circumstances.

Concurrently with the resumption of administrative procedures, Switzerland has launched a program dedicated to support voluntary return to Syria, which includes financial incentives to facilitate resettlement.

This includes an additional payment of 1,000 Swiss francs for each person who chooses to return voluntarily, on top of the grant provided by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) reintegration program, which amounts to €2,600 per person.

Official UN statistics indicate that 60 people returned from Switzerland to Syria in the second half of 2025 under voluntary assistance programs.

Sh-S

ANHA