Status S kept until 4 March 2028: military condition for new applications

On 19 August 2026, the Federal Council decides not to lift status S before 4 March 2028. Programme S is maintained until the same date. This period appears in the press release of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). It does not appear in the operative part of FF 2026 2204.

What is kept until 2028

The decision of general scope of 19 August 2026 is based on article 66 paragraph 1 of the Asylum Act. It enters into force on 20 August 2026 at 00:00. It repeals the decision of 8 October 2025.

Programme S includes a federal participation of CHF 3,000 per person per year in cantonal measures.

Switzerland is not bound by the decision of the Council of the EU. On 30 June 2026, the Member States extended their temporary protection until 4 March 2028. A military restriction has applied in the EU since 31 July 2026. The Swiss alignment is a choice of the Federal Council.

Who the military condition targets

Point III concerns a person subject to military obligations in Ukraine. That person receives status S only if they meet those obligations. The SEM targets in particular persons of call-up age, reservists, and persons who voluntarily joined the Ukrainian forces. Each application is individual.

The decision targets only applications addressed to the SEM after it enters into force.

If the refusal is based on failure to meet the military obligations, and return to the region of origin is not reasonably required, the SEM examines a stay elsewhere in Ukraine. If removal is not lawful (art. 83 para. 3 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act) or is not reasonably required (art. 83 para. 4), there is provisional admission. An asylum application remains possible after a negative decision that has taken legal effect.

Who is not affected

Applications already pending on 20 August 2026 remain governed by the decision of 8 October 2025. Protection already granted on the basis of the decisions of 11 March 2022 or 8 October 2025 does not change.

The three categories

Three categories remain covered.

• Ukrainian citizens and family members who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022.
• Persons of another nationality, or stateless persons, who had a protection status there before that date.
• Persons of another nationality, or stateless persons, who prove a valid right of stay in Ukraine and cannot return in a lasting and safe way to their country of origin.

Family includes the partner, minor children, and other close relatives who were supported at the time of flight.

The last domicile before departure must be in a region where generalised violence concretely exposes the person. The regional criterion of the Friedli motion 24.3378 has applied since 1 November 2025.

The SEM FAQ indicates that a return is currently considered possible in seven western oblasts: Volhynia, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi. This indication appears in the country notes of 31 October 2025. It is not a new element of 19 August 2026.

The B permit after five years

After five years of uninterrupted stay, there is a right to a B permit linked to status S (art. 74 para. 2 of the Asylum Act). The permit is issued for one year. It is renewable. It ends if status S is lifted. This permit does not lift status S. The first files come in March 2027.

What the decision does not change

The date of 4 March 2028 appears in the press release. The operative part of FF 2026 2204 does not contain it.

Protection already granted on the basis of the decisions of 11 March 2022 or 8 October 2025 stays as it is. Applications already pending on 20 August 2026 remain governed by the decision of 8 October 2025.

The indication on seven western oblasts comes from the country notes of 31 October 2025. It is not a new element of 19 August 2026. The regional criterion of the Friedli motion 24.3378 has applied since 1 November 2025.

The B permit under article 74 paragraph 2 of the Asylum Act stays linked to status S. It ends if that status is lifted. This permit does not lift status S.

Switzerland is not bound by the decision of the Council of the EU. Alignment on 4 March 2028 is a choice of the Federal Council.

Frequently asked questions

• Until when is status S maintained? Until 4 March 2028. The Federal Council decides this on 19 August 2026. Programme S is maintained until the same date. This period appears in the press release, not in the operative part of FF 2026 2204.
• Who does the military condition target? A person subject to military obligations in Ukraine, for an application addressed to the SEM after 20 August 2026 at 00:00. The SEM targets in particular persons of call-up age, reservists, and persons who voluntarily joined the Ukrainian forces. Each application is individual. Status S is granted only if the person meets these obligations.
• Does protection already granted change? No. Protection based on the decisions of 11 March 2022 or 8 October 2025 does not change. Applications already pending on 20 August 2026 remain governed by the decision of 8 October 2025.
• Does the B permit under article 74 end status S? No. It is linked to status S. It is issued for one year. It is renewable. It ends if status S is lifted. This permit does not lift status S. The first files come in March 2027.
• Were the seven oblasts fixed on 19 August 2026? No. The SEM FAQ indicates that a return is currently considered possible in seven western oblasts. The indication appears in the country notes of 31 October 2025.

Avocados AI's Basic plan costs CHF 4.99 a month, the price of a coffee. It is there to organise the decision, the permit and the writings already sent, and to prepare the questions. It does not replace a lawyer's review of the file. The Swiss immigration guide sets out the framework of stay and protection.

Sources

Press release of the FDJP and the SEM of 19 August 2026. Federal Gazette, FF 2026 2204. Asylum Act, articles 66 and 74. Foreign Nationals and Integration Act, article 83. Only the official publication is authoritative. Checked on 24 October 2026.