SEM to resume deciding on asylum applications from Syrian nationals
Update Explained
Starting from May 1st, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) in Switzerland will once again begin making decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals. This resumption comes after the suspension of such decisions on December 9, 2024, due to the political shift following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. The SEM has updated its asylum practice after closely monitoring Syria’s situation, including a fact-finding mission in Syria and Lebanon. While the SEM acknowledges the ongoing volatile security and humanitarian conditions in Syria, it has determined that there is not a situation of general violence in all regions of the country and will make individual assessments of each asylum application to determine the risk and possible enforcement of removal. Additionally, a return assistance program for those voluntarily returning to Syria is being implemented, offering financial support from the Frontex EU Reintegration Programme and a Swiss grant. In the period following the mission, SEM had resumed assessing certain applications, particularly those from vulnerable individuals and those involved in serious criminal activities.
What changed
SEM will resume decision-making on asylum applications from Syrian nationals, which had been suspended on December 9, 2024.
Why it matters
Individuals from Syria who have applied for asylum in Switzerland will begin to have their cases reviewed again. Decisions on these applications will be made on an individual basis, considering the specific circumstances of each case.
Who is affected
- Syrian nationals with pending asylum applications in Switzerland
- Syrian nationals considering voluntary return to Syria
Key dates
Effective
May 1, 2026
The date on which SEM will resume deciding on asylum applications from Syrian nationals.
Suspension Start
Dec 9, 2024
Date when SEM suspended deciding on asylum applications from Syrian nationals.
Key details
- SEM decided to suspend asylum decisions on December 9, 2024, due to political instability in Syria.
- The resumption follows a fact-finding mission to Syria and Lebanon.
- Around 850 asylum applications from Syrian nationals are pending at first instance.
Important notes
Although decisions are resuming, SEM identifies that removals to Syria will only be enforced under specific mitigating circumstances that are not expected to apply broadly due to ongoing instability in the region.