Switzerland to resume decisions on Syrian asylum applications from May
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) announced on Friday it will resume deciding on asylum applications from Syrian nationals starting May 1, after suspending decisions since December 2024 due to political uncertainty in Syria.
The decision follows close monitoring of developments in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government on Dec. 8, 2024, as well as a fact-finding mission conducted by SEM to Syria and Lebanon in November 2025. Based on these findings and other assessments, SEM updated its asylum procedures.
According to the authority, around 850 asylum applications from Syrians remain pending at the first instance. Several European countries, including Germany, Austria, and France, have also fully or partially resumed processing Syrian asylum cases.
SEM stated that asylum applications will once again be reviewed individually. It said that there is no longer a situation of generalized violence across all regions of Syria, and removals to certain areas may be enforced if mitigating circumstances exist and individuals would not face life-threatening risks upon return.
However, SEM acknowledged that due to the continuing volatile security situation and difficult economic and humanitarian conditions in Syria, such mitigating circumstances are unlikely to apply to many asylum seekers at present.
In parallel, SEM is launching a voluntary return assistance program for Syrians. The program includes support of up to €2,600 per person through the Frontex EU Reintegration Program (EURP), in addition to a Swiss grant of CHF 1,000 per person.
The program is implemented in cooperation with partner organizations International Returns and Reintegration Assistance (IRARA) and European Technology and Training Centre (ETTC), which operate locally.
SEM reported that 60 individuals returned to Syria with Swiss return assistance during the second half of 2025.
On Dec. 9, 2024, SEM suspended decisions on Syrian asylum applications due to the shifting political situation, stating it was unable to adequately assess risks of persecution.
On Sep. 1, 2025, the authority resumed decisions for vulnerable individuals whose cases did not meet the legal definition of refugee status, and began assessing whether removals could be enforced for individuals convicted of serious crimes.