The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) released its October statistics on 17 November 2025, showing 2,643 new asylum applications—just 72 more than in September and 2,039 fewer than in the same period of 2024. After a sharp rise in mid-2024 driven by conflicts in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, monthly volumes have trended sideways since June, suggesting that Switzerland’s emergency reception capacity is sufficient for the current flow.
Syrian nationals remained the largest cohort (28 percent), followed by Afghans and Turks. SEM noted a continuing decline in Ukrainian applications as Europe’s temporary-protection scheme matures. The approval rate for first-instance decisions in October stood at 32 percent, while 38 percent of cases were dismissed under Dublin transfer rules. Average processing time fell to 139 days thanks to digital dossier management introduced earlier this year.
![Swiss Asylum Applications Stabilise; Migration Office Reports 2,643 Claims in October]()
For employers the stabilisation eases pressure on federal and cantonal accommodation budgets, reducing the likelihood of sudden policy shifts such as accelerated labour-market access or emergency housing mandates that affect expatriate rentals. Nevertheless, companies should monitor cantonal quotas for work permits, as authorities often adjust them in line with asylum-related resource planning.
SEM will present a revised forecast for 2026 in December; preliminary modelling anticipates between 29,000 and 34,000 applications next year, depending on geopolitical developments. Mobility professionals should track those numbers, which influence integration funding and processing times for other immigration categories.
Syrian nationals remained the largest cohort (28 percent), followed by Afghans and Turks. SEM noted a continuing decline in Ukrainian applications as Europe’s temporary-protection scheme matures. The approval rate for first-instance decisions in October stood at 32 percent, while 38 percent of cases were dismissed under Dublin transfer rules. Average processing time fell to 139 days thanks to digital dossier management introduced earlier this year.
For employers the stabilisation eases pressure on federal and cantonal accommodation budgets, reducing the likelihood of sudden policy shifts such as accelerated labour-market access or emergency housing mandates that affect expatriate rentals. Nevertheless, companies should monitor cantonal quotas for work permits, as authorities often adjust them in line with asylum-related resource planning.
SEM will present a revised forecast for 2026 in December; preliminary modelling anticipates between 29,000 and 34,000 applications next year, depending on geopolitical developments. Mobility professionals should track those numbers, which influence integration funding and processing times for other immigration categories.
