The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has published fresh statistics showing that Swiss authorities executed more than two-thirds of all deportation orders handed down by courts in 2024. Of 2 446 foreign nationals ordered to leave the country for criminal or immigration offences, 69 percent had departed—80 percent of them under escort—by mid-2025, SEM said in a press release issued on 1 December 2025.
Most removals involved nationals of Albania (247), Romania (190) and Algeria (136); EU/EFTA citizens accounted for roughly 40 percent of cases, third-country nationals for 60 percent. Men aged 25-34 formed the largest demographic. Officials expect the enforced-departure rate to climb further as pending cases are processed in the coming months.
![State Secretariat Reports 69 % Enforcement Rate for 2024 Deportation Orders]()
Although the figures do not alter day-to-day corporate immigration procedures, they illustrate the Federal Council’s determination to apply the 2016 “foreign criminals” constitutional amendment strictly. Companies sponsoring work permits should therefore be alert to any employee convictions, as criminal records can jeopardise renewal or permanent-residence plans.
The update may also feed into the wider political debate on immigration caps and integration duties ahead of the 2026 elections. For now, the key takeaway for global-mobility professionals is that Switzerland continues to enforce removal orders in high numbers, underscoring the importance of compliance with residency conditions and local laws.
Most removals involved nationals of Albania (247), Romania (190) and Algeria (136); EU/EFTA citizens accounted for roughly 40 percent of cases, third-country nationals for 60 percent. Men aged 25-34 formed the largest demographic. Officials expect the enforced-departure rate to climb further as pending cases are processed in the coming months.
Although the figures do not alter day-to-day corporate immigration procedures, they illustrate the Federal Council’s determination to apply the 2016 “foreign criminals” constitutional amendment strictly. Companies sponsoring work permits should therefore be alert to any employee convictions, as criminal records can jeopardise renewal or permanent-residence plans.
The update may also feed into the wider political debate on immigration caps and integration duties ahead of the 2026 elections. For now, the key takeaway for global-mobility professionals is that Switzerland continues to enforce removal orders in high numbers, underscoring the importance of compliance with residency conditions and local laws.
