The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) published its monthly bulletin on 23 February 2026 showing that it registered 1 694 new asylum applications in January, down 15.9 % on December and 11.4 % on the same month last year. Afghanistan remained the main country of origin (375 cases), followed by Algeria, Eritrea, Türkiye and Somalia. The agency decided 2 436 cases during the month and approved asylum in 397 instances, while 502 people left Switzerland voluntarily or under escort. According to SEM analysts the drop is partly seasonal—applications traditionally slow in winter—but also reflects tighter visa screening and the reinstated internal border checks introduced by several neighbouring EU states.
![Swiss asylum requests fall 16 % in January, SEM reports]()
Companies and globally mobile employees looking to navigate Switzerland’s shifting entry landscape can turn to VisaHQ for step-by-step support. Through its dedicated Switzerland page (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) the platform lets users check real-time visa requirements, complete digital applications and access concierge assistance—making it easier to secure business, work or transit documentation even as SEM policies fluctuate.
The data confirm an easing of pressure on the federal reception network, which had been strained by large inflows during 2023-24. For employers and relocation providers the trend matters because lower intake speeds up permit processing for highly-skilled hires. Cantonal authorities told Global Mobility News that average turnaround for work-related residence permits in Zurich and Vaud has already shortened by a week thanks to freed-up staffing resources. The SEM cautions that numbers could rise again in spring if conflicts in Afghanistan and the Sahel intensify. It will present an updated annual forecast in April, but for now the agency is preparing to close two temporary accommodation centres opened during the 2024 surge—moves that should further reduce federal costs.
Companies and globally mobile employees looking to navigate Switzerland’s shifting entry landscape can turn to VisaHQ for step-by-step support. Through its dedicated Switzerland page (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) the platform lets users check real-time visa requirements, complete digital applications and access concierge assistance—making it easier to secure business, work or transit documentation even as SEM policies fluctuate.
The data confirm an easing of pressure on the federal reception network, which had been strained by large inflows during 2023-24. For employers and relocation providers the trend matters because lower intake speeds up permit processing for highly-skilled hires. Cantonal authorities told Global Mobility News that average turnaround for work-related residence permits in Zurich and Vaud has already shortened by a week thanks to freed-up staffing resources. The SEM cautions that numbers could rise again in spring if conflicts in Afghanistan and the Sahel intensify. It will present an updated annual forecast in April, but for now the agency is preparing to close two temporary accommodation centres opened during the 2024 surge—moves that should further reduce federal costs.
