In 2022, Switzerland received 130 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status), 19% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 74% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 2% labour migrants, 15% family members (including accompanying family) and 8% humanitarian migrants. Around 6 300 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 3 600 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants.
Germany, Italy and France were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Germany registered the strongest increase (2 700) and the United States the largest decrease (‑200) in flows to Switzerland compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 16%, to reach around 27 000. The majority of applicants came from Türkiye (6 600), Afghanistan (5 900) and Eritrea (1 900). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Türkiye (2 000) and the largest decrease nationals of Afghanistan (‑1 100). Of the 15 000 decisions taken in 2023, 86% were positive.
Emigration of Swiss citizens to OECD countries decreased by ‑11% in 2022, to 9 400. Approximately 23% of this group migrated to Spain, 20% to Germany and 8% to Austria.
In 2023, Switzerland relaxed the rules applicable to highly qualified third-country nationals, by abolishing the labour market test for workers in sectors facing a skills shortage. The relaxations concern specific professional fields such as managers, analysts and health specialists. The legal obligation for employers to advertise job vacancies within the Regional Placement Offices, in force since 2018, is maintained in sectors of activity where the national unemployment rate exceeds 5%.
The Federal Council adopted a report in March 2024 setting out specific training and labour market priorities for better mobilising the workforce potential of women and older workers living in Switzerland. Measures will help well-educated family reunification immigrants integrate into the labour market.
In June 2022, Switzerland and Quebec (Canada) signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. It initially covers five professions: social workers, dental hygienists, dental technicians, medical radiology technicians and midwives. In June 2023, Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed a new Agreement on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications, providing for a transitional system until the end of 2024. The new agreement should provide a permanent framework for mutual recognition of professional qualifications from 2025, following ratification by the Federal Assembly.
In November 2023, Switzerland decided to maintain the safeguard clause provided for in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons for Croatian nationals coming to work in Switzerland in 2024, leaving in place quotas for short- and long-term residence permits. Full freedom of movement for Croatian nationals will be in force in 2025.
In 2023 migration-related bilateral agreements as part of Switzerland’s cohesion contribution to the EU were signed with Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Czechia and Hungary, to come into force by 2029. Depending on the programme, this could be in the areas of economic, social and cultural integration or in the fight against human trafficking. Projects in the areas of asylum and infrastructure as well as voluntary return and reintegration were implemented in Greece, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Bulgaria and Hungary in 2023.
In April 2022, the Federal Council launched Programme S (Support measures for people with protection status S) to encourage the integration of people with protection status. In November 2023, the Federal Council set a target of increasing the employment of people seeking protection from Ukraine with measures implemented in collaboration with the social partners and the cantons. Temporary employment or self-employment is possible immediately after being granted the protection status of residence (without a waiting period).
Since the beginning of March 2023, return decisions made under the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (LEI), including those made after an asylum application has been examined, as well as those resulting from criminal expulsion, have been recorded in the Swiss central migration information system (Symic). In some cases, these decisions are reported in the Schengen Information System (SIS) if they are valid for the entire Schengen area.
For further information: www.sem.admin.ch
