Ukrainians aged 18-22 are seeking temporary protection in Switzerland en masse, - media
Since the beginning of autumn, when Ukraine allowed men aged 18-22 to go abroad, the number of applications for temporary protection status S for this age group has risen sharply in Switzerland.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to Swissinfo.
Sharp demand
The publication analysed statistics from the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (Staatssekretariat für Migration, SEM — a division of the country's Ministry of Justice).
Just a few days after the new rules on travelling abroad for men aged 18-22 came into force in August, the number of such applications from Ukrainian citizens in this age group increased across Europe, including Switzerland.
While only three applications from Ukrainian men aged 18-22 were registered in Switzerland at the end of August, their number rose to 33, 77, and then steadily to a peak of 185 in mid-October in the following weeks.
The peak has already passed
One third of all such applications in Switzerland are submitted by Ukrainian citizens aged between 18 and 22.
According to SEM data, the overall increase in the number of applications for S residence permits registered since September is mainly attributable to this age group. It now accounts for about 30% of all applications for so-called "protective migration status S".
However, according to SEM, there have been signs of stabilisation in recent weeks, and data from the last few days suggest that the peak in applications for S status from Ukrainian men aged 18-22 has passed.
Departure abroad for men under 25 years of age
- Earlier it was reported that in September, Polish border guards recorded a significant increase in the number of Ukrainians aged 18-22 who entered Poland – more than 10 times. Compared to August, the number of those who left Poland also increased – 3.5 times.
- It was also reported that from 28 August to 19 September 2025, almost 53,000 checks of Ukrainian men aged 18 to 22 were registered at the Ukrainian-Polish border.
