• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

SEM alters asylum practice for Afghanistan

Swiss Government

Bern-Wabern, 20.03.2025 -- The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is adapting its asylum and removal practices with regard to Afghanistan. Single men whose asylum application has been rejected may again be removed under certain circumstances. SEM considers return to Afghanistan to be reasonable in some cases.

Based on current situation analyses, SEM is adjusting its practice from mid-April 2025. Although it continues to assume that removal is generally unreasonable, returning non-vulnerable men to Afghanistan is considered reasonable in exceptional cases if the circumstances are favourable. The person concerned must be residing in Switzerland without family, be over the age of 18 and in good health. They must also have a stable and sustainable network of relationships in their home country that enables them to reintegrate socially and find work. Women, families, minors and people with health problems are not affected; they are generally admitted on a temporary basis if they are not granted asylum or if no other Dublin country is responsible for their asylum procedure.

SEM has closely assessed the situation in Afghanistan. Recent reports show that the situation throughout the country is now much safer than at the time the Taliban took power, in August 2021. SEM's analysis shows that there has also been a slight improvement in the socio-economic situation, which particularly benefits Afghan adults who are able to work and who have an intact network of relationships.

Offenders consistently removed

On 11 August 2021, SEM suspended the enforcement of removals to Afghanistan because the situation on the ground had deteriorated after the Taliban took power and a return to the country was generally considered unreasonable. This did not apply to serious offenders or those who pose a threat to Switzerland's internal or external security. Removal orders were issued for these individuals when appropriate. In 2024, five Afghans who fell into this category were repatriated.