Switzerland

Europe

Switzerland

UNHCR in Switzerland and Liechtenstein advocates for refugee rights, monitors protection standards, and supports global efforts to aid displaced people.

Office contact details ↓

Players from team Latvia celebrite after wining the Unity EURO Cup in Nyon, Switzerland

Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.

Visit HELP site

Key statistics

221,818

people were under UNHCR’s mandate in Switzerland in 2024, including refugees and asylum-seekers

196,177

are registered refugees by the end of 2024, reflecting its continued role as a key country of asylum in Europe

17,029

are registered asylum-seekers by the end of 2024, mostly from Afghanistan, Eritrea and Ukraine

Find more data here

Switzerland is host to over 200,000 refugees, asylum-seekers and other persons of concern. The main countries of origin in 2024 for spontaneous applications were Afghanistan, Eritrea, Türkiye and Ukraine.

UNHCR in Switzerland and Liechtenstein monitors the implementation of international standards and engages with its national partners in public advocacy for the rights and well-being of persons of concern. It regularly exchanges with persons of concern. UNHCR is also involved in public information, awareness-raising activities, and the mobilization of support for the organization's global efforts to protect people forced to flee.

UNHCR has no formal role in the national asylum procedures and does, in general, not intervene in separate cases nor provide individual legal representation or counselling.

Switzerland as a donor

Find out more about the funds raised by the government and private sector in Switzerland to support UNHCR.

Visit the donor page