Refugee and asylum policy
Liechtenstein's refugee and asylum system continued to be shaped by the war in Ukraine in the reporting year. Since March 2022, refugees from Ukraine have been granted "S" protection status, similar to Switzerland. Since the outbreak of war, 1,127 people have applied for protection in Liechtenstein (as at December 31, 2024). In the reporting year, 407 applications for international protection were registered. 318 applications were related to the war in Ukraine, 317 of which were from Ukrainian nationals and 1 person with third-country nationality residing in Ukraine. In addition, 89 regular asylum applications were submitted, mainly by people from North Africa, the Middle East and the Western Balkans. The majority of these asylum applications were from Dublin states (EU) or safe countries of origin. At the end of 2024, there were 727 asylum seekers from Ukraine in Liechtenstein, 697 of whom had a valid "S" protection status. 187 of the protection seekers present were minors. At the end of 2024, Flüchtlingshilfe (FHL) was looking after a total of 786 people, 151 more than in the previous year and a record since FHL was founded.
In the reporting year, 231 people from Ukraine were granted S protection status, i.e. temporary protection in Liechtenstein. Two people were granted temporary admission. At the same time, not a single person was recognized as a refugee in Liechtenstein through the regular asylum procedure. Due to the ongoing tense situation in Ukraine, the VAC is in favor of retaining "S" protection status for refugees from Ukraine.
The duration of the procedures at the APA is generally appropriate, although the procedures for determining the need for temporary protection have become more complex. However, delays in asylum procedures were occasionally reported to the APO, particularly due to the high workload. It is important that those affected are informed regularly and transparently in these cases.
No other solidarity measures have been taken, such as voluntary self-entry to carry out an asylum procedure in Liechtenstein or the admission of refugees or asylum seekers via existing EU or UN resettlement or relocation programs. According to the responsible ministry, this is also not planned for the future. In view of the historically high global refugee numbers and the extremely advantageous European refugee and migration regulations for Liechtenstein, the VMR is calling for more responsibility and solidarity in this regard.
Liechtenstein does, however, show solidarity within the framework of International Humanitarian Cooperation and Development (IHCD), particularly with regard to emergency aid and international refugee and migration aid. In 2022 and 2023, a total of around 3.8 million Swiss francs were used for projects in the Ukraine context. These funds were used for accommodation, food, medicine, water, sanitary facilities and electricity supply or to support refugees in Ukraine's neighboring countries - e.g. for measures such as registration, legal advice or access to education and basic services. In addition, the documentation of war crimes and human rights violations was also funded to ensure accountability. To make this commitment possible, the government increased the regular IHCD budget by a total of CHF 3.6 million in 2023 and 2024.
