World Immigration News

(Le News)Switzerland is attracting fewer immigrants—and losing more of those already here

Release Date: 2026-08-14
Media: Le News
Summary: In the first half of 2026, 39,251 foreign permanent residents left Switzerland, up 4.3% from a year earlier, continuing a rise in foreign-resident emigration since 2023. Meanwhile, immigration slowed: 74,112 foreigners joined the permanent resident population, down 2.9%, while net immigration fell 12.5% to 29,884. Switzerland still had 2.43 million permanent foreign residents at the end of June, accounting for more than a quarter of its population.

The decline in immigration was particularly strong among people from outside the EU and EFTA. Arrivals from EU/EFTA countries fell only 0.7%, while those from other countries dropped 9%. About three-quarters of emigrants were EU/EFTA citizens, although Indians and Chinese showed relatively high departure rates compared with their resident populations.

The figures highlight that migration is often temporary rather than a one-way path to permanent settlement. Highly skilled workers from countries such as the US, China, Japan and Canada frequently come to Switzerland for specific jobs, projects or fixed-term assignments and later move elsewhere. An estimated 70–80% of migrants from non-EU/EFTA OECD countries leave Switzerland within three to five years.

Employment is the main driver of immigration, especially from the EU/EFTA, making economic and labour-market conditions important factors in determining whether migrants stay. Family relationships also influence settlement, while retirement can encourage migrants to return home, as seen among Portuguese residents who can make their Swiss pensions go further in Portugal.

Long-term data reinforce this picture of high mobility. Of those who moved to Switzerland in 2011, around 20% had left within two years, 35% within five years, and almost half within ten years. Switzerland therefore illustrates that migrants should not automatically be viewed as permanent settlers: many move according to employment, family circumstances, economic opportunities and different stages of life.
Tags: Switzerland

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