Switzerland’s hard-right argues more and more immigrants are arriving in the country each year, contributing to an “unsustainable” population growth. But new government figures tell a different story.
In its now-defeated ‘No to 10 million’ initiative, the populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP) tried to sound the alarm about the steadily increasing waves of immigrants.
However, new figures released by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) on August 13th, counter the argument that more and more foreigners are coming to Switzerland.
What does this data show?
Contrary to what the SVP has been claiming, immigration continues to decline in Switzerland.
In fact, according to the SEM’s press release, “during the first six months of 2026, net immigration within the permanent foreign population stood at 29,884 people, down 12.5 percent compared to the same period in 2025.”
This development, the SEM added, “is part of a general trend characterised by a drop in arrivals combined with a rise in emigration.“
At the end of June 2026, a total of 2,432,444 foreign nationals were residing permanently in Switzerland.
Overall, between January and the end of June 2026, 74,112 people immigrated to Switzerland, which is 2,220 (-2.9 percent) fewer than during the first six months of 2025.
As usual, most arrivals came from the EU and EFTA /Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein), totalling 55,761 people – a drop of 408 individuals (0.7 percent) over the previous year.
Further, 18,351 people arrived from outside EU/EFTA – 1,812 fewer than in the first half of 2025 (9.0 percent).
More people leaving
At the same time, SEM figures show that emigration has been rising steadily since 2023.
During the first six months of 2026, 39,251 foreign permanent residents left Switzerland (an increase of 1,608 people): 29,691 EU/EFTA nationals (+449) and 9,560 citizens of a third country (+1,159).
Net immigration within the foreign permanent resident population thus fell by 12.5% percent to 29,884 (the difference between immigration and emigration, adjusted for statistical corrections). Compared to the first half of 2025, the migration balance for the EU/EFTA decreased by 1,085 people to 22,468, while the balance for third countries fell by 3,202 people to 7,416.
Though SEM doesn’t explain why more people have left Switzerland, sociologists attribute these departures to job situations: Unemployment, insecure or unskilled jobs, are all obstacles to remaining in the country for more than a few years.
Many people also come to Switzerland to study or undergo training, and leave the country once that is finished.
READ MORE: Why so many foreign residents end up leaving Switzerland
What else do the SEM numbers reveal?
They confirm what has already been known: that “work is a driver of immigration.”
This means that most foreigners come to Switzerland for employment purposes – though some are short-term assignments (which is why some leave the country when their contracts are over).
By “short-term stays,” the SEM means stays not exceeding three months or 90 working days per calendar year for people taking up short-term employment (60 percent), posted workers (32 percent), or self-employed service providers (8 percent).
But the downward trend is not universal.
SEM’s numbers indicate that the share of immigration from the EU/EFTA linked to employment – whether short-or long-term – “remains high and stable, accounting for 80.5 percent of all arrivals from this region,” with only a slight.1.6-percent drop.
Another finding: Fewer cross-border commuter permits were given
Between January and the end of June 2026, 33,219 new cross-border commuter permits were issued, compared to 36,876 in the first half of 2025.
