If you receive an official letter telling you that you have to leave Switzerland before the end of the year, do not panic. It's a scam. But it's very well done.

For some time now, false letters have been circulating that supplant the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Official logo of the Confederation, SEM letterhead, impeccable German, apparently personalized reference number. The text announces that the recipient's right of residence expires on December 31, 2026, invoking the safeguard clause of free movement supposedly activated by the UDC initiative "Pas de Suisse à 10 millions". Some shipments even include a "Leaving Switzerland. The complete checklist" with instructions to leave the country correctly.

The SEM confirms that this is a forgery. “We've been looking at these types of letters for years,” his spokesperson explains. The authors adapt the content according to current political events: before they used bilateral agreements with the EU as a pretext, now the vote on June 14. The number of cards detected exceeds 1,500 in four years, and the SEM recognizes that the actual figure is probably higher. Right now there seems to be a new surge in circulation.

If you receive something like this: do not scan the QR code that includes the letter, do not call the number indicated or provide any information. The SEM does not send expulsion notifications in this way. You can check any communication directly with your municipality or via sem.admin.ch. And if you want, you can file a criminal complaint, which is exactly what the SEM recommends to those who receive it.