Under the Act, asylum seekers must demonstrate that they have a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country, based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
According to the law, refugees are"persons who in their native country or in their country of last residence are subject to serious disadvantages or have a well-founded fear of being exposed to such disadvantages for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or due to their political opinions.
Serious disadvantages include a threat to life, physical integrity or freedom as well as measures that exert intolerable psychological pressure.
Persons who claim grounds based on their conduct after leaving their country that are not related to their previous conviction are also not refugees.
The principle of non refoulement may not be invoked by persons who have a legally binding conviction for a particularly serious crime and who pose a threat to Switzerland's security or public order.