The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said it regretted that Switzerland voted today to back new "restrictive" asylum laws.
UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said the agency would follow closely the actions of the Swiss government to ensure that treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees stayed in line with international rules.
"The UNHCR takes note and regrets that this new restrictive legislation is being adopted," the spokesman said after projections showed some 70 of per cent of Swiss voters had backed the law change in a referendum today.
The UN agency had long expressed concern about a requirement in the new law that would-be asylum-seekers hold a valid passport. It says this could prevent genuine refugees from receiving help.
"People who are trying to escape violence and persecution often do not have documents," Mr Spindler said.
The Swiss government, which backed the change in the law, says the regulations strike a balance between protecting those in need and making it more difficult for the system to be abused. It is the latest move by an industrial power - Britain is among others - to raise barriers to asylum as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.
The new measure has been proposed despite figures showing that asylum applications in the country of 7.5 million people have been falling sharply in line with a worldwide trend.
Just over 10,000 people sought asylum in Switzerland in 2005, down 29 percent from the previous year and less than half the 21,037 that applied in 2003, according to official figures