Development of the first biometric Swiss identity card
Together with its partners in the cantons and the federal government, fedpol is currently working on the development of the first biometric Swiss identity card. Like the biometric Swiss passport, it will be equipped with a chip containing biometric data. This will make the identity card even better protected against misuse. It is expected to be introduced at the end of 2026. A non-biometric identity card will continue to be available and can be used within Switzerland.
To prevent identity fraud, counterfeiting and other types of misuse, secure identity documents that are difficult to forge are crucial. For this reason, ID cards, just like banknotes, must be regularly modernized technologically. The future biometric identity card, like the current biometric Swiss passport, will be equipped with a chip on which two fingerprints and a facial image are stored.
The biometric data is specially protected: They can only be read when the identity card is physically presented. Reading at a distance is not possible. In addition, Switzerland will only authorize access to fingerprints in countries whose data protection regulations are equivalent to those in Switzerland.
Travel to the EU guaranteed thanks to the biometric identity card
In 2019, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU adopted a regulation requiring member states to issue only biometric identity cards from 2021. This point was also addressed in the Swiss-EU package that has since been initialed.
Switzerland will probably have to introduce the biometric ID card at the end of 2026 and no later than one year after the revised Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons comes into force. Non-biometric ID cards issued before this date will be valid for travel to the EU until their expiration date (maximum ten years for adults). For example, if the revised Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons comes into force in 2027, identity cards issued by 2028 will remain valid for travel to the EU until 2038. However, it will no longer be possible to enter the EU with a non-biometric identity card issued after 2028. However, an identity card without biometric data will continue to be available for use in Switzerland.
The introduction of the biometric identity card guarantees that Swiss citizens will be able to travel freely within the EU in the future. Alternatively, they can continue to use their biometric Swiss passport for international travel.
Free choice
According to the Swiss Identity Card Act, Swiss citizens can apply for an identity card without a chip at any time. Consequently, they can choose between the two identity cards as required:
- The biometric identity card is recommended for people traveling within the EU.
- The non-biometric identity card is sufficient for persons who only need the card as identification in Switzerland.
This ensures flexible adaptation to the individual needs of citizens. On the website www.schweizerpass.ch there is an explanatory video that shows the special features of the two variants.
Source: fedpol.admin.ch
