Switzerland begins issuing its first biometric ID card on Monday, November 2. The card holds a facial image and two fingerprints on a chip.
The card is optional. Swiss citizens can still choose an ID card without a chip, and the fee stays the same.
What the Federal Council Decided
The Swiss Federal Council approved the rule change on August 26, 2026. The revised ordinance on Swiss identity documents takes effect on November 1. From November 2, citizens can apply for the new card if they want one.
The chip works like the one in the Swiss biometric passport. The federal police office, fedpol, says the digitally signed data adds protection against forgery and identity theft (fedpol).
The card will be available only from the cantonal offices that issue IDs and passports, and from Swiss missions abroad. The canton of Solothurn says people can already book appointments by phone, with online booking opening on November 2 (Canton of Solothurn).
Biometric ID Card or Plain Card: How They Differ
| Area | Biometric ID card | Card without chip |
|---|---|---|
| Chip data | Facial image and two fingerprints | None |
| Best for | Travel within the EU | Proof of identity inside Switzerland |
| Fee | Same as today’s chipless card | Unchanged |
| Where to apply | Cantonal ID and passport offices, Swiss missions abroad | Cantonal offices, plus municipal offices in cantons that already issue them |
Why Switzerland Is Adding Chip Data
EU countries have issued only biometric ID cards since 2021, the government noted. The new Swiss card is meant to keep Swiss citizens traveling freely in the EU.
Non-biometric cards issued before the launch stay valid for EU travel until they expire. For adults that means up to ten years. The government recommends the biometric card for anyone who travels in the EU. For people who need ID only inside Switzerland, it says the card without a chip is enough.
Not the Same as the E-ID
The Federal Council stressed that the card is different from the e-ID. The card is an official identity and travel document. The e-ID is an electronic identity for proving who you are online, and it is not a travel document.
What Cardholders Will Weigh
People who travel in the EU have a clear reason to pick the chip card. Those who do will carry a face image and two fingerprints on a document they use every day. Our guide to biometric data explains how the law treats that kind of information.
Switzerland joins a long list of countries putting biometrics into identity documents. Our roundup of uses of biometrics covers more of them.
Would you choose the chip card even if you rarely leave Switzerland? Does a free choice between two cards settle the privacy question for you?
Sources
- Swiss Federal Council, Revision der Ausweisverordnung: Verabschiedung durch den Bundesrat, August 26, 2026
- fedpol, Development of the first biometric Swiss identity card
- Canton of Solothurn, Neue biometrische Identitätskarte im Ausweiszentrum Solothurn
