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IDENTITY CARDS

Switzerland to launch new identity card in March

Switzerland’s new, more secure identity card, will be inaugurated on March 3rd, the government announced on Monday.

Published: 6 February 2023 15:49 CET
Switzerland to launch new identity card in March
A sample of a new Swiss identity card. Photo: Fedpol Twitter

As is the case with the new Swiss passport, which was introduced in October 2022, the new ID card “combines state-of-the-art security features with a new design,” the Swiss federal police (Fedpol) said on Monday.

All current identity cards remain valid until their expiration date.

How is the new card different from the current one?

The new card will have certain updates, and is set to be more secure. 

“Certain security elements are inserted into the materials, others are created during the manufacture of the card, and even other (elements) when the card is personalised,” Fedpol said, explaining the production process.

 As with the passport, the new identity card will be issued by the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (OFCL).

The personalisation of the CI will also be carried out by the OFCL with the addition of personal information such as the name of the holder, the date of validity and the photograph.

If your current ID is about to expire, you can order a new one through your cantonal passport office. 

You can also order a new card and passport at the same time, if the validity of one or another expires soon.

The price for an ID card for an adult is 65 francs, plus a 5-franc shipment fee. a new ID and passport together cost 148 francs, and additional 10-franc postal fee.

Exact pricing can be seen here. 

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IDENTITY CARDS

EXPLAINED: Do you have to carry your Swiss ID card with you at all times?

Switzerland will soon launch a new identity card. We look at if you're required to carry your ID card with you, and when you're required to show.

Published: 7 February 2023 14:39 CET
EXPLAINED: Do you have to carry your Swiss ID card with you at all times?

Switzerland’s new, more secure identity card for its citizens, is being launched on March 3rd, the government announced on Monday.

The new card will have updates, and is set to be more secure. 

“Certain security elements are inserted into the materials, others are created during the manufacture of the card, and even other (elements) when the card is personalised,” according to federal police (Fedpol).

There is no need to apply for the new card if your current one is still valid.

You can find more information about the card here:

Switzerland to launch new identity card in March

The light-blue cards currently in use feature the Swiss flag in the upper-left corner, as well as the name of Switzerland’s ‘Confederation’ in four official languages, as well as in English.

They also include your photo, full name, date of birth, and signature.

The other side features your height, where and when the card was issued, and when it expires.

It also lists your place of origin / ancestry — all the same information as is featured in the Swiss passport.

And, like the passport, the ID card can be obtained by Swiss citizens only.

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: Why Swiss passports show ancestry rather than birthplace 

 
The new ID card to be launched in March contain all the same information but the graphics are different:
 
A sample of a new Swiss identity card. Photo: Fedpol Twitter
 
Do you have to carry your ID card with you at all times?
 
In unofficial situations when you have to prove your identity but not nationality, your driver’s license will suffice, as long as it includes your photograph, full name, and date of birth.
 
However, if your nationality should be proven, you must have an official, government-issued form of ID with you.
 
This could be your passport, but it is certainly less ‘portable’ than a credit-card sized ID that you can carry in your wallet.
 
The ID card can be presented as proof of your identity and citizenship instead of the passport if you travel within the Schengen zone, EU or EFTA countries.
 
You will also be asked to show your ID card when dealing with the government / public administration offices, whether federal, cantonal, or municipal.

What if you are a foreigner and don’t have official Swiss documents?

 
If you are a foreign national, you won’t be getting any Swiss ID papers, aside from your work / residency permits, which are proof of your legal status in Switzerland.
 
There may be many occasions — as is the case with Swiss citizens — when you will be asked to show both your permit and proof of your identity — for instance, when registering at your commune of residence, buying health insurance, opening a bank account, or renting an apartment.
 
In all of the above cases, your foreign passport or the identity card issued by your government is considered a valid document in Switzerland — as long as you can back it up with a permit.
 
READ MORE: EXPLAINED: How to prove you are resident in Switzerland
 
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