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Data protectionA new biometric identity card arrives in Switzerland
A new offer will be created in 2026. It will guarantee trips to the European Union.
From the end of 2026, the Swiss will be able to request an identity card with an electronic chip, announced the Confederation on Monday. The objective is to strengthen security and guarantee trips to the European Union. This new card will be fitted with a chip containing the photo of the citizen’s face and two fingerprints. Fedpol has announced working in its development, in collaboration with the cantons and other federal partners.
Not an obligation, but …
That said, making this card will not be an obligation, in any case not immediately: citizens will always have the choice to request an identity card without biometric data, valid in Switzerland. But to travel to the European Union, the biometric version will become necessary in the long term. The old cards will remain valid until their expiration (ten years maximum).
More security and better confidentiality
On the security side, it is impossible to read the chip for this new card remotely, ensures the Confederation. Reading data can only be done when the card is physically presented. As for fingerprints, their access is restricted to countries with data protection legislation equivalent to that of Switzerland.
The European Union has imposed on its members since 2021 to issue only biometric identity cards. This requirement also appears in the package of agreements under renegotiation between Bern and Brussels. The introduction of this new card is therefore part of this broader framework, guaranteeing free movement for the Swiss.
(fcc)
