New Swiss ID card with a chip: who needs it – and who doesn't

Swiss citizens have been able to apply for a biometric identity card since 2 November 2026. Like the passport, it contains a chip that stores a facial image and two fingerprints, the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) says.

Do I need to replace my ID now?

No. Identity cards that have already been issued remain valid until the expiry date printed on them – in Switzerland and for travel to the EU. There is no need to replace them early.

With or without a chip?

The choice is yours, and both versions cost the same. The biometric card is recommended for anyone who travels to the EU. If you only use the card in Switzerland, the version without a chip is enough. According to the canton of Geneva, you cannot hold both cards at the same time.

How to apply

You can apply at cantonal passport offices, at Swiss representations abroad or online. You must appear in person to have your biometric data recorded. The ID card can be ordered together with a passport.

Not the e-ID

The biometric identity card is a physical identity and travel document. The e-ID, by contrast, is an electronic proof of identity for the digital world – and not a travel document.

Also new: the former “provisional passport” is now called the “emergency passport” (Notpass) and has a new design.