Swiss citizens are entitled to a passport and an identity card. The current biometric passports contain a chip on which your fingerprints and an image of your face are stored electronically. All Swiss travel documents are produced in Switzerland.
Passport and identity card
You can apply online for your passport and identity card. Once your application is reviewed, you receive an invitation to record your biometric data at the competent Swiss representation. Be sure to check the expiry date on your current passport and identity card and leave enough time to order new ones.
FAQs – frequently asked questions about passport or ID applications
The statutory delivery period is 30 days abroad and 10 days in Switzerland.
Once your application is reviewed, you receive an email inviting you to make an appointment to record your biometric data. You must do this in person at the Swiss representation where you are registered or, if you are in Switzerland, at the cantonal passport office.
To record their biometric data, minors must be accompanied by their parent/s or legal guardian/s. A divorced parent with sole legal custody of their child must present an official document to that effect. Where divorced parents have joint legal custody of their child and only one parent is able to attend the appointment, the absent parent must present written authorisation for the issuing of the child’s passport or identity card.
As of 1 March 2010 Switzerland issues, beside the identity card, only biometric passports containing a chip with a photo of the face, two digital fingerprints and a digital signature. This biometric data is logged directly at a processing centre. In Switzerland this is the passport office of the canton of residence of the applicant. Abroad the processing center is the Swiss representation at which the applicant is registered.
Passports issued prior to the date mentioned above remain valid until the date of expiry. Certain countries may set specific conditions for entry to their territory. Please be sure to seek information on the entry conditions in good time at your travel agency or the relevant foreign representation (embassy or consulate).
All persons requesting the issue of a Swiss identity document must appear in person at the processing centre for the biometric data capture. Minors and persons under guardianship must be accompanied by their parents or by their legal guardian. A divorced parent who has sole parental custody must present an official document to that effect. In the case of joint parental authority, if the two parents are unable to attend together, the absent parent must provide written authorisation for the issuing of the child’s passport or identity card.
Since the production of Swiss identity documents is centralised in Switzerland, you should check the expiry date of your current travel documents in order to allow sufficient time when applying for new documents.
