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Switzerland sets November 2 start for its biometric identity card
The Swiss Federal Council set November 2, 2026 as the start date for a biometric identity card storing a facial image and two fingerprints on a secure chip.
2026-08-26CC-BY-4.0switzerlandbiometric-id-cardeu-alignmenttravel-documents
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Key Facts
- The card carries a microchip holding a facial image and two fingerprints.
- The specification aligns with European Union travel document standards.
- Citizens may still request a standard non-biometric card for domestic use.
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Retaining a non-biometric option alongside the chip card is the notable design choice, separating travel-document conformance from domestic identification. The launch runs in parallel with Switzerland's separate E-ID framework work rather than replacing it.