Notes from the Federal Palace Every passport is unique, allowing its holder to prove their identity and nationality. Passports are valuable documents. In accordance with the Federal Identity Documents Act, all Swiss nationals are entitled to one of both types of identity document, i.e. a passport and an identity card. The Swiss passport in its current design is around 20 years old. Most recently, 2006 saw the introduction of biometric data in line with security requirements. The new passport series conforms to the latest identity document standards and incorporates unique design elements inspired by the Swiss landscape. Switzerland’s new full series covers the standard passport, the diplomatic passport, the service passport, the passport for refugees, and the passport for non-Swiss who live in Switzerland. During the years it took to develop the new passport, the cantons were informed of the various design options and asked to provide feedback. A majority of cantons voiced their support for the progressive design endorsed by the now retired Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga. Passport to feature a “Fifth Switzerland” page The new passport depicts the country’s diverse geography, breathtaking mountains, and landscapes formed by water. Every canton – complete with geographical area, highest altitude, and cantonal flag – features in the design. Meanwhile, the outlines of cantonal buildings are a new visual feature, only visible under UV light. The federal government has also decided to dedicate one of the visa pages to the 780,000 or so expatriates who live in the “Fifth Switzerland”: alongside the 26 cantons, there is also an inside page representing the symbolic “27th canton” of the Swiss Abroad. Traditional and cosmopolitan at the same time – the new biometric Swiss passport features an additional page dedicated to the “Fifth Switzerland”. It also has the latest security technology, including an electrotype watermark representing a quartz crystal superimposed on the Swiss cross. Photo: fedpol The history of the Swiss passport reflects decades of technological and social progress. Photo: fedpol The Swiss Abroad earn a place in the new Swiss passport The new Swiss passport was introduced on 31 October 2022. It has been a long time coming, but the “Fifth Switzerland” will now have its own dedicated passport page for the first time. As with the previous Swiss passport, the holder’s biometric data will be stored in a microchip located in the cover. 26 Swiss Review / March 2023 / No.2
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