News from the Swiss Embassy • New Swiss Passport Celebrates Switzerland’s Natural Beauty and Embraces the Swiss Living Abroad

New Swiss Passport Celebrates Switzerland’s Natural Beauty and Embraces the Swiss Living Abroad

AVAILABLE SINCE 31 OCTOBER 2022, THE NEW SWISS PASSPORT MEETS THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR IDENTITY DOCUMENTS AND A UNIQUE DESIGN INSPIRED BY THE SWISS LANDSCAPE. IT ALSO INCLUSIVELY REFERENCES ITS EXPATRIATE COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL OUTLOOK, WITH PAGES DEDICATED TO THE SWISS WHO ARE LIVING ABROAD.

A PAGE PER CANTON The latest passport series is Switzerland’s fifth passport design, and follows the last update in 2010. A dedicated page for each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons depicts distinctive landmarks for which each canton is known. The common design thread of the new passport is water, an element that shapes the Swiss landscape across all the cantons from alpine peaks to verdant valleys. The first page depicts Pizzo Rotondo, the highest mountain in the Gotthard massif. Significantly, it is the source of the major Swiss rivers that flow across territorial borders. Hence the massif unites the main design themes of water and mountains.

The new passport series includes the ordinary passport, diplomatic passport, a national service passport, new refugee documents and a passport for foreigners living in Switzerland.

CLOSE TO HOME YET OPEN TO THE WORLD Besides showcasing Switzerland’s natural beauty, an additional page of the new passport is dedicated to Swiss citizens living abroad, also known as the ‘fifth Switzerland’. Finally, the last page shows a picture of the world, often colloquially called Switzerland’s ‘27th canton’. The new passport captures the essence of Switzerland as a country that is both close to home and open to the world.

“A dedicated page for each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons depicts distinctive landmarks for which each canton is known. The common design thread of the new passport is water, an element that shapes the Swiss landscape across all the cantons from alpine peaks to verdant valleys.

“Seeking to combine aesthetics with security and functionality, the new passport incorporates the latest technology for identity security. While some of these features are apparent to the naked eye, others are only visible under UV light.

View the new passport design in a video at www.schweizerpass.ch.

CUTTING-EDGE SECURITY Seeking to combine aesthetics with security and functionality, the new passport incorporates the latest technology for identity security. While some of these features are apparent to the naked eye, others are only visible under UV light. As in the previous version of the identity document, biometric data are recorded on a microchip embedded in the passport cover. The data can only be read with the help of a device that guarantees encrypted data transmission. Fingerprints are specially protected, with Switzerland allowing access only to countries with data protection equivalent to Switzerland. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SWISS PASSPORT-HOLDERS What does the introduction of the new passport mean for Swiss passport holders?

All passports currently in circulation remain valid until their stated expiry date. Hence, Swiss citizens can keep using their old passports until they expire. The Swiss identity card is currently also being redesigned, which will be released by authorities in the first half of 2023. As usual, passport-holders can submit a combination application to renew both their passport and identity card. To apply for new documents, Swiss citizens are welcome to book an appointment at www.schweizerpass.ch.

Article courtesy of Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore, photos courtesy of Fedpol 2022