The Swiss e-ID has been a topic of considerable debate, evolving through years of planning, public discourse, and even referendums. On 10 September 2024, the State Council followed the National Council and voted strongly in favor of the e-ID law. On 20 December 2024, the law was finally passed – a milestone in a long and sometimes difficult process. The consultation period on the ordinance will now last until October 15, 2025. However, opponents initiated a referendum so that Swiss citizens will again have the opportunity to vote for or against the e-ID law.
Catching up: developments of the e-ID between 2021 and the present
The e-ID debate peaked in 2021 when the Swiss public rejected the first version of the law, primarily over concerns about privacy and the involvement of private companies in issuing digital identities. The centralized architecture, which could have allowed providers to track users, added to the distrust.
After the rejection, the government shifted focus to a state-issued e-ID based on a self-sovereign identity (SSI) model. This approach addressed privacy concerns by ensuring decentralized data storage and giving individuals control over their personal data. Over the next three years, the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ), in consultation with stakeholders including cantons, political parties, and organizations such as the Digitale Gesellschaft («Digital Society»), crafted an improved version of the law. Privacy by design, data minimization, and user control became core principles.
At the same time, the Federal Office of Information Technology and Telecommunication (FOITT) developed the technical framework for the broader trust infrastructure and collaborated with the public through pilot projects. These projects, such as an electronic driver’s license under the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) and a new electronic identity card for federal employees, provided insights into real-world implementation.
By mid-2022, the government prepared a technology-neutral draft law, designed to be adaptable for future innovations. The process, marked by transparency and collaboration, has helped rebuild public trust in the e-ID. As of 2023, the initiative continued to progress with pilot tests and regular technical updates.
In the fall of 2024, the State Council approved the e-ID law with a decisive 43 to 1 vote. However, some disagreements between the chambers on data protection and cybersecurity still need to be resolved. Given the broad support and the relatively minor nature of the amendments, the law was passed as planned on 20 December 2024.
On 9 January 2025, the political parties Mass-voll and Piratenpartei both announced to initiate a referendum against the law. They were supported by the Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland EDU and Young SVP.
The opponents managed to collect more than 50’000 signatures of Swiss citizens with voting power, so that another popular vote on the e-ID law will take place. Since then, discussions have mainly found their way onto social media, where there is often a lack of knowledge but no shortage of emotion. It is therefore important to understand the value of the «E-ID project» as well as the risks associated with it.
So, what’s next for the e-ID?
Introducing new technologies in the public sector, such as the e-ID, comes with significant hurdles. These include the need for substantial investments in technology and expertise, infrastructure costs, and ensuring integration with existing systems.
It is important to emphasize that the e-ID is an infrastructure project: on the one hand, it provides an electronic ID card that strengthens Switzerland's digital sovereignty and makes it less dependent on large tech companies. On the other hand, the associated technology provides the basis for many other forms of digital identification. This allows for a high level of trust in data exchanged over the internet and thus completely new digitalization possibilities.
To make this happen, the e-ID has two main goals: protecting privacy and international use. All of this presents the e-ID with legal, financial, and technological challenges.
Regulatory Updates
The Swiss e-ID law lays the groundwork for a national digital identity system, establishing key principles around security, privacy, responsibility, and liability. Moving forward, the Federal Council will issue further technical and administrative guidelines through ordinances to ensure smooth implementation. These regulatory frameworks are crucial for fostering the widespread adoption of the e-ID across both public and private sectors. As the rollout advances, the focus will shift to developing a technological infrastructure that not only integrates seamlessly with existing systems but also remains adaptable to future innovations. Some key cornerstones of these regulatory frameworks are:
Trust infrastructure
Defines the roles, responsibilities, and technology behind issuing, verifying, and storing e-IDs and other electronic proofs. It ensures a secure system for users.
E-ID issuance
Describes the process for Swiss authorities to issue e-IDs to individuals, including necessary identity checks and criteria for eligibility. It also establishes the accountability of issuers for the integrity of the issued IDs.
Data security, privacy, and liability
Focuses on ensuring data minimization, decentralization, and privacy by design to protect personal information. Issuers and verifiers are liable for securing the data and must report any breaches or misuse.
Accessibility and support
Makes sure that e-ID systems are accessible to people with disabilities and provide technical support to users, with a focus on inclusivity and continuous improvement of the infrastructure.
Budget considerations
In addition to regulatory aspects, securing adequate funding is a crucial part of developing the e-ID and the trust infrastructure. The FOITT is leading the charge, seeking financial support to build an architectural framework that aligns with EU standards while remaining capable of evolving with emerging privacy technologies. According to their media release of 6 December 2024, the federal government provides 1 million CHF in research funds to meet the privacy requirements.
The budget will be pivotal in enabling the FOITT to create a future-proof system that meets both current and long-term needs.
The initial law proposal outlined a total budget of approximately 182 million CHF for the development and operation of the trust infrastructure, the issuance of the e-ID, and related pilot projects between 2023 and 2028. Starting in 2029, the annual operating costs are estimated at around 25 million CHF. If the public accepts the new system, these expenditures will be worthwhile, as an initial study shows, estimating the expected economic benefits from 2030 onwards at over 3 billion CHF annually.
Technologies
The Swiss e-ID program, now named «swiyu», is focused on creating a digital identity system that prioritizes privacy and interoperability with the European Union. Already before a preliminary decision on the e-ID technology was made at the end of 2024, the program was aiming to build a flexible, multi-stack architecture that supports various standards and use cases.
The final technical decisions are still pending and technologies are constantly being analyzed. However, the current status provides clear indications of how the solution is likely to look when it goes live. Open protocols such as did:webvh for decentralized identifiers, OIDC4VCI and OIDC4VP for the verification and presentation of digital credentials, and SD-JWT for the format of the digital credentials themselves will be used. An overview of the technologies can be found on the swiyu page.
Collaborating internationally through the OpenWallet Foundation, the program aims to align with global standards and future-proof the e-ID system. With a focus on privacy, security, and adaptability, the final design will allow for seamless integration with existing systems and evolving technologies.
Open questions
Despite the progress made, several open questions remain that could impact the final implementation of the e-ID system:
Interoperability: How will the e-ID integrate with existing digital identity solutions within Switzerland, such as BE-Login, ZHservices, and AGOV? Additionally, how will it ensure seamless compatibility across EU borders?
User adoption: What strategies will be employed to ensure widespread adoption, particularly among citizens who are less familiar with technology? Can Switzerland’s e-ID achieve the same level of success as other countries like Estonia, Norway, Austria, and Portugal?
Data sovereignty: How will the system ensure that personal data remains under Swiss control, especially when interacting with international services and providers? Furthermore, how will essential SSI principles like unlinkability and selective disclosure be effectively implemented to protect user privacy?
Public Beta
The Swiss E-ID program follows a structured phased approach, beginning with a re-evaluation after the rejection of the initial law in 2021. With the law adopted in December 2024, the program is now focused on finalizing the technology and building the necessary trust infrastructure. A major step forward is the launch of the e-ID Sandbox (Public Beta) together with infrastructure components (swiyu Public Beta), where developers and ICT companies can actively test the infrastructure ahead of the official rollout. This environment allows participants to familiarize themselves with the system and prepare their solutions for seamless integration. In early 2025, the system entered a public beta phase, enabling issuers and verifiers to start using the e-ID, which aims to support the broader adoption of digital identity verification and electronic proofs.
The launch of the e-ID and its trust infrastructure is planned for 2026, followed by efforts to professionalize and expand the system further. From 2027 onwards, the program will focus on scaling the infrastructure and building out the ecosystem to ensure broader adoption and continued innovation. This methodical, multi-year approach is designed to ensure robust digital identity security, user privacy, and trust from the public and private sectors.
Levels of ambition for the e-ID
The Swiss E-ID program outlines three levels of ambition for its future development:
Ambition level 1: Basic e-ID (planned for 2026)
This is the minimal purpose of the e-ID: a digital identity issued solely by the government, used for identity verification in various scenarios, such as opening a bank account, subscribing to mobile services, or verifying age. While useful, this level's benefits may not fully meet public expectations based on past feedback
Ambition level 2: E-ID with linked state-regulated proofs
This level envisages an ecosystem in which additional identification documents are provided by the administration in digital form, such as digital driver's licenses. The ecosystem expands significantly compared to level 1, offering more use cases and involving various state entities as issuers. In addition to using their e-ID for identification, for example, users’ debt registries, driver’s licenses, and proofs of residence are also fully digitized and easily verifiable.
Ambition level 3: Full digital ecosystem
This highest level of ambition envisions a broad digital ecosystem where the e-ID is just one of many digital credentials. Private and public entities could issue a wide range of digital proofs, such as tickets, membership cards, or certificates, all stored in a state-regulated, decentralized «national wallet». This system would standardize digital proofs and enable seamless digital transactions across multiple sectors, similar to the EU’s vision for a highly secure digital identity wallet, which could include users’ concert tickets, gym memberships, and other digital credentials, allowing seamless use across various public and private services.
Moving forward with the Swiss e-ID
If you're an interested onlooker, an independent specialist keen to promote a reliable infrastructure, or responsible for preparing your organization for the challenges and opportunities of the Swiss e-ID – there are ways you can participate in the development process, and now is the time to take action. With the swiyu Public Beta tech stack now available, you can assume an active role in shaping the future of Switzerland’s digital identity landscape. Here’s how you can get involved:
Stay informed: Sign up for the e-ID Newsletter from the FOITT team to receive the latest updates, insights, and invitations to participation meetings directly to your inbox.
Collaborate with us: Get a free consultation on how the e-ID laws and upcoming changes will impact your organization. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you navigate the implementation process.
Help us make the Swiss e-ID a success – test, collaborate, and be part of building the digital future of Switzerland!
