On 5 December 2025, the Swiss Federal Council announced plans to significantly strengthen the verification of foreign nationals’ identity documents in the context of residence, settlement, and cross-border permits.
An investigation commissioned by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) revealed that identity checks carried out by cantonal and municipal authorities are often insufficient and inconsistent. In response, the Federal Council has mandated the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to prepare, by the end of June 2026, a draft amendment to the relevant ordinance for consultation.
Current practice and identified shortcomings
Under current rules, the issuance and renewal of residence permits, settlement permits, and cross-border permits fall within cantonal competence. Foreign nationals must declare their arrival and present a valid identity document, which in principle must be checked in its original form by the competent authorities.
However, the survey conducted by the Swiss Association of Residents’ Registration Services and the Association of Cantonal Migration Authorities showed that, in most cases, documents are not systematically or thoroughly verified for authenticity.
The Federal Council considers this situation to entail significant risks, including:
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Fraudulent obtainment of permits using forged or misused identity documents
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Individuals posing security risks operating under false identities
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Increased vulnerability to human trafficking and illegal employment, particularly in prostitution and undeclared work
Planned changes
To address these risks, the Federal Council intends to:
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Require systematic and exhaustive verification of identity documents
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Ensure documents belong to the person presenting them
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No longer accept copies of identity documents, except in limited exceptional cases
These measures will be formalised through an amendment to the Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Employment, which will be subject to public consultation.
Impact on Immigration Processes
Once implemented, these changes are likely to have practical consequences for employers and foreign nationals, including:
1. Longer processing times
More thorough document checks will likely extend processing timelines, particularly in cantons with high application volumes or limited administrative resources.
2. Increased documentation requirements
Applicants may be required to:
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Present original passports and identity documents in person
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Provide additional supporting evidence to confirm identity (e.g. civil status records, previous permits, travel history)
3. Higher scrutiny for initial and renewal applications
Both first-time applications and renewals may be subject to deeper scrutiny, reducing the margin for informal or incomplete filings.
4. Greater impact on cross-border worker processes
As employers often file applications for cross-border workers, they may face:
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Additional verification steps
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More requests from cantonal authorities
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Reduced tolerance for incomplete or late submissions
5. Anticipated downstream effects
Beyond what is formally announced, it is reasonable to expect:
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More frequent requests for clarification from migration authorities
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Increased coordination between migration offices, population services, and labour market authorities
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A stronger emphasis on front-loaded, fully compliant applications to avoid delays or refusals.
Article by Ara Samuelian
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