Jurisdiction (EVAWG)

1. The Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) fulfills the duties as the issuing authority for identity documents for Swiss nationals residing in the Canton of Bern.

2. It may internally delegate specific tasks to another department.

1. Location of Identification Centers in the Canton of Bern (Art. 2 para. 1)

1. Bern, Bern-Mittelland

2. Biel/Bienne, Seeland

3. Courtelary, Bernese Jura

4. Interlaken, Oberland

5. Langenthal, Emmental-Oberaargau

6. Langnau im Emmental, Emmental-Oberaargau

7. Thun, Oberland

1. The Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) operates the identity card centers listed in Annex 1.

2. The main location is in Bern. This serves as the responsible authority towards the federal authorities for the issuance of identity documents in accordance with Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Identity Documents Act (AwG).

1. The Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) operates a temporary passport issuance office at the main location in Bern. This task can also be carried out for citizens residing in another canton, if contractually agreed.

2. The Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) collects the biometric data for travel documents in accordance with Article 59 of the Foreign Nationals and Integration Act (AuG) for foreigners residing in the Canton of Bern.

3. Following the entry into force of the corresponding federal legal provisions, the Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) also collects the biometric data for identification documents of the foreign resident population of the Canton of Bern, which are issued by Swiss authorities.

1. The official languages in the identification centers are

a) French in the administrative region of Bernese Jura,

b) German and French in the administrative region of Seeland,

c) German in the other administrative regions.

1. The application for the issuance of an identity card must be submitted only after a prior appointment reservation by phone or internet and always by appearing in person at the identity card center. Paragraph 3 remains reserved.

2. The obligation to make a prior appointment reservation also applies for the collection of biometric data in accordance with Article 3 paragraphs 2 and 3.

3. The application for a provisional passport can be made without a prior appointment reservation. If the application with all complete documents is submitted during regular opening hours, the provisional passport will be issued on the same day.

Applicants residing in the Canton of Bern may apply for a regular passport or have biometric data recorded (Art. 3 paras. 2 and 3) at the passport office of their choice within the Canton of Bern.

Emergency passports can only be applied for and issued at the main location of the emergency passport office in Bern.

Decisions regarding the exemption from the obligation of personal appearance pursuant to Article 12 paragraph 4 VAwG are made by the Office of Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service).

If the applicant is not required to appear in person, the personal data and biometric data will be collected by an employee of the issuing authority using a mobile capture station at the citizen's place of residence or stay.

This option is available only within the canton of Bern.

1. The capturing of facial images as photographs for the issuance of all identification documents is exclusively carried out by the Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service). Photographs brought in paper form or digital form will not be accepted.

1. Pursuant to Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the VAwG, the issuance of identity documents for Swiss nationals is based on the data from the electronic civil status register (Infostar). Additionally, the Office for Population Services may obtain data from the resident registers in accordance with the Ordinance of January 20, 2021, on the Municipal Register Systems Platform (GERES V).

1. The Office for Population Services may specifically require the following additional documents from the applicants or their legal representatives

a) Confirmation of residence,

b) Identification documents for verifying identity (Swiss passport or Swiss identity card; foreign residence permit; passport of another country),

c) Custody decision,

d) Family certificate,

e) Birth certificate,

f) Civil status certificate.

Identity cards are to be applied for exclusively at an identification center of choice.

The application and issuance procedure corresponds to that for passports, with the exception of the collection and storage of fingerprints.

The Report of Loss of Identity Documents is governed by Article 23 of the Administrative Procedural Act (VAwG). The report can also be made at the Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service).

The Cantonal Police of Bern is solely responsible for the entry into the automated police search system RIPOL (property search).

1. Fees as well as mandatory and optional surcharges are levied for the issuance of identification documents and for additional services in accordance with Article 47 of the Administrative Procedure Act (VAwG).

1. For the receipt of loss reports of identity documents, the fee schedule of the Cantonal Police of Bern applies in accordance with Annex 5C Number 5.1.2 of the Ordinance of February 22, 1995, on Fees of the Cantonal Administration (Fee Ordinance; GebV)[5].

2. The fee is shared equally between the Office for Population Services and the Cantonal Police of Bern, with each receiving 50 percent.

1. For the affixing of a certification of accuracy on a copy of an identification document and the creation of copies, the fees shall be charged according to Article 23 and Annex 5A Number 3.2.1 of the Fees Ordinance (GebV).

1. All fees and expenses must be paid in person at the time of application.

2. The Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) decides on the acceptance of the means of payment.

Should fees or charges arise independently of presenting oneself at an ID center or the registration using the mobile station pursuant to Article 8, the amount may be invoiced.

The Office for Population Services (Passport and Identity Card Service) determines the opening hours of the identification centers.

It may schedule opening hours from Monday to Saturday in the identification centers.

1. The Introductory Ordinance of October 23, 2002, to the Federal Identity Documents Ordinance (EV AwV) (BSG 123.21) is hereby repealed.

1. This Regulation shall enter into force on March 1, 2010.