Ordinance of October 21, 2009, regarding the introduction of the 2010 Passport - Passport 2010

The Federal Department of Justice and Police shall introduce a new passport (passport 2010) on March 1, 2010.

As of March 1, 2010, only the passport 2010 shall be issued.

Applications for the issuance of a Passport 2003 or a Passport 2006 can be submitted until February 15, 2010, at the latest, to the competent authority responsible for transmitting the application.

The issuing authorities have until February 23, 2010, at the latest, to enter into the identity documents information system the applications for the issuance of a Passport 2003 or a Passport 2006 and to authorize their production.

In-person presentation to the issuing authorities for the recording of biometric data for the issuance of a Passport 2006 can take place until February 23, 2010. The five-day deadline referenced in Art. 17a of the Ordinance of September 20, 2002, on Identity Documents may be shortened.

Applications for the issuance of a 2010 passport may be submitted starting from February 24, 2010, to the competent issuing authority.

The in-person appearance before the issuing authorities for the collection of biometric data may take place as of March 1, 2010.

If Swiss diplomatic or consular representations do not yet have the technical ability to issue 2010 passports at the time of the entry into force on March 1, 2010, of the partial revision of the Identity Documents Act and the Identity Documents Ordinance, individuals registered with these authorities are allowed, during the transitional phase and in agreement with the issuing authority to which they report, to submit their application for the issuance of a 2010 passport to another issuing authority abroad. Applications for the issuance of provisional passports and identity cards can be submitted to all issuing authorities abroad.

This Ordinance shall enter into force on 1 February 2010.