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Home > News > CH: Residence permits for foreigners to go biometric > CH: Residence permits for foreigners to go biometric
practice CH: Residence permits for foreigners to go biometric
CH: Residence permits for foreigners to go biometric
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3 December 2009
Last Edited Date
3 December 2009
Country
Switzerland
Domain
Submitted By
ePractice Editorial Team (EUROPEAN DYNAMICS SA) | Belgium
The Federal Council approved on 18 November 2009, the issuing of biometric residence permits for foreigners. The switch to biometric permits requires amendments to the Federal Law on Foreigners and the Federal Law on the common information system to the fields of foreign and asylum (LDEA).
The EC Regulation No. 380/2008 of April 18, 2008 refers to a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals and the development of the Schengen acquis. It presents new security features and biometric identifiers that all Member States have to use; a uniform format for residence permits should contain all the necessary information and meet very high technical standards, in particular as regards safeguards against counterfeiting and falsification. This will contribute to the objective of preventing and fighting against illegal immigration and illegal residence.
The residence permit for foreigners will be fitted with
a data microchip containing a digitalized facial photo and two fingerprints. The
data will be secured and the storage system will be of sufficient capacity and
capability to guarantee the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the
data. The biometric data will be kept for five years in the central information
system on migration (Système d'information central sur la migration - SYMIC) and only the authorities
allowed to control the residence will have access to it in order to verify the
authenticity of the document and to identity the holder. The fingerprints of
the person will not, however, be compared with the data recorded in the SYMIC.
This measure will allow the holder of a residence permit
(Permit B or L) to extend or renew their permit without having to restart the
procedure for taking biometric data or having to pay the respective fee. Moreover,
the work of the authorities will also be alleviated.
A consultation carried out from 24 June to 7 October
2009 indicated that a large majority of participants supported the introduction
of biometrics in residence permits for foreigners and their retention for a
specified period in SYMIC.
Switzerland has to be able to issue biometric residence permits for
foreigners by 20 May 2011.
Further information:
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