Switzerland has approved a national digital ID with a razor-thin vote. Swiss e-ID referendum 2025 explained: voters backed a state-run system after rejecting a private-provider model in 2021. The new E-ID will be free, voluntary, privacy-first, and managed by the federal government via a secure wallet app, with rollout planned from summer 2026. Switzerland voted to introduce a state-issued electronic ID after years of debate and a failed first attempt. The margin was very close: 50.39% voted yes. The project was rebuilt from the ground up after the 2021 defeat. The new system puts the federal government in charge of issuing and operating the core infrastructure, and it focuses on privacy, data minimization, and ease of use. If you want Swiss e-ID referendum 2025 explained in simple terms, this guide walks you through what changed, how it will work, who opposed it, and when you can get it.

Swiss e-ID referendum 2025 explained: What exactly did voters approve?

The vote approved a new federal law for electronic identity and other digital credentials. It authorizes the state to develop, run, and issue the E-ID. It also sets the legal ground for using the same trusted infrastructure to carry more digital proofs in the future, like a driver’s license or a residence certificate. Key points of the new law:

The E-ID is voluntary and free.

The federal government builds and runs the infrastructure.

A secure smartphone wallet app called Swiyu will hold your E-ID.

Only the minimum data needed for a purpose can be shared (data minimization).

Personal data is stored on your device, not in a central profile.

Other authorities and companies can issue digital credentials using the same state trust system.

Unlike the old plan that voters rejected in 2021, the state is now the sole issuer, and private companies are not the identity providers. This shift is the core reason trust has increased among many voters and institutions.

From the 2021 “No” to the 2025 “Yes”

In 2021, 64% rejected the original digital ID law. Many people supported a digital ID in principle, but they did not want private companies in charge. At that time, the plan was that the government would verify identities, but private “Identity Providers” (IdPs) would issue the IDs. That model failed at the ballot box. In response, the government rewrote the project. It made three big changes:

Full public control: The state issues and operates the E-ID.

Privacy by design: Use the least data possible and store it on the user’s phone.

Clear trust architecture: The government runs the trust registers that confirm who can issue what.

This second vote was much closer than most national votes. Early analysis showed a clear split between urban and rural areas. Still, the small majority was enough to pass the law.

How the new E-ID will work

The government provides a wallet app named Swiyu for iOS and Android. You will use it to apply for, store, and show your E-ID. The process is simple:

Enrollment process

Download Swiyu to your smartphone.

Scan your Swiss ID document with your phone’s camera.

Take a selfie for face verification.

The Federal Office of Police checks your data.

During the selfie step, the system uses Presentation Attack Detection (PAD). PAD checks if a real person is present, not a photo or video. It looks at eye movement, light reflections, 3D depth, and textures. This helps block fraud attempts. All steps are protected with cryptography. The app and back-end exchanges are designed to prevent tampering and limit data exposure.

Trust architecture

Two registers back the system:

Base register: Stores revocations of credentials. If a credential is withdrawn, verifiers can check that.

Trust register: Verifies the identity of issuers. It confirms which authority or company can issue which type of credential.

This design allows a secure ecosystem. The E-ID is the core credential, but other verified credentials can be added over time using the same trust rails.

Where your data lives

Your personal data sits on your phone in the Swiyu wallet. The state does not run a big central profile of your identity use. When you present a credential, you share only what the situation requires. For age checks, for example, you can prove you are over a certain age without revealing your full birth date.

Privacy and security choices that shaped the new law

Privacy and trust were the main reasons the first attempt failed. The new model aims to bake privacy into every step.

Data minimization and self-sovereign identity principles

The law follows data minimization. Only the data that is needed for a service is shared. It also takes cues from “self-sovereign identity” concepts:

You hold credentials locally in your wallet.

You decide what to share.

Verifiers get only the necessary facts, not your full identity data.

This reduces the risk of misuse, profiling, and data leakage. It also makes it easier for companies to comply with strict privacy rules because they do not have to handle extra data.

Cryptographic checks end to end

The system uses cryptographic signatures and secure protocols so that:

Issuers can sign credentials in a way that verifiers can trust.

Verifiers can confirm credentials without contacting a central database for most checks.

Revocations can be checked to see if a credential is still valid.

These tools lower the attack surface and improve resilience. If one part of the system is offline, local checks can still work for many use cases.

State-run infrastructure builds trust

The state’s role as issuer and operator is key for public confidence. It removes the business incentives that worried many voters in 2021. It also allows a single standard that governments, cities, and businesses can adopt consistently.

What you can do with the E-ID at launch and beyond

The E-ID is a foundation. It will help you log in to public services and prove who you are online. Over time, more credentials will be available through the same infrastructure.

Expected use cases

Secure login to government portals.

Age verification both online and in physical settings, without sharing your full birthday.

Digital versions of common documents, such as a driver’s license or a residence certificate, once issuers adopt the infrastructure.

Membership or customer IDs issued by organizations that connect to the trust register.

The government also plans to link the E-ID to the electronic organ donor register. Switzerland is moving to a system where people record an objection to organ donation if they do not want to donate. By around 2027, you will likely use the E-ID to record your decision in that register or opt out using traditional methods.

Smartphone first

At first, the E-ID will work on iOS and Android phones. The state has indicated that the focus is on mobile adoption at launch. This is practical, since most people carry a phone and can use it to present credentials in daily life. Over time, broader device support may grow, but the initial rollout is mobile-only.

Rollout timeline

The government aims to start issuing E-IDs from summer 2026 at the earliest. A beta version of the Swiyu wallet exists for testing with fake data. This helps developers, service providers, and early adopters learn the system and prepare for onboarding.

Who supported it, who opposed it, and why the vote was close

The narrow 50.39% “Yes” shows deep caution. Many citizens still worry about digital identity, surveillance, or technical risks. Some groups that opposed COVID-era measures also opposed the E-ID. Parts of the digital rights community split over details of the law and its long-term impact. Opponents included:

Groups known from pandemic-era protests.

The Pirate Party Switzerland saw internal disputes; a breakaway faction formed a new group called “Digital Integrity Switzerland,” which joined the “E-ID Law NO” committee.

Other political youth groups and associations also lined up against it.

On the other hand, many who supported the concept of a digital ID were convinced by the new safeguards:

State-run issuance instead of private IdPs.

Strict data minimization rules.

Local storage and user control in the wallet.

Analysts reported a clear divide between cities and rural areas. Urban voters were more likely to back the plan, while many rural regions remained skeptical. Yet the final count, while very tight, allowed the reform to pass.

Practical steps to get your E-ID when it launches

When the system goes live, your onboarding should look like this:

Install the Swiyu wallet from the official app store.

Scan your official Swiss ID document using your phone camera.

Complete the selfie check for PAD verification.

Wait for the Federal Office of Police to confirm your identity.

Receive your E-ID in the wallet.

After that, you can start using your E-ID to log in to supported services and present proofs. As more issuers join, you can add new credentials to the same wallet and manage them in one place.

Benefits and trade-offs for citizens and businesses

The new system offers clear gains, but it also has limits you should consider. Benefits for citizens:

Free and voluntary digital ID to access services.

Less data shared for routine checks, like proving age.

Better security against identity fraud with PAD and cryptographic checks.

One wallet to hold many official digital documents over time.

Benefits for businesses and authorities:

Lower friction in onboarding and compliance checks.

Built-in trust from a state-run infrastructure and registers.

Less liability from handling extra personal data, thanks to data minimization.

Clear standards for issuing and verifying credentials.

Trade-offs and risks:

Mobile-only at launch excludes people without smartphones.

Adoption takes time; early months may have limited use cases.

Any national ID system must guard against function creep; strong oversight is key.

Citizens will need to learn how to manage digital credentials safely.

These trade-offs are manageable with transparency, audits, and user education. The law’s design choices suggest the government understands why the first project failed and has tried to address those trust gaps.

How this changes daily life

The E-ID will not replace your physical ID right away. Instead, think of it as a digital layer that can save time. You might open a bank account online faster, prove your age at a kiosk without showing your full ID, or renew permits without a trip to an office. Over time, the number of supported tasks should grow as more issuers come on board.

Digital inclusion matters

To ensure fairness, the government and local authorities should offer alternative channels and help points. Even with a smartphone-first approach, not all citizens will be ready on day one. Clear guidance, pilot programs, and community outreach can make adoption smoother.

What businesses should do now

If you run a service that requires identity checks, you can start preparing:

Review the Swiyu wallet documentation and test with the beta where possible.

Map which data you actually need; plan to request less by using selective disclosure.

Plan user flows that are as simple as a QR scan and a one-tap share.

Train support teams to answer common questions about E-ID use.

Early movers can reduce onboarding costs and bring a healthier privacy posture to their services. The Swiss e-ID referendum 2025 explained the country’s direction: a cautious but firm step toward a state-run digital identity with privacy by design. The vote was close because trust is hard to win and easy to lose. With a strong legal base, careful rollout, and clear communication, the E-ID can deliver real benefits while respecting citizens’ rights. In short, Swiss e-ID referendum 2025 explained: a free, voluntary, state-issued digital ID using a secure wallet, privacy-first rules, and a trust infrastructure that can grow to support many official credentials—rolling out from summer 2026.

(Source: https://www.heise.de/news/Schweiz-Hauchduenne-Mehrheit-fuer-E-ID-10673380.html)

For more news: Click Here

FAQ