Switzerland’s recent e-ID update: Don’t fear the stricter rules

Switzerland is introducing new, stricter guidelines for digital credentials. We explain what this means, why companies should continue to rely on the advantages of wallet integration, and how Swisscom helps to master technical and regulatory complexity.

Last September, Swiss voters approved the E-ID Act by just 50.39%, which is one of the slimmest margins imaginable for a national referendum. The message from the public: people wanted a digital ID, but they weren't entirely comfortable with how it was being rolled out.

Thus, on February 25, 2026, the Federal Council was briefed on the concrete measures that will be implemented before the e-ID goes live:

Stricter data access controls
One of the biggest concerns around digital identity systems is the potential for over-collection of personal data. Switzerland is responding directly to that fear. Under the new regulations, only providers that are legally authorized will be allowed to request a user's social security number (AHV number).

The swiyu Wallet will automatically block any unauthorized attempt to access this data.
A Public Registry for data requests
Providers who want to request information from users must first register their intended data queries and the reasons for them in a publicly accessible federal register. This brings a degree of transparency that was previously absent.

If a provider requests more data than it has registered, or hasn't registered at all, the swiyu Wallet will alert users with a warning and leave the decision to them, whether they want to share their data or not. Users will also be able to report suspected misuse directly to the FOJ. In serious cases, the FOJ can go so far as to ban a provider from the entire e-ID ecosystem.
Unlinkability: Transactions stay private
A central privacy feature of Switzerland's e-ID design is unlinkability. This means the idea that different uses of one's digital ID cannot be connected. Each person will be issued multiple technically distinct e-IDs. Since each is presented only once, individual transactions cannot be correlated. When a wallet's stock of IDs runs out, new ones are issued automatically.

Importantly, this feature is unaffected by the budget cuts discussed below and will be fully functional from day one.

Budget cuts: What gets delayed

Switzerland's parliament cut the E-ID project's 2026 budget by CHF 1.7 million—the good news is that the core system is not at risk. Security remains fully intact, and the infrastructure, run by the Federal Office for Information Technology and Telecommunications at two independent federal sites, will continue to operate as planned.

The bad news: several planned enhancements are on hold indefinitely. These include:

Integration with international E-ID systems: cross-border recognition will have to wait
A federal backup service for the swiyu Wallet
Issuance of e-IDs in third-party wallets: for now, users are limited to the official swiyu app

The wallet business case remains more relevant than ever.

Companies should embrace the new regulatory framework as an opportunity to align their identification and onboarding processes with wallet-compliant standards. Why? On the one hand, companies that integrate e-ID acceptance at an early stage can position themselves as trusted digital leaders and benefit from smoother, faster customer acquisition. On the other hand, relying on manual uploads, video identification, or fragmented authentication systems can prompt customers to migrate to providers that offer faster, more convenient experiences.

Don't wake up one day and find yourself on the wrong side. Start preparing for an integration now.

Want to learn more about the benefits of digital credential wallet integration for your business? Download our free Whitepaper here.

Whitepaper: Accepting Digital Identity at Scale

Benefit from an experienced integration partner

Businesses that want to participate in digital credential ecosystems can reduce complexity, risk, and time-to-market by working with an experienced integration partner. Implementing credential solutions involves far more than a simple API integration. It requires expertise in regulatory compliance, cryptographic trust infrastructure, interoperability standards, and governance. The underlying technologies, such as verifiable credentials, public key infrastructure, secure key management, and selective disclosure, demand specialized knowledge that many organizations do not possess in-house. The new guidelines will make the entire integration process even more complicated.

Swisscom, as an integration partner, provides pre-built, standards-compliant components, managed services, and secure infrastructure that simplify implementation, accelerate deployment, and ensure regulatory alignment. Swisscom can also meet the new federal government requirements. This allows companies to focus on integrating wallet functionality into their customer journeys while relying on certified experts to manage security, compliance, and operational risks associated with digital credential ecosystems.

Customer success stories

Customer success stories

Switzerland’s recent e-ID update: Don’t fear the stricter rules

Budget cuts: What gets delayed

The wallet business case remains more relevant than ever.

Benefit from an experienced integration partner

Latest Blog articles

Switzerland’s recent e-ID update:...

6 Key Questions to Understand the...

Onboarding check: 8 questions for...

The hidden costs of friction in the...