Switzerland's Identity Card: A world pioneer
In 1995, Switzerland launched a new generation of national identity card.
It was the world’s first identity card made of polycarbonate. Thales developed this significant innovation in close cooperation with the Swiss Government and also provided the design of the card.
The Swiss identity card comprises various built-in optical and physical security features, including a security element with an optically variable printed image engineered in Switzerland.
The launch of the Swiss identity card in 1995 represented a milestone for the secure document market.
Along with Finland, Singapore and Sweden, Switzerland proved that polycarbonate is the most suitable material for identity documents, with exceptional optical and physical properties.
Today, polycarbonate has won the trust of governments across the world.
Over 40 countries have chosen polycarbonate for their national identity or residence permit programmes, and close to 30 national passport programmes also use it.
In Europe, all European Union member states made the switch to a polycarbonate credit card format driving license in 2013.
In 2019, a new EU regulation also required the use of polycarbonate in national identity cards.
Front of national identity card in daylight and reverse side in UV light
The new Swiss ID card (2023)
Issued in March 2023, the Swiss identity card was completely redesigned and incorporates advanced security standards. It was launched alongside the new Swiss passport to form a family of identity documents with a uniform design focusing on the themes of mountains and water.
One of the new advanced security features is the Thales Gemalto Laser Engraved Floating Image, where different laser engraved images seem to move or float when the card is tilted, making it easy to authenticate with the naked eye.
The new card also features Thales Gemalto Window Lock, where a secondary image is created by laser ablation technique into a thin metal layer inside a window. This image appears to be negative - like a photo negative - when looked at normally. However, when the card is held against the light, this "negative" ghost image actually appears as a positive image.
This means that any attempt to tamper with or change either the main portrait or this secondary image would leave noticeable marks on the card. This adds an extra level of security to the card.
Another enhanced printed feature of the new card is Gemalto True Vision. When viewed under UV light, an edelweiss flower with its natural colours becomes visible on the back of the card.
The Swiss ID card received Reconnaissance’s 2024 award for Best New National ID Card in EMEA for its design and innovative technologies.
The card is valid for ten years and is printed in five languages:
• German
• French
• Italian
• Romansh
• English
Like the previous version, the card is made of polycarbonate.
What's so special about polycarbonate?
What sets it apart from other materials is the non-delaminable property of a full polycarbonate document. When used in pure form, laminated under heat and pressure, and not mixed with other plastics, the different polycarbonate layers that make up the identity document fuse together to form a solid monolithic structure.
And it’s possible to hear the difference: polycarbonate cards are so stiff that they sound like a compact disc when dropped.
So what's the story here?
All security features, including irreversible laser-engraved personalisation information, are safely located and protected within the genuine polycarbonate document.
This structure is referred to as the one-block concept, and described in our web dossier on document security design.
Fraud resistance
Polycarbonate is unique in supporting highly fraud-resistant level-one security features.
These features, which are visible to the naked eye and easily authenticated by the relevant authorities, include:
• tactile surface elements
• changeable or multiple laser images (CLIs or MLIs)
• windows
• irreversible laser-engraved personalisation
• and now colour portraits.
There's more.
Durability
Polycarbonate's durability allows for the production of identity documents with a guaranteed lifespan of ten years. Polycarbonate documents are available without a chip module or with a contact-based, contactless or dual interface.
Recent innovations, such as colour laser-printing and enhanced visual and tactile effects, are giving government authorities and national printers additional opportunities to seriously consider this enhanced polycarbonate environment for their document projects.
Polycarbonate expertise
As pioneers in polycarbonate technology, Gemalto and Trüb have joined forces to offer unparalleled experience and expert knowledge in this area.
Polycarbonate documents from Thales, such as the Swiss identity document, Finnish DL and eID or Swedish ePassport, and the new UK passport are widely recognized to be leading in terms of quality and security.
Related: Gemalto acquires Trüb AG