Download PDF Swiss Review 1/2013 High Resolution

NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT
27
Swiss citizens having the data required for a new passport recorded by the mobile unit
Swiss Review February 2013 / No. 1
Photo: © Roland Isler, Australian delegate
to the CSA
Electronic equipment
goes on tour
The mobile recording of biometric data
for new passports has become a success
story.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
(FDFA) introduced mobile units for recording
biometric data around a year ago. The
mobile equipment was transported around
the world in 2012. It has been used in over 20
countries to date and will have visited four
out of five continents by the end of March,
with only Asia remaining.
Scores of Swiss citizens worldwide take
advantage of this sophisticated service each
month. They attend consular drop-in days
at the Swiss representations that do not have
a permanent consular department and can
have their biometric data recorded there and
then thanks to the mobile devices. The representations
publish the dates of these dropin
days in the local media or write to registered
Swiss citizens abroad directly.
Mobile data recording possible anywhere
However, this is not the only opportunity to
use the mobile devices. Their compact suit-
case form enables our staff to travel to regions
where Switzerland does not have a permanent
consular presence. For example, the
responsible representation can provide the
mobile recording of biometric passport data
at meetings of Swiss societies abroad. This
service saves any interested Swiss citizens
from having to undertake what may be long
journeys to the representation.
A mobile unit for recording biometric
data will visit the following embassies and
consulates general during the course of 2013:
• Barcelona
• The Hague
• Madrid
• New York
• Stockholm
• Vienna
• Buenos Aires
• Lima
• Nairobi
• San José, Costa Rica
• Wellington
The representations will inform their
Swiss communities abroad of the exact timetable
for the units in due course.
The mobile recording of biometric data
complements the Regional Consular Centres,
which have taken over the consular services
for several countries simultaneously at
various locations since 2011. The FDFA’s
Consular Directorate took the bold step of
introducing mobile data recording at the beginning
of 2012 to safeguard and extend the
range of high-quality services available to
citizens abroad.
Additional possibilities
Since the introduction of the Regional Consular
Centres, Swiss abroad have also had the
opportunity to record their biometric data
in all suitably equipped representations and
all cantonal passport offices in Switzerland.
At the same time, consular drop-in days
were introduced and online services for the
Swiss abroad were extended.
The reason for these changes was the review
of Switzerland’s diplomatic and consular
network in 2010. This revealed that synergies
could be achieved and exploited in
individual cases by merging consular services
locally.
Swiss Citizen Services
Consular Directorate
Important notice
The FDFA wishes to make all Swiss citizens
abroad aware that Swiss passports issued in
2003 will expire in 2013. Please remember
to renew your passport as early as possible
at the Swiss embassy or consulate general
where you are registered. The biometric