ELCA will develop Switzerland’s secure e-ID verification platform

ELCA has been awarded a long-term federal mandate to develop the digital identity verification system for Switzerland’s national e-ID program.

The Swiss Federal Administration has selected ELCA to build the identity verification system for Switzerland’s upcoming electronic identification (e-ID) program. The Lausanne-based IT company will oversee the development and implementation of the digital verification solution under an 11-year contract worth up to CHF 12.8 million.

The project represents a strategic step for Switzerland’s digital infrastructure, enabling secure, user-friendly online identification for citizens and residents. ELCA will bring its expertise in digital trust and data protection to deliver a solution that aligns with national legal and technical standards.

The e-ID verification process will involve several layers of control, including liveness detection, facial comparison against official images, and the validation of Swiss identity documents such as ID cards, passports, or residence permits. If the automated process fails, a manual verification step ensures data accuracy.

The lifespan of the e-ID is tied to the underlying identity document, with a maximum validity of ten years, subject to possible reduction to five years for security reasons. After expiration, biometric data collected during the initial verification will be retained for five additional years, in line with legal requirements.

All biometric data will be stored by the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) within secure, redundant infrastructure managed by the Secure Private Cloud of the Federal Department of Justice and Police. Data access is monitored and audited, and users may deactivate their e-ID at any time by removing the associated app. However, early deletion of biometric data is not permitted under current legislation.

The contract awarded to ELCA includes stringent requirements around performance, scalability, and data protection. The system must ensure high availability and adapt to future technological and regulatory changes. Transparency measures, including open communication and public documentation, aim to foster trust and informed use of the e-ID system as Switzerland continues to build a robust digital identity framework.