Slow start, fast catch-up
Switzerland has long had a slow-to-digitise administration but the pace has accelerated since 2020:
- Federal e-ID expected in 2026 (voted 2024)
- MyAccount in several cantons
- eMove nationally available
- Twint: dominant mobile payment
- Electronic signature recognised (SES, AES, QES)
The e-ID (digital identity)
Aim
- Digital ID issued by the Confederation
- Authenticates online for public and private services
- Stored on smartphone or secure wallet
- Decentralised: no central database (unlike EU)
Timeline
- 2024: law passed with 64%+
- 2026: progressive launch
- 2027–2028: full rollout
Planned uses
- Tax declaration
- Residence permit application
- Trade register
- Online banking
- Contract signing
- Electronic voting
Cantonal MyAccounts
Each canton develops its own portal:
Geneva (MaCh)
- Driving licence, certificates
- Application tracking
- Fine payments
- Expanding
Vaud (E-VD, Connect2)
- Multiple procedures: taxes, cars, trade register
- Login via password
Zurich (ZHservices, eUmzug)
- Very advanced
- Registrations, authorisations
- Electronic notifications
Bern, Basel, St. Gallen
- Similar expanding portals
eMove (national)
Single service: declare your move online, valid in participating communes (most now).
How it works
- Connect to eumzug.swiss
- Authenticate (commune login or soon e-ID)
- Enter new address, family composition
- Confirmation to both communes
- Automatic notification to health insurer, AVS, etc.
Time savings
- No commune visit
- 15–20 minutes for entire household
- Available 24/7
Twint: Swiss mobile payment
- Mobile payment app created by Swiss banks (UBS, Raiffeisen, cantonal banks, PostFinance)
- Very widespread: 5M+ users in Switzerland
- Works without a card, just your phone
- Free between individuals
- Merchant fees: ~1.3% (vs 1–2% Mastercard/Visa)
Uses
- Pay in shop (QR code)
- Send money to a friend
- Receive payments (freelance)
- Top up PT subscription, parking
- Charity donations
- Christmas markets and events
Electronic signature
Switzerland recognises 3 levels (SCSE law 2017):
SES (simple)
- Image, scanned signature, email signature
- Low legal weight
AES (advanced)
- Identification + integrity proven
- For standard commercial contracts
- Solutions: DocuSign Switzerland, Skribble, SwissSign
QES (qualified)
- Legal equivalent of handwritten signature
- For formal deeds (sometimes real-estate contracts)
- Requires certificate from recognised authority (SwissSign, QuoVadis, Skribble)
E-banking and payments
- E-banking: all Swiss accounts have online access
- eBill: electronic invoices directly in e-banking, 1-click payment
- PayPal: accepted, but less common than France/Spain
- Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay: broadly deployed
E-tax
Each canton has declaration software:
- VaudTax, GeTax, ZHsteuern: free software
- Electronic filing: electronically signed, no paper
- Statistics: 60–80% of declarations are electronic in 2026
Common digital services
Communes
- Registration, departure
- Fishing, hunting permits
- Hall booking
- Standard requests (extracts, certificates)
Cantons
- Driving licences
- Foreigner cards
- Various subsidies
- Family allowances
Confederation
- Individual AVS statement
- Debt enforcement office
- VAT
- Federal Statistical Office
Tips
- Activate digital services of your commune and canton
- Subscribe to Twint: essential for Swiss daily life
- Enable electronic notifications from insurers and health funds: less paper
- Get ready for e-ID: track its 2026 launch
- For e-signature: Skribble and SwissSign lead for private use
- Cybersecurity: use a password manager and enable 2FA everywhere
- Important documents: back up in an encrypted cloud (Tresorit, Proton Drive are Swiss)
