Biometric passports take their time
The Swiss biometric passport containing a digital picture and fingerprints of the holder will be available from September 2006, at the earliest.
But travellers to the United States will be able to enter the country without a visa if they hold the latest version of the Swiss passport.
After October 26, the rules are set to change. After this date, those with older passports will have to apply for a visa before being allowed on to American soil.
However, holders of the machine-readable Model 03 passport will be able to enter the US without a visa for as long as their passports are valid.
The push to introduce biometric passports came from the US which wanted to tighten border security following the attacks on September 11, 2001.
The justice ministry said in a statement that those who needed a biometric passport would be able to apply for one before September 2006.
Last year, the Swiss government announced that it would begin issuing the high-tech travel documents by the end of 2005.
However, the cabinet decided to revise the law on Wednesday, with the proposals entering a consultation period to allow interested parties a say.
Pilot study
The new passport is currently the subject of pilot study, which will determine, amongst others, whether the data chips used have a shelf life of more than five years.
During the five years the pilot study is scheduled to last, a limited number of biometric passports will be issued to people who wish to have one.
An adult passport will cost SFr250 ($195) and will be valid for five years. The Model 03 passport costs SFr120 and is valid for ten years.
The Federal Police Office added that those who wished to apply for a Model 03 should do so by September.
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Biometrics is the science of measuring an individual’s physical properties.
Biometric systems recognise features such as a fingerprint, iris patterns, ear shape, and vein structure.
A person’s biometric data can be compared with the information contained in the passport for verification purposes.
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