Switzerland has started issuing biometric residence permits to residents from outside the EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The country has been issuing credit card-sized identity documents for foreign nationals since joining the Schengen area on 12 December 2008. As part of its further development of the identity document, biometric data will now be stored in the document.
The new credit card size permits contain a photo and two fingerprints. Data is stored on the cards for five years.
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Quelle/Source: Security Document World, 28.01.2011