Hi all,

I am compiling an FAQ for IT contractors on working in Switzerland - which I will eventually post somewhere here when it is complete.

I am trying find out what the law is regarding carrying ID - AIUI foreigners are required to carry their Ausländerausweis.

I am really looking for a link to the actual legislation - I have searched admin.ch and Googled as well as looking in these fora. If anyone has such a link I would be most grateful.

Cheers,
Nick

Ah...eventually found it here

The legislation reads:

Which translates as: you are supposed to show your Ausweis when asked for it; but you do not have to carry it with you. If you are asked to show it, you must produce the Ausweis within a reasonable time.

Cheers,
Nick

I'm not 100% sure about this, although this is a first-hand story of an ex-classmate from Russia (so, caucasian, blond, etc..). She was asked for her Ausweis somewhere in Bern, which of course she didn't carry with her at that time. The police officer/s actually took her to their post where she had to wait until her husband could bring her Ausweis & show it to the police.
This happened at the wee hours.. (about 3am, just when the Ausgang places/bars are closing & she was on her way home..)

But I presume you can't be prosecuted for not carrying it. Just put in a cell and left to rot

Cheers,
Nick

I carry a photocopy but luckily have never been stopped.

Hello,

just to clear this up. You must in Switzerland common with Germany be able to prove identity to an official upon request. Officials include the police, border patrols, train inspectors (!) and a few other groups.

Acceptable forms of identification are a passport, identity card or alien permit (ausländerausweis). Thankfully, although technically not perfect a Swiss issued plastic driving license will also get you identified. If you do not carry the **original** of one of these then the official can "arrest" you until your identity can be comfirmed.

Hi all, just wondering if anybody out there is up on the exact laws regarding carrying your ID with you. I have two teenagers (feel free to sympathize), a boy of 19 and a girl of 16. My son has been stopped regularly since he's been 14 and asked to empty all his pockets, his knapsack and provide identification. My daughter was harassed at the FCB-FCZ match in Basel recently until she phoned us and then it was suddenly ok. Problem is we have C permits which are not wallet friendly. Photocopies are frowned upon but both kids carry copies of their permits and their passports anyway. Both have train passes complete with photo and birthdate - not acceptable. By the way the latter aren't even acceptable to the SBB controllers themselves. (I will be following that up shortly and reporting back.) I thought the law stated that you weren't required to carry id with you anymore. Anybody know for sure? Oh, we're in Canton Zürich if that helps.

Are you sure about this? I remember that you never need to carry an ID on you in Germany. According to Wikipedia (if reliable, don't know) as a Swiss Citizen you don't even have to own any form of ID (keine Ausweispflicht):

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ausweispflicht

I could, however, well imagine that there's a different rule for foreigners.

There's another thread with some information about this, in which I wrote:

Private security companies at football games don't have the competence to ask for identification, but I immagine they will deny access to the stadion if somebody denies to identify himself. But I'm not familiar with the present football customs.

She wasn't harassed by the stadium security (although they did confiscate her deodorant) she was harassed for ID from a police officer.

You are from Zurich so I'm guessing your daughter was in the away section? Probably a good thing the deodorant was confiscated given how flammable it is then! Seriously, given the actions of the Kreis 4 crew and their chums that night I am not surprised the police had to be a little indiscrimate (and not exactly friendly) in their dealings.

You DO need to carry ID at all times in Germany. The German authorities also only recognise certain types of ID namely ID card (if your country issues one-not mine) and/or passport. Driving license in Germany is not an Ausweis like in Switzerland.

I once while living in Germany had to courier my passport to an agent to register my car on my behalf from Warsaw to Frankfurt and back within a week as it was the only ID recognised by the Germans and my country issues no other internationally acceptable form of ID to non-resident citizens. (I was flying out the Monday and returning the Friday).

I grew up in Germany and I seem to recall that once you turn 16, you are required to carry gov't issued photo ID on you at all times.

Yes, one isn't obligated to carry ones permit(Ausweis). I was informed today by the lady behind the counter at Fremdenpolizei office in Bern and if you ever get stopped by the police, just tell them at your permit is safely kept in your cupboard. So if you're lucky, the police will offer you a ride home to fetch it.

A free ride home is a very good thing since I do get controlled quite regularly.

I love Switzerland.

Of course you do carry a copy anyway right?

Indeed, and the list of "govt issued ID recognized as ID by the law/police" is quite short. It's basically National ID card, or Passport. A Driving licenses doesn't count.

heheh good idea but I'm opting for a free ride home.

I'm sure it won't be long before newborns are micro-chipped.

So I'll guess that Tram inspectors as well can ask you some ID?

I have a question, when you buy the monthly pass for the public transportation with your name and address on it, why they ask you to show them ID? If I buy a single ticket, they will not ask to prove who I am, so why with the monthly ticket? I have my ticket, I paid for it, it should be enough!

They ask you to show ID in case you are illegally using somebody elses monthly ticket.
I suppose they do not ask for ID for a single ticket because either it is not illegal to use somebody elses ticket or it is illegal but since there is no proof who bought the ticket then checking ID is pointless.

Please do not ask me to explain the logic behind the rules for daily & monthly tickets