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Zurich

Wappen Zürich

How your biometric data is recorded

When you register with the residents' registration office of your local district, an appointment for the recording of your biometric data will be made.

Biometric data is captured by the immigration office of the Canton of Zurich, at the following address: 

  • Migrationsamt des Kantons Zürich, Berninastrasse 45, 8057 Zurich

Please note:

  • Biometric data must be collected from everyone, regardless of a person's age. 
  • Minors must be accompanied by a parent entrusted with their custody
  • Legally incapacitated persons must be accompanies by their legal custodian

At the date agreed for the appointment, you will need to go to the immigration office. Once your biometric data has been recorded successfully, and a permit has been approved, the biometric residence permit will be produced at an external company and sent to your new home in the post.

At the top left corner on the front of your biometric permit is a symbol visible. It signifies that this card contains a chip with biometric data - however, this chip is not visible to the naked eye. The chip contains two digital fingerprints and a digitalised image of your face. This data is stored on the central immigration information system (ZEMIS) for five years and serves the exclusive purpose of issuing a new permit without having to collect new data.

The biometric residence permit for foreign nationals meets stringent international standards. All data is protected by a secure access system and electronic encryption. The finger prints are additionally secured. It is not possible to localise or electronically monitor the chip.