Swiss Society Of New Zealand

The Swiss Embassy invites you to view our first four short videos about outstanding Swiss Kiwis in celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and New Zealand.

Goldsmith Kobi Bosshard is credited with introducing modernism into New Zealand.

Nadine Jaggi won the coveted Supreme World of Wearable Art Award at only 26 years old.

Wynton Rufer is New Zealand’s most successful football player of all time.

William Hunt is an artist who uses simple crayons to produce stunning works of art.

Please watch the videos and subscribe to our channel by clicking on the link below and hitting the subscribe button under our banner.  Please also share the link with your friends and colleagues.

www.youtube.com/swissembassynz

As a subscriber, we will let you know when our next videos are up and running. Please stay tuned for Winter Games giant slalom winner Wendy Holdener and shot put sensation, Valerie Adams.

Dear Swiss citizens

Many Swiss passports expire this year or will expire in the next two years. The Swiss authorities have already noticed a strong increase in applications for new passports and expect an even stronger increase for 2014 and 2015.

The Embassy has been informed that due to these increasing numbers some passport offices in Switzerland are not able to process the passport applications immediately. There are significant waiting periods for an appointment to record the biometric data (necessary to get a new passport). If you choose to have your biometric data taken at a passport office in Switzerland, it is therefore imperative that you apply for a new passport well in advance.

Your biometric data can, of course, furthermore be recorded at the Swiss Embassy in Wellington. So far, there are no waiting periods at the Swiss Embassy in Wellington.

Whether you want to have your biometric data recorded at the Swiss Embassy in Wellington or at a passport office in Switzerland, you must always apply to the Swiss Embassyin Wellington for a new passport. 

Please watch the first of our series of videos showcasing outstanding Swiss and New Zealanders with a connection to each other’s country as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and New Zealand. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGgSs3osK-o

Wynton Rufer is New Zealand’s most successful football player and was named Oceania Player of the Century. He has a Swiss father and a Maori mother and is passionate about both sides of his heritage. Wynton played for the All Whites and FC Zurich. See the famous goals that clinched New Zealand’s place in the 1982 World Cup.

Please make sure you put your YouTube settings to HD (high definition) to get the full effect.

Biometric Passport: Recording of biometric data in Auckland (7-12 March 2013)

Unfortunately, the Swiss Embassy in Wellington was unable to accommodate all requests to have the biometric data recorded in Auckland. While the Embassy appreciates the disappointment of those citizens, whose requests had to be declined, the Embassy would like to inform of the following:

The Embassy expected a good response to the offer of having the biometric data recorded in Auckland and Christchurch. This is why the Embassy in the first place requested for the mobile biometric unit, to offer our citizens living in New Zealand this new and additional service.

Mobile biometric units were introduced to accommodate the needs of Swiss citizens living in countries without Swiss representations or living in countries where Swiss representations were closed and where no more consular services are offered. There are five biometric unites worldwide. They need to be shared by all Swiss representations abroad.

The Swiss Embassy in New Zealand was lucky enough to secure one of those five biometric units, however only for a limited time. The Embassy hopes to secure such a mobile biometric unit again in the future. If this should be the case, priority will be given to requests that were declined this time.

Biometric data can be recorded all year long at the Embassy in Wellington. Please visit the Embassy’s website http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/ocea/vnzl/livnzl/passpo.html to launch a passport application.

Biometric data can also be recorded at a passport office in Switzerland or at any other Swiss representation abroad. You must, however, still apply for a new passport at the Embassy in Wellington. Please read the information sheet carefully and/or contact the Embassy in Wellington.

Why a biometric Swiss Passport was introduced and why you must come in person to the Embassy to get a new passport:

As many old, non-biometric passports expire and many questions pop up, the Embassy would like to explain why in 2010 a biometric Swiss passport was introduced and why Swiss citizens must come in person to the Embassy to get their new biometric passport. 

The Embassy acknowledges that the introduction of biometric passports has increased the time, cost and effort for many Swiss citizens living abroad to renew or newly establish their passports. This is particularly true for those citizens living in remote areas.

WHY A BIOMETRIC PASSPORT?

The introduction of biometric passports needs to be seen in the wider context of worldwide efforts to increase security and identification procedures in international travel after 9/11. In fact, many western countries nowadays have biometric passports. The introduction of biometric passports form part of the obligations Switzerland has as a member of the Schengen Association Agreement.

In Switzerland, the introduction of biometric passports was proposed by the Federal Council and approved by Parliament in 2008. The decision was subsequently challenged by a referendum. On 19 May 2009, the Swiss population approved the introduction of biometric passports. The decision – although far from being uncontroversial– was part of the democratic decision making process and backed by the majority of the Swiss population.

WHY DO I NEED TO TRAVEL TO GET MY BIOMETRIC PASSPORT?

For a biometric passport, the Embassy needs your biometrics, i.e. your photo, your fingerprints and your signature. The Embassy can only be assured of your identity, if you come in person. This is also why the Embassy asks you to bring along proof of identity such as your old passport, identity card or a valid foreign identity document.

To get a new passport, you must apply to the Swiss Embassy in Wellington. However, you can request via the Embassy that your biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature) are recorded at another Swiss representation or at a passport office in Switzerland. For example, if you travel to Sydney, you can request to have your biometrics recorded at the Consulate-General in Sydney. Or if you travel to Switzerland, you can request to have your biometrics recorded at a passport office of your choice. Even if you want to have your biometrics recorded at another Swiss representation or at a passport office in Switzerland, you still must apply for a new passport through the Swiss Embassy in Wellington.

Once your application for a new passport is filed and once your biometrics are recorded, it takes up to 12 working weeks for the passport to be produced in Switzerland. If you have changed your name through marriage or otherwise, you must register this with the Swiss Embassy in Wellington before you apply for your new passport.

Your new passport will be sent directly to you if your old passport was cancelled when your biometrics were recorded. If your old passport has not been cancelled, your new passport will be sent to the Swiss Embassy in Wellington. You can then either mail or bring your old passport to the Embassy to get it cancelled, and your new passport will be sent back to you or given to you in person.

It is not possible to extend the validity of a non-biometric passport.

Electronic passports, such as the new New Zealand passport, do not contain biometric data. This is why New Zealanders do not have to have their fingerprints or a biometric photo taken to get a new passport.

For further information please visit www.eda.admin.ch/wellington