Published on 7 July 2026

Swiss Government PKI - Intro

In the physical world, information is protected by being certified in notarial deeds with embossed stamps/seals, or sealed in registered letters/safes. In the virtual world, authentication involves signing the data and, optionally, encrypting it.

The Swiss Government PKI

The electronic solutions for signing and encrypting data consist of algorithms with which mathematical procedures are applied to the data – so-called cryptographic procedures. These solutions work regardless of where the data is stored.

Much like in the physical world, these procedures involve the use of keys and secure processes. The keys can also be used to log in to an application (authentication). The Swiss Government PKI makes such keys available to Swiss authorities and organisations affiliated to the Confederation. In addition to the Federal Administration, these include the cantons, police authorities and courts, for example.

• Examples of use

  One example of use is the smartcard that all federal employees use to log on to their notebooks. The electronic certificates on the smartcard chip also allow emails to be encrypted and signed.

  Another example is the electronic signing of documents, messages and data. Electronic signatures are a technical procedure for verifying that a document, electronic message or other electronic data has remained unchanged since it was signed, as well as the identity of the person who signed it.

  • Service description: Electronic signature

• Certification

  The Swiss Government keys are trusted because the PKI is designed and operated according to very specific rules. The focus is on compliance with these rules, which is why they are consistently checked by accredited bodies. The Swiss Government PKI is thus certified annually and the trustworthiness of the keys is documented. The Swiss Government PKI is one of three certified Swiss providers that meet the stringent requirements of these certifications.

  • Certification of the Swiss Government PKI

Information on Certification Authorities (CAs)

• CP/CPS

  • CP/CPS

• CRLs and ARLs

  • CRLs and ARLs

• CA Certificates

  • CA Certificates

• CA Layout / Policies and Object Identifier (OID)

  • CA Layout / Policies and Object Identifier (OID)

• Test Certificates

  • Test Certificates

Legal basis, standards and specifications

• ETSI

  European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)

• ISO/IEC 27001

  No link available at present

• CA/Browser Forum

  CA/Browser Forum

• ZertES (available in German, French or Italian only)

  Bundesgesetz vom 18. März 2016 über Zertifizierungsdienste im Bereich der elektronischen Signatur und anderer Anwendungen digitaler Zertifikate

• VZertES (available in German, French or Italian only)

  Verordnung vom 23. November 2016 über Zertifizierungsdienste im Bereich der elektronischen Signatur und anderer Anwendungen digitaler Zertifikate

• TAV (available in German, French or Italian only)

  Technische und administrative Vorschriften über Zertifizierungsdienste im Bereich der elektronischen Signatur und anderer Anwendungen digitaler Zertifikate

ICT guidelines in the federal administration

• Digital Transformation and ICT Steering
• ICT guidelines in the federal administration