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Switzerland: Data bank registers visitors

01 November 1994

The Minister of Justice and the police have amended the law on the Central Data System of all foreigners, the ZAR (Zentrales Auslander-Register). The amendment allows the authorities to register all (Swiss) people who invite foreigners to come to the country because they now need - in order to get an entry visa - an invitation from a person living in Switzerland. This will affect everyone visiting Switzerland from outside the EU, especially those from the Third World.

The ZAR will hold information on those visiting and the Swiss people who have invited them. The computer data field "Invitation letters" contains the name and address and the "relationship" of the person inviting the visitor. This cover family relationships and political, cultural or business connections. All the key state authorities - the Border police, all cantonal foreign police sections and the Federal (political) Police will have on-line access to the ZAR data system. The police will also be empowered to search the homes of third persons who are in contact with a "suspected" foreigner.

Komittee Schluss mit dem Schnuffelstaat, Bern, Switzerland.