The disability card planned by the European Union is intended to enable people with disabilities to prove their disability status across borders within the EU, thereby ensuring access to concessions, for example on public transport, in tourism or at events. Switzerland does not yet have such a disability card. Postulate 24.3324 («Wann wird ein fairer Behindertenausweis auch in der Schweiz eingeführt?») therefore asked the Federal Council to explain how Switzerland can implement the European standard.

EU Directive 2024/2841, which governs the European Disability Card, is part of the Switzerland–EU package (Bilateral Agreements III). In a joint declaration, Switzerland committed to adopting this directive after the package enters into force. To introduce the card, Switzerland would have to establish the necessary legal basis and define who is entitled to receive a European Disability Card.

Implementation options

In the report adopted at its meeting on 21 October 2026, the Federal Council sets out three possible implementation options: - Option 1 is based on a broad definition of disability that defines the group of eligible people independently of any insurance benefits. This option would probably require a new constitutional basis. - Option 2 links entitlement to a card to the existing invalidity insurance card, so that only people receiving an invalidity insurance pension or a helplessness allowance would be entitled to a European Disability Card. This would require amendments at least at the level of acts and ordinances. - Option 3 is also based on criteria under social insurance law, but extends the eligible group to people receiving other invalidity benefits. Amendments at the level of acts and ordinances would probably be necessary for this.

The options meet the objective of the EU directive to differing degrees and differ in particular in the number of potentially eligible people. This ranges from around 337'000 people (option 2) to between 550'000 and 800'000 people (options 1 and 3). The report also provides a rough estimate of implementation costs. Depending on the option, initial expenditure estimated at 5 million francs and annual costs of up to 500'000 francs are expected.

As a parliamentary decision on the Switzerland–EU package is still pending, the Federal Council is expected to decide on the next steps by mid-2028. The Federal Department of Home Affairs will examine the options presented in greater depth in the meantime.

Source

Translation of the German text reproduced verbatim from the press release «Bundesrat verabschiedet Bericht zur Einführung eines Behindertenausweises in der Schweiz», Swiss Federal Council, published on 21 October 2026 at 08:30:40. Source version used: 0e17934d-8c3b-459b-9802-7df6cd89c119, retrieved on 21 October 2026 at 12:22:07. https://www.admin.ch/de/newnsb/CukPKhokqRsh