An identity card was first issued in the Canton of Solothurn in 1940 as «Identitätsausweis für Schweizerbürger» (identity document for Swiss citizens) two weeks after the begin of the German attack in the west and the mobilization of the Swiss army that followed. While the Swiss Government only recommended such a card on May 18th 1940 to better control the civilian population, the state of Solothurn (which partly borders France) made it mandatory. Other states followed.

In July 1994 this new plastic card replaced the old Card which was printed on blue paper. The new card was first introduced as a pilot Project in July 1994 and then as a definitive Project in January 1995. In 2003 with the launch of a new passport, the identity card was modified. A kinegram (anti-counterfeit device) was introduced for better security. The eye colour of the cardholder was removed and the sex introduced.

The card is machine-readable and the photograph of the cardholder is laser engraved.

A decision has not yet been made regarding the electronic registration of cardholder data. This decision will be made in coordination with international identity card developments.