Politics · Switzerland · 3 hrs ago
Swiss migration system overhaul faces rising costs and delays
Switzerland’s migration authorities are upgrading ZEMIS, the central system used to manage migration information.
About 30,000 people in Switzerland use it each day, and its existing software needs to be replaced.
The Swiss Federal Audit Office says the project’s estimated cost has risen to 193 million francs, up from an original parliamentary credit of about 50 million.
The State Secretariat for Migration now expects the work to finish in 2032, but the audit office says that target is not realistic and each year of delay costs 25 million francs.
It says underestimated work, new requirements and a shortage of project staff are contributing to the problems.
The government has also cut funding by nearly 18 million francs for 2027 and 2028, while the migration office must add requirements linked to an EU package by 2028.
The migration office disputes the audit office’s assessment, saying the old system cannot meet future needs and must be replaced.
Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office says the Zemis migration-system overhaul is facing sharply higher costs and major delays.
The project is now estimated to cost 193 million francs, nearly four times the original amount.
The State Secretariat for Migration expects the overhaul to be completed in 2032, a date the audit office says is not viable.
The audit office cites underestimated work, new requirements and a shortage of staff at the migration agency.
The agency says the old system cannot meet future needs and that replacing it is unavoidable.
- Who
- Switzerland’s Federal Audit Office and the State Secretariat for Migration are involved in the dispute over the project.
- What
- The overhaul of the Zemis migration information system is facing higher costs, delays and staffing constraints.
- When
- The audit office report was published on Monday evening; the article was published on 26 October 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland.
- Why
- The old software must be replaced, while underestimated work, new requirements, budget cuts and limited staff have complicated the project.
Federal Audit Office
State Secretariat for Migration
Project outlook
Federal Audit Office
The 2032 completion date is not viable, and delays risk adding substantial costs.
State Secretariat for Migration
The agency says the audit office gives too little weight to the need for the project.
Need for replacement
Federal Audit Office
The overhaul faces serious cost, delay and staffing risks.
State Secretariat for Migration
The old system is not fit for the future, and there is no alternative to replacing it.
Project resources
Federal Audit Office
Staff shortages and reliance on external consultants threaten delivery and the budget.
State Secretariat for Migration
Not stated.
Parliament approved a credit of about 50 million francs for the Zemis overhaul.
The government’s savings measures cut funding by almost 18 million francs, while the agency must integrate new requirements from the EU package by 2028.
The migration agency expects the overhaul to be completed, a date the audit office says is not viable.
cash.ch reported on the audit office’s warning about the project’s costs and delays.
- Estimated project cost
- 193 million francs
- Increase over original estimate
- 127 million francs
- Original parliamentary credit
- About 50 million francs in 2022
- Expected completion
- 2032
- Daily users
- About 30,000 people in Switzerland
- Annual cost of delay
- 25 million francs
What people are saying
not viable
pays far too little attention