What is SIMIC and who uses it?

SIMIC is the database of the Secretariat of State for Migration, now considered outdated. It collects the data of foreign citizens residing in Switzerland and has 30,000 users between the Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities. The source does not divide users between these three levels and does not specify what activities they carry out through the system. The transformation had been financed with a budget approved by Parliament four years ago.

How much has the renewal estimate changed?

The initial estimate was about 66 million. In 2024, the SEM re-evaluated the renewal at 193 million, according to the Federal Financial Control. The report also reports that the project should cost four times more than the original forecast. The source does not provide a breakdown of expenditure items or amounts attributed to different administrative levels.

When will the new system be operational?

The new system will not be operational before 2032. The document also points out that further delays could result in additional costs of 25 million per year. A more precise date of commissioning is not indicated and an intermediate schedule of work is not described. The report links these risks to the transformation of the database and SEM's ability to secure its assets.

Why do we need additional resources for SEM?

The report points out that the SEM must comply by 2028 with the needs deriving from the Switzerland-EU package and that, for this reason, the necessary human resources must be guaranteed as a matter of urgency. The Federal Finance Control considers the workload and costs of the projects to be underestimated and recommends a complete review of the planning. SEM claims to have started it.

SEM risks paralysis over the renewal of SIMIC

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 28 October 2026

Illustrative image relevant to the article topic

The SEM risks paralysis without additional resources SIMIC: approximately 66 to 193 million estimated in 2024 The new system will not be operational before 2032

Context

TL;DR

SEM risks paralysis without additional resources
SIMIC: from approximately 66 million to an estimated 193 million in 2024
The new system will not be operational before 2032
Switzerland-EU package: requirements to be met by 2028

Key facts

→ SIMIC DATABASE
Users → 30,000 between Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities
Initial estimate → about 66 million
SEM estimate in 2024 → 193 million
Operations → no earlier than 2032

The project and the relationship

In the report published on Monday evening, the Federal Financial Control warns that the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) could be paralysed if it does not obtain additional resources to transform its database. The system in question is SIMIC, now outdated, which collects the data of foreign citizens residing in Switzerland.

With the aim of reducing costs, Parliament had allocated a budget four years ago to finance the transformation of the database. However, estimates have increased: in 2024 SEM revalued the cost of the renewal to 193 million, while the initial estimate amounted to about 66 million.

SIMIC has 30,000 users between the Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities. The data shows that the database involves the three levels of administration indicated in the report, without the source dividing the users among them or describing what operations they carry out through the system.

The report warns that the problem is not only about the transformation of the database: SEM's ability to guarantee its activities is also at risk.

Operational details

Comparing the reported figures requires keeping the estimate, the reassessment, and the outlook on delays distinct. The first point of reference is the budget of approximately 66 million allocated by Parliament four years ago. The second is the estimate of 193 million prepared by SEM in 2024. The report adds that the renewal should cost four times as much as initially planned. The source does not provide a breakdown of expenditure items and does not assign separate amounts to the Confederation, the cantons, or the municipalities.

Three figures for understanding the project

Table 1: Item
Item	Reported figure
Initial budget	approximately 66 million
SEM estimate in 2024	193 million
Additional costs in the event of delays	25 million per year
Operational status of the new system	no earlier than 2032

The 25 million figure is not a new total estimate for the renewal: the document presents it as an additional annual cost that could result from further delays. 2032 is also reported as a time limit: the new system will not be operational before that year. Distinguishing between the two pieces of information avoids confusing the cost of the project with the potential cost of postponing it.

The database also has a defined administrative scope: it collects data on foreign citizens residing in Switzerland and is used by 30'000 users across the Confederation, the cantons and the municipalities. The text does not specify how the transformation will change users' access, which functions will be transferred, or which services could be disrupted. The only explicitly stated effect is the risk to SEM's ability to carry out its activities.

Key points

The report then shifts attention from the figures alone to SEM's organizational capacity. The agency will have to meet by 2028 the requirements arising from the Switzerland-EU package. To meet that deadline, the document states that the necessary human resources must be ensured with the utmost urgency. However, the text does not specify either the size of the staff or the individual activities included in those requirements.

Funding and institutional response

As part of the 2027 relief plan, the Federal Council reduced funding to renew the system. The report points to further reductions planned for 2029 and 2030. In the document, these cuts are associated with the revision of the project requested by the Federal Audit Office, which considers the workload and costs of the various projects to have been underestimated.

The recommendation is to completely revise SEM's planning. In its response, the Secretariat assures that it has already initiated the necessary review, so that it can proceed with the work as soon as the decision on the Switzerland-EU package is adopted. The source therefore documents an internal review that has begun and a decision-making step that is still necessary, but does not indicate when the decision will be adopted, what additional resources will be allocated, or what timetable the work will follow.

Source: rsi.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SIMIC and who uses it?: SIMIC is the database of the Secretariat of State for Migration, now considered outdated. It collects the data of foreign citizens residing in Switzerland and has 30,000 users between the Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities. The source does not divide users between these three levels and does not specify what activities they carry out through the system. The transformation had been financed with a budget approved by Parliament four years ago.
How much has the renewal estimate changed?: The initial estimate was about 66 million. In 2024, the SEM re-evaluated the renewal at 193 million, according to the Federal Financial Control. The report also reports that the project should cost four times more than the original forecast. The source does not provide a breakdown of expenditure items or amounts attributed to different administrative levels.
When will the new system be operational?: The new system will not be operational before 2032. The document also points out that further delays could result in additional costs of 25 million per year. A more precise date of commissioning is not indicated and an intermediate schedule of work is not described. The report links these risks to the transformation of the database and SEM's ability to secure its assets.
Why do we need additional resources for SEM?: The report points out that the SEM must comply by 2028 with the needs deriving from the Switzerland-EU package and that, for this reason, the necessary human resources must be guaranteed as a matter of urgency. The Federal Finance Control considers the workload and costs of the projects to be underestimated and recommends a complete review of the planning. SEM claims to have started it.