Major queues formed at Zurich airport on Friday evening when the passport system collapsed.
Automated gates went down, leaving just a handful of staffed counters open - and queues quickly stretched to several hours.
Some passengers reported waiting up to two and a half hours.
Authorities say the issue was resolved within two hours and stress that such breakdowns remain rare.
Swiss Post announce job cuts
Swiss Post will eliminate up to 110 positions in 2027, blaming shrinking letter volumes and fewer over-the-counter transactions
Autumn arrives in Switzerland
The heatwave that has gripped Switzerland since May finally breaks tomorrow
Driver warning in Vaud
Drivers in western Vaud face four nights of disruption on the A1 next week.
Mixed results in school classrooms
Swiss 15-year-olds still rank among the world's best in maths and science, but their performance in reading and maths is sliding
Good news for household bills
Swiss households will pay a little less for electricity next year
Fuel reserves now in use
Switzerland is dipping into its emergency fuel reserves for the first time this year to keep petrol and diesel flowing
