Online access

You can normally search for, order and consult documents from the Federal Archives online via the online access service. We digitise analogue dossiers to order and make them available free of charge online.

You can access the Federal Archives online to obtain information, conduct research, view documents, place digitisation orders and submit requests to consult records. The Federal Archives’ online access covers all the documents in the Federal Archives. Full information on the services available can be found directly in online access.

Project news

29.01.2026: New release of the online access to the SFA (V.2.4.0.1289)
At the beginning of 2026, the internal archival information system (AIS) was replaced bythe application ACTApro. The AIS is the master system for metadata in the Federal Archives. It was therefore necessary to implement interfaces from the online access to the new AIS and ensure the compatibility of the systems.

In future, Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) will be used as identifiers and will be displayed in the URL. If someone continues to use an old URL (e.g. in their favourites), the online access will automatically redirect them to the current URL.

26.05.2025: New release of the online access to the SFA (V.2.3.0.1151)
Previously, using the ‘View’ function only single pages could be searched for terms in the IIIF-Viewer. The feature update in the current version automatically adopts the search term from the portal to the viewer search function (right column: search in entire file). Using this function other terms can also be entered and searched within the entire file.

23.9.2024: New release of the online access to the SFA (V.2.3.0.1054)
Previously, using the ‘View’ function only single pages could be searched for terms in the IIIF-Viewer. The feature update in the current version automatically adopts the search term from the portal to the viewer search function (right column: search in entire file). Using this function other terms can also be entered and searched within the entire file.

Past release notes

Swiss Federal Archives

The opening hours apply to the reading rooms only
Archivstrasse 24
CH - 3003 Bern