<PAGE>   1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                           ---------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           ---------------------------

                             SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)


            DELAWARE                                    77-044-4317
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

                             SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                                131 ALBRIGHT WAY
                               LOS GATOS, CA 95032
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                           ---------------------------


                                 1997 STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                           ---------------------------

                                STEVEN HUMPHREYS
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                                131 ALBRIGHT WAY
                               LOS GATOS, CA 95032
                                 (408) 370-4888
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                           ---------------------------

                                    Copy to:
                            KENNETH M. SIEGEL, ESQ.
                           N. ANTHONY JEFFRIES, ESQ.
                          JAN-MARC VAN DER SCHEE, ESQ.
                     Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
                               650 Page Mill Road
                          Palo Alto, California 94304
                          ---------------------------


================================================================================


<PAGE>   2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
                                        Amount to be         Offering Price          Aggregate             Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered     Registered           Per Share(1)       Offering Price(1)     Registration Fee
-----------------------------------  -------------------  --------------------  --------------------  -------------------
<S>                                  <C>                  <C>                   <C>                   <C>       
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
to be issued under 1997 Stock Plan        1,000,000             $ 14.01           $ 14,011,082.50         $ 4,133.27
===================================  ===================  ====================  ====================  ===================
</TABLE>


(1) Estimated in part pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended (the "Act"), and in part pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Act.
    With respect to 809,500 shares subject to outstanding options to purchase
    Common Stock under the Plan, the Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share
    is equal to the weighted average exercise price of $9.16 per share pursuant
    to Rule 457(h). With respect to 190,500 shares of Common Stock available for
    future grant under the Plan, the estimated Proposed Maximum Offering Price
    Per Share was estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) whereby the per share price
    is the average between the high and low price reported in the Nasdaq
    National Market on January 30, 1998, which average was $34.625. The Proposed
    Maximum Offering Price Per Share represents a weighted average of the
    foregoing estimates calculated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h).


<PAGE>   3
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         This registration statement relates to 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock
par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock") of SCM Microsystems, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), being registered for use under
Registrant's 1997 Stock Plan and its sub-plan, the 1997 Stock Option Plan for
French Employees (collectively known as the "Plan").

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

         The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference in this registration
statement the following documents heretofore filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

         (a)      The Registrant's final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule
                  424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to the
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (SEC File No.
                  333-29073), which was declared effective on October 7, 1997.

         (b)      The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated November
                  12, 1997 pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended September
                  30, 1997.

         (c)      The description of the Company's Common Stock to be offered
                  hereby which is contained in its Registration Statement on
                  Form 8-A filed October 7, 1997 pursuant to Section 12 of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated,
limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware
law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be
personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as
directors except for liability arising out of: (i) a breach of their duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law; (iii) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or


                                      II-1
<PAGE>   4
redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law;
or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.

         The Company's charter documents provide that the Company shall
indemnify its officers, directors and agents to the fullest extent permitted by
law, including those circumstances where indemnification would otherwise be
discretionary. The Company believes that indemnification under its charter
documents covers at least negligence and gross negligence on the part of
indemnified parties. The Company has entered into indemnification agreements
with each of its directors and officers which may, in some cases, be broader
than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General
Corporation Law. The indemnification agreements may require the Company, among
other things, to indemnify each director and officer against certain liabilities
that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers
(other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of a culpable nature)
and to advance such persons' expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding
against him or her as to which such person could be indemnified.

Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed

                  Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

         *4.1      1997 Stock Plan and Form of Agreement

         *4.2      1997 Stock Option Plan for French Employees

          5.1      Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities Being 
                   Registered

         23.1      Consent of Independent Accountants

         23.2      Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

         24.1      Power of Attorney (see registration statement signature page)

----------

         *Included by Reference. See Form S-1, declared effective by the SEC on
         October 7, 1997 (Registration Statement No. 333-29073)

Item 9. Undertakings The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>   5
         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (5) That, insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-3
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Los Gatos, State of California, on February 6, 1998.

                                      SCM Microsystems, Inc.

                                      By:  /s/ Steven Humphreys
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Steven Humphreys
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
                                           (Principle Executive Officer)


                                      II-4
<PAGE>   7
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Steven Humphreys and John G. Niedermaier,
jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Signature                                         Title                                   Date
---------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------------------   ----------------

<S>                                       <C>                                                     <C>      
/s/ STEVEN HUMPHREYS                      President and Chief Executive Officer                   February 6, 1998          
--------------------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer) and
Steven Humphreys                          Director


/s/ JOHN G. NIEDERMAIER                   Vice President, Finance, and Chief                      February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------    Financial Officer
John G. Niedermaier              


/s/ ROBERT SCHNEIDER                      Chairman of the Board                                   February 6, 1998  
--------------------------------------    
Robert Schneider               


/s/ BERND MEIER                           Chief Operations Officer and Director                   February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Bernd Meier


/s/ FRIEDRICH BORNIKOEL                   Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Friedrich Bornikoel


/s/ BRUCE GRAHAM                          Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Bruce Graham


/s/ RANDY LUNN                            Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Randy Lunn


/s/ POH CHUAN NG                          Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Poh Chuan Ng

                                          
/s/ ANDY VOUGHT                           Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Andy Vought
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   8
                               INDEX OF EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Exhibit Number      Exhibit
--------------      -------
<S>                 <C>

     5.1            Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities 
                    Being Registered

    23.1            Consent of Independent Accountants



</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16037}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SCM MICROSYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001036044", "assigned-sic": "3577", "irs-number": "770444317", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-45789", "film-number": "98524485"}, "business-address": {"street1": "131 ALBRIGHT WAY", "city": "LOS GATOS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95030", "phone": "4083704888"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "131 ALBRIGHT WAY", "city": "LOS GATOS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95030"}}
1
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 1998
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                           ---------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           ---------------------------

                             SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
               (Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)

            DELAWARE                                    77-044-4317
(State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

                             SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                                131 ALBRIGHT WAY
                               LOS GATOS, CA 95032
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                           ---------------------------

                                 1997 STOCK PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                           ---------------------------

                                STEVEN HUMPHREYS
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             SCM MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                                131 ALBRIGHT WAY
                               LOS GATOS, CA 95032
                                 (408) 370-4888
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                           ---------------------------

                                    Copy to:
                            KENNETH M. SIEGEL, ESQ.
                           N. ANTHONY JEFFRIES, ESQ.
                          JAN-MARC VAN DER SCHEE, ESQ.
                     Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
                               650 Page Mill Road
                          Palo Alto, California 94304
                          ---------------------------

================================================================================
2
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
                                        Amount to be         Offering Price          Aggregate             Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered     Registered           Per Share(1)       Offering Price(1)     Registration Fee
-----------------------------------  -------------------  --------------------  --------------------  -------------------
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
to be issued under 1997 Stock Plan        1,000,000             $ 14.01           $ 14,011,082.50         $ 4,133.27
===================================  ===================  ====================  ====================  ===================
(1) Estimated in part pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended (the "Act"), and in part pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Act.
    With respect to 809,500 shares subject to outstanding options to purchase
    Common Stock under the Plan, the Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share
    is equal to the weighted average exercise price of $9.16 per share pursuant
    to Rule 457(h). With respect to 190,500 shares of Common Stock available for
    future grant under the Plan, the estimated Proposed Maximum Offering Price
    Per Share was estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) whereby the per share price
    is the average between the high and low price reported in the Nasdaq
    National Market on January 30, 1998, which average was $34.625. The Proposed
    Maximum Offering Price Per Share represents a weighted average of the
    foregoing estimates calculated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and 457(h).
3
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

         This registration statement relates to 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock
par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock") of SCM Microsystems, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"), being registered for use under
Registrant's 1997 Stock Plan and its sub-plan, the 1997 Stock Option Plan for
French Employees (collectively known as the "Plan").

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

         The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference in this registration
statement the following documents heretofore filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

         (a)      The Registrant's final prospectus filed pursuant to Rule
                  424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 relating to the
                  Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (SEC File No.
                  333-29073), which was declared effective on October 7, 1997.

         (b)      The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated November
                  12, 1997 pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended September
                  30, 1997.

         (c)      The description of the Company's Common Stock to be offered
                  hereby which is contained in its Registration Statement on
                  Form 8-A filed October 7, 1997 pursuant to Section 12 of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated,
limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware
law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be
personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as
directors except for liability arising out of: (i) a breach of their duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) acts or omissions not in
good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law; (iii) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or

                                      II-1
4
redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law;
or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.

         The Company's charter documents provide that the Company shall
indemnify its officers, directors and agents to the fullest extent permitted by
law, including those circumstances where indemnification would otherwise be
discretionary. The Company believes that indemnification under its charter
documents covers at least negligence and gross negligence on the part of
indemnified parties. The Company has entered into indemnification agreements
with each of its directors and officers which may, in some cases, be broader
than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General
Corporation Law. The indemnification agreements may require the Company, among
other things, to indemnify each director and officer against certain liabilities
that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers
(other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of a culpable nature)
and to advance such persons' expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding
against him or her as to which such person could be indemnified.

Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed

                  Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

         *4.1      1997 Stock Plan and Form of Agreement

         *4.2      1997 Stock Option Plan for French Employees

          5.1      Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities Being 
                   Registered

         23.1      Consent of Independent Accountants

         23.2      Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

         24.1      Power of Attorney (see registration statement signature page)

----------

         *Included by Reference. See Form S-1, declared effective by the SEC on
         October 7, 1997 (Registration Statement No. 333-29073)

Item 9. Undertakings The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                                      II-2
5
         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (5) That, insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
6
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Los Gatos, State of California, on February 6, 1998.

                                      SCM Microsystems, Inc.

                                      By:  /s/ Steven Humphreys
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Steven Humphreys
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
                                           (Principle Executive Officer)

                                      II-4
7
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Steven Humphreys and John G. Niedermaier,
jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                         Title                                   Date
---------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------------------   ----------------
/s/ STEVEN HUMPHREYS                      President and Chief Executive Officer                   February 6, 1998          
--------------------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer) and
Steven Humphreys                          Director

/s/ JOHN G. NIEDERMAIER                   Vice President, Finance, and Chief                      February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------    Financial Officer
John G. Niedermaier              

/s/ ROBERT SCHNEIDER                      Chairman of the Board                                   February 6, 1998  
--------------------------------------    
Robert Schneider               

/s/ BERND MEIER                           Chief Operations Officer and Director                   February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Bernd Meier

/s/ FRIEDRICH BORNIKOEL                   Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Friedrich Bornikoel

/s/ BRUCE GRAHAM                          Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Bruce Graham

/s/ RANDY LUNN                            Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Randy Lunn

/s/ POH CHUAN NG                          Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Poh Chuan Ng

                                          
/s/ ANDY VOUGHT                           Director                                                February 6, 1998
--------------------------------------
Andy Vought
8
                               INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number      Exhibit
--------------      -------
5.1            Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities 
                    Being Registered

    23.1            Consent of Independent Accountants