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VAUD

Swiss bureaucracy: Ten tasks you can do online in Vaud

One of the least pleasant aspects of dealing with the administration in Switzerland is having to stand in lines. Here are the tasks that can be performed in Vaud without leaving the comfort of your home.

Swiss bureaucracy: Ten tasks you can do online in Vaud
What kind of official business can you carry out online in Vaud? Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

The Internet has changed our lives in many ways, and conducting official business online has become easier and more widespread. 

Vaud, along with other cantons, is encouraging residents to do as much as possible on the Internet, especially during the pandemic, so as not to crowd public spaces.

“The secure online portal allows you to access all of Vaud administration’s online services”, the canton’s website says.

Here are 10 bits of bureaucracy you can do online if you live in Vaud

Electronic identity

Besides getting a handle of the technical aspects, the most difficult tasks to perform online are often the first. 

This is because you’ll need to set everything up, which will be difficult – particularly if there are certain ID requirements. 

For some of the services, you will need to create an “electronic identity”, which can be established — you guessed it — online.

Taxes

Gone are the days when people did their taxes by hand — though some traditionalists may still prefer this way of filling out the declaration and then sending it out to tax authorities through the post.

But for those who want to tackle this unpleasant task in the most convenient way possible, Vaud is offering forms that can be filled out and sent online.

Before you even begin to prepare the declaration, you can calculate how much tax you owe.

Instructions on downloading the paperwork for various operating systems can be found here.

You can also request an extension of the tax filing deadline online.

READ MORE: EXPLAINED: What can I deduct from my tax bill in Switzerland?

Civil status documentation

In case you need any documents or certificates relating to your civil status, such as registration of birth, marriage, divorce, death, or any other official paperwork pertaining to changes in your family. 

Almost all kinds of official business can be carried out here, including changing your name.

You can do this through this link.

Health insurance subsidies

If you need financial help to pay your health insurance premiums, you can evaluate whether you are entitled to the cantonal subsidies and request them by filling out this online form.

Motor vehicles

You can beat the notoriously long queues and wait time at the Motor Vehicles Office (Service cantonal des automobiles) by doing these bits of business online.

Ask for a replacement if your driver’s license is lost.

Report a change of address or change the date for your car’s inspection.

Report the change of vehicle.

Last but not least, Covid vaccine

You can make an appointment for the shot on the dedicated site.

READ MORE: How to get the coronavirus vaccine in Vaud

In addition to these tasks, you can also find useful information on the cantonal site, including where to seek psychological help and dates of school vacations until 2026.

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For members

QUALITY OF LIFE

‘Pleasantly constant’: Why Switzerland ranks as the ‘world’s best country’ — again

For the sixth time, Switzerland wins the coveted title of the world’s top country in an international ranking. Why does the nation make it to the no.1 spot —time after time?

'Pleasantly constant': Why Switzerland ranks as the 'world’s best country' — again

It’s official: Switzerland has been ranked ahead of 87 other countries analysed by the US News & World Report for its 2023 ranking, which was released on Wednesday morning. 

It is the sixth time that Switzerland tops the rankings, which measure a country’s global performance based on 73 categories. They include entrepreneurship; quality of life; adaptability and progress; social purpose; and other attributes listed here

What exactly makes Switzerland the best in the world?

The country “snags the top spot for business-friendliness and education, “and ranks in the top 10 for quality of life, social purpose and cultural influence,” according to study authors. “Among attributes, it was considered No.1 for being economically stable, safe and least corrupt.”

“And while people may not see it as the sexiest place, they would like to live there.”

One of Switzerland’s top qualities, the study showed, is ‘consistency.’

Unlike the political and economic volatility of many other countries, “there is something pleasantly constant about Switzerland,” the survey found.

It is true that change of any kind is slow to come here.

Part of the reason for this sluggishness is cultural: the Swiss don’t like spontaneity (unless it’s planned) or doing anything on a whim. 

They believe that rushing things and making hasty decisions will have disastrous results, which is why they prefer to take a cautious — even if painstakingly slow — path.

As a general rule, the Swiss have a penchant not only for planning, but for pre-planning as well. They like to thoroughly examine each aspect of a proposed change and look at it from all possible angles.

Another reason (besides the cultural one mentioned above) contributes to Switzerland’s notorious slowness in decision-making — the country’s political system.

Due to Switzerland’s decentralised form of government, the Federal Council must consult with cantons before a decision can be made at the national level.

That, as you can imagine, could take a while as each of the 26 cantons may drag their individual feet, and there could be no consensus among them.

READ ALSO : Why are things so slow to change in Switzerland? 

While some may see this ‘consistency’ as a negative, the US News & World Report considers it to be a definite plus.

How did Switzerland rank in major categories?

‘Open for business’

In this category, the country is in the first place (100 points out of 100).

Simply, this means  the country  is ‘business friendly’ because the government has created a good environment for businesses to thrive. 

“Switzerland has low unemployment, a skilled labour force and one of the highest gross domestic products per capita in the world,” the report relates. 

‘Educated population’

Here, too, Switzerland excels (100 points, first place).

Switzerland not only has an excellent and accessible education system, but according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), well over 80 percent of the country’s population have an upper secondary education or above.

This proportion is higher than the OECD average of 75 percent.

READ ALSO: How can foreigners get into a Swiss university?

‘Quality of life’

Here, Switzerland also got a high score ( 96.7), which places it in the fourth place.

This particular category, which includes essentials such as broad access to food, housing, quality education, healthcare, and employment, also comprises “intangibles such as job security, political stability, individual freedom and environmental quality.”

This is not exactly a surprise, as Switzerland often ranks highly in this category in other international surveys as well. 

In which categories does Switzerland rate poorly?

‘Power’

Switzerland’s score here is 26, which lands it in the 20th place.

But this is actually good news, if you consider criteria for this category:

“The world’s most powerful countries also are the ones that consistently dominate news headlines, preoccupy policymakers and shape global economic patterns. Their foreign policies and military budgets are tracked religiously.”

Needless to say, Switzerland has no interest in wielding global power.

Besides (unintentionally) invading neighbouring Liechtenstein on three occasions, Switzerland is not at all power-hungry.

This is not only because it is neutral, but also because its politics is based on peaceful coexistence.

(The number 1 spot in this category was snagged, not surprisingly, by the United States).

‘Movers’

This too is not a major surprise, since the sub-category here is ‘dynamic’, for which Switzerland was given a low score of 29.1.

The country did a bit better in the ‘distinctive’ and ‘unique’ sub-category, with scores of 43.5 and 42.1, respectively.

Overall, Switzerland is in the 26th place.

You can see details of each category here.

What is the Swiss reaction to the report?

Overwhelmingly positive, of course.

“What people love about us is our reliability and our predictability,” said Jacques Pitteloud, the Swiss ambassador to the U.S.

“With us, you know what you get, which is rare nowadays,” Alexandre Edelmann, head of Presence Switzerland, a government agency that promotes the country abroad, pointed out.

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