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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in October 2023

Higher rents, higher health insurance premiums — and other changes you can expect in Switzerland in the month of October.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in October 2023
Swiss kids will get an autumn break from school. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

October 1st: Rents increase

From this day, about 1 million Swiss households — all those whose leases are based on the reference rate — will be hit with a 5-percent rent hike.

After the Federal Housing Administration raised reference rates to 1.50 percent from June 3rd, another hike — this time to 1.75 percent — by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) was announced later that month

Why do rents go up as of October 1st?

The hike was announced in June,  but your  landlord  can only up the rent once a year — either on the specific date mentioned in the lease, or the next possible termination / notice date.

The notice period in Switzerland is typically three months, which means landlords will be able to charge the higher rate from October 2023.

READ ALSO : When can my landlord legally increase the rent? 

October 1st: Energy-saving measures to go into effect — again

Even though Switzerland has not been hit by energy shortage last winter, as many feared, the Federal Council is again calling on the population to cut energy consumption by 15 percent between October 1st and March 31st, 2024.

While it has not yet issued specific recommendations, it is likely they will be the same as those  set for this year

October 1st : Being a good driver will pay off

From: October 1st, new amendments to the road traffic law will come into force, which will be more lenient towards most drivers.

These amendments will concern in particular sanctions applicable to driving offences, the withdrawal of a probationary driving license, as well as the facilities granted to emergency services.

In the event of a minor infraction, the holder of a probationary driving license will not have their probationary period extended and their driving license will no longer be canceled.

From now on, “the probationary period will only be extended in the event of a moderately serious or serious offence, and the driving license on trial will become void if a new moderately serious or serious offence is committed during the probationary period,” the Federal Council said.

Mid-October: Restart of Covid vaccinations

With the emergence of new coronavirus variants, and the number of infections expected to increase in fall and winter, Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) will start vaccinating at-risk people in the middle of October.

This group incudes those over 65, and others “with individual health risks because of a pre-existing condition,” health authorities said.

The government ordered 1.3 million vaccine doses from each of manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer. In addition, a delivery from Novavax is also expected.

READ ALSO: Switzerland’s Covid vaccine programme to restart in autumn

Throughout October: autumn school holidays

The autumn school break in most Swiss cantons falls some time in October, and lasts either one or two weeks, depending on canton.

This calendar shows when public schools will be off, and for how long, in each canton. 

October 22nd: Federal elections

On this day, the Swiss will elect 246 members of their Federal Assembly — that is, the higher and lower chamber of the parliament.

As is the case every four years, they will be voting for candidates to the National Council (the lower house of the federal parliament) and the Council of States (the higher chamber).

The National Council  is composed of  200 people; the number of representatives sent by each canton depends on the size of its population.

The Council of States, on the other hand, represents the cantons and comprises 46 members, who, like their National Council counterparts, are also elected by the people for a four-year term.

READ ALSO: What you should know about Switzerland’s upcoming federal elections

Health insurance carriers will inform you of 2024 rates

You already know that health insurance premiums for the compulsory health insurance (KVG / LaMal) will rise again in 2024.

Although Switzerland’s president (and Health Minister) indicated they may go up by as much as 9 percent on average, the exact rates must be communicated to policyholders no later than October 31st — though you will get the letters before that date.

All those who wish to switch to a cheaper insurance in 2023 must do so by November 30th.

October 29th: Daylight Saving Time ends

A sure sign that the warm and sunny weather is over is having to wind the clocks back ahead of the coming winter. 

On Sunday, October 29th, clocks in Switzerland will be turned back one hour at 3 am.

This means sunrise and sunset will be about one hour earlier.

The good news is that we all get an extra hour of sleep. The bad news is that it’s going to get darker earlier in the evening. 

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For members

THE WEEK IN SWITZERLAND

Six big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week

Tighter border controls and higher fees for foreign students are among the Swiss news The Local reported this week. You can catch up on everything in this weekly roundup.

Six big news stories from Switzerland you need to know about this week

Swiss government to tighten country’s borders

Due to the increased threat of terrorism during the European Football Championship in Germany and the Summer Olympics in France, Switzerland is ‘temporarily increasing’ controls at its borders.

Faced with threats of terrorism from the Islamic State group (ISIS), the Federal Council has decided to strengthen controls at Swiss borders from June 1st until the end of the Paralympic Games, on September 8th, 2024.

This means that even if you enter Switzerland from the Schengen zone, you may still be asked to show your passport and be quizzed about the purpose of your visit.

READ ALSO: Switzerland to strengthen border controls from June 1st

Swiss MPs rule to increase taxes on home-working cross-border employees

Both chambers of Switzerland’s parliament are supporting the move to impose higher taxes on cross-border employees who they work from their homes abroad.

Under the agreement Switzerland has with neighbour states, a part of their income is taxed in their home countries and not where their employer is based, that is, Switzerland.

As a result of this arrangement, cantonal coffers don’t get as much tax revenues as they would if these employees physically worked in Switzerland rather than in their home countries. 

READ ALSO: Cross-border workers who work from home may see Swiss taxes increase 

Foreign students at two Swiss universities may see their tuition fees triple

The National Council voted to triple the tuition for foreigners studying at Switzerland’s two polytechnic institutes, the ETH in Zurich and EPFL in Lausanne.
 
Until now, both institutes have been charging the same fee for all students — 730 francs per semester — regardless of their nationality.

This increase, however, is meant to compensate for lower federal contributions to the two institutes — from 2025, the government’s financial aid will be reduced by 100 million francs.

And even with the hike, the two institutes still remain less expensive than comparably high-raking universities elsewhere.
 
READ ALSO: Foreign students at Switzerland’s two big polytechnics could face higher tuition fees 

Flights between Switzerland and Milan among the shakiest in Europe

This is what a ranking compiled by Turbli, a site dedicated to tracking such events, indicates.

The platform has analysed around 150,000 international routes to chart the most turbulent journeys of 2023 (that is, before the tragic air turbulence episode that happened on a recent London to Singapore flight, claiming one life and injuring many others).

The analysis found that the flight from Milan Malpensa to Geneva is the shakiest in Europe (and 5th most turbulent in the world), and the Milan to Zurich route is in only slightly more enviable 10th place.

READ ALSO: Why two Swiss to Italy flight routes are ‘the most turbulent’ in Europe 

Switzerland’s airline expands and extends its service to the USA

In March, Switzerland’s flag carrier inaugurated its direct service from Zurich to Washington DC as part of its summer timetable.

These flights will continue through winter 2024, the company said.

The airline will also increase the frequency of some its other US-bound flights.

Its services between Zurich and Los Angeles and San Francisco will each be increased to daily operations, while twice-daily service will be offered on the Zurich-Miami route.

READ ALSO: SWISS airline expands its US-bound flights and ups frequency 

And also…

What is the ‘vital minimum’ in Switzerland?

You may have heard about ‘minimum subsistence’ but not know what this means, or how it is calculated.

This term is used to describe the amount that a person must have available to cover their basic needs — essentials necessary for survival, such as costs of food, housing, health insurance, utilities like water and heating, social contributions, public transport, childcare costs, and schooling.

However, as taxes are not included in the calculation, a parliamentary committee  has spearheaded the move to add the tax bills into the calculation formula.

READ ALSO: What you should know about ‘minimum subsistence’ in Switzerland 
 

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