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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in 2024

While it is too early to know everything that will happen in Switzerland throughout 2024, we have compiled the main changes and events that are set to happen in the next 12 months.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in 2024
A lot lies ahead in 2024. Image by Rafael Javier from Pixabay

January

Lots of changes are happening in the first month of the year, which we will explain in more detail in a separate article.

Here is an overview of some of them:

Higher health insurance premiums will go into effect

Premium rates for the compulsory health insurance (KVG / LaMal) will increase by 8.7 percent on average. 

However, hikes will be even more significant in some cantons, where premiums will exceed the national average— for instance, in Zug (10.2 percent), Nidwalden and Thurgau (9.5 percent), Vaud (9.9); Geneva (9.1); and Neuchâtel (9.1).

Electricity prices will rise as well

Another major expense for Swiss households starting in January will be electricity costs, which will increase by an average of around 18 percent

Again, this is a national average; locally, tariffs will be higher in some cantons and communities.

Zurich residents, for instance, can expect a 24.5-percent increase, in Geneva rates will go by 28.6 percent, and in Vaud, which has many electricity suppliers, hikes will range from 32 to over 40 percent.

This government link shows by how much electricity prices will go up in your community. 

End of tax breaks for electric vehicle owners

As an incentive for people to buy electric vehicles (EVs), which are more environmentally-friendly than conventional automobiles, the government had exempted these cars from the import tax since its introduction in 1997.

However, from January 1st, EVs will be subject to the same 4-percent import duty imposed on traditional fuel vehicles.

READ ALSO: Why electric car owners in Switzerland will have to pay tax in future

New motorway vignettes

You have the whole month of January to either affix the 2024 sticker to your car’s windshield or purchase an electronic version

If you don’t, and are caught on one of the country’s motorways without one, you will be slapped (though not literally) with a 200-franc fine.

February

Like every year, February is a traditional “family ski” month, when children get a week off from school, so families can head to mountain resorts.

Dates of this winter holiday vary among cantons; you can see the ones for your region here

Prices are expected to go up during the upcoming winter season.

Skiers face higher prices in some Swiss ski resorts. 

However, about half of Switzerland’s main resorts — including Zermatt, Verbier, and Crans-Montana, among others — are banking on the so-called ‘dynamic’ price model, which will allow you to purchase cheaper tickets. 

This means the price of the ski pass is not fixed, but depends on when you buy the ticket and when you plan to use it.

Ash Wednesday

February 14th will mark (aside from the Valentine’s Day) the beginning of Lent, which starts with Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday (see below).

Swiss families take to the slopes in February. Photo: Pixabay

March

Five events will take place in March —with three on the same day, which is a rare occurrence.

Voting

The first round of the national 2024 referendums is scheduled for March 3rd.

Two pension and retirement issues will be voted on, including one on the 13th pension.

READ ALSO: What is Switzerland’s 13th-month pension plan and why are they voting on it?

The second event will occur on March 20th at precisely 4:06 am: the beginning of spring, the so-called Vernal Equinox.

Then, on March 31st:

Daylight savings time will begin, when we will set our clocks forward one hour and lose an hour of sleep.

Easter will fall on Sunday March 31st

And, last but not least, March 31st is also the deadline for Swiss tax returns to be filed.

April

Usually, April is the traditional Easter month, but in 2024, its thunder is stolen by March.

However, spring school break will spill over into April, with dates varying from canton to canton.

June

Voting (again)

On June 9th, the second round of national referendums will be held, with issues to be put to vote yet to be determined.

Summer!

June 20th marks the first day of summer, when the sun will be at its highest point, with the most hours of daylight and least hours of darkness of any day in the year.

On June 20th, sun will be high in the sky. Photo: Pixabay

July

With schools on summer break, July is a traditional vacation month in Switzerland and much of the country comes to a standstill (the same way as Italy and France do in August).

The Federal Council and the parliament are also on a break, so political life slows down as well.

August

This month starts with Switzerland’s National Day on August 1st which, needless to say is a public holiday in all cantons.

READ MORE: Why Switzerland celebrates its national day on August 1st

August also marks the back-to-school month, with dates varying by cantons. 

September

Thanksgiving

On September 16th, all Swiss cantons (except Geneva) celebrate the Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer, locally known as Eidgenössischer Dank-, Buss- und Bettag (German), Jeûne federal (French), Digiuno federale (Italian) and Rogaziun federala (Romansh). 

It is a day of solidarity and fraternity, bringing people together and showing worshippers that they have a shared responsibility for each other and the world.

Adieu summer, hello fall

Autumn season will officially begin on September 22nd at 2:43 pm.

Swiss go to the polls

The third round of national referendums is scheduled for September 22nd.

October

Schools in Switzerland will be on a fall break for two weeks. 

Turn the clocks

On October 29th, Daylight Savings Time will end, with clocks turned backward one hour, which means there will be more light in the morning.

New premiums

Swiss health insurance providers will also publish their official rates for 2025 which, hopefully, will be lower than current ones.

November

In what has by now become a familiar trek to the polls, the Swiss will vote in the fourth (and last) round of referendums on November 26th.

Cancelling insurance

This is also an important month for people who have a compulsory health insurance (which is practically everyone in Switzerland), as November 30th is the deadline to cancel your plan and switch to another one for the following year — if that’s what you would like to do.

December

New public transportation timetable

As each year on the second Sunday of December, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will publish their 2025 timetable on December 8th.

Trains, buses, and trams across Switzerland will adjust their schedules accordingly.

Winter is here

December 21st marks the beginning of winter season.

Christmas Day (December 25th) is a national holiday.

And (as though you needed to be reminded), 2024 will end, hopefully on a peaceful and happy note, on December 31st.

Each year end the same way…Photo: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

What else can you expect in 2024?

Some new measures are scheduled to go into effect in Switzerland next year, but the exact dates are not yet known.

Among them are:

Resumption of Swiss – EU negotiations

Switzerland is moving closer to resuming its talks with the EU towards a broad cooperation agreement, after having ended bilateral negotiations in 2021.

The two parties will return to the negotiating table sometime in 2024.

The rollout of EES and ETIAS border systems, which will impact Switzerland as well.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), which will record data of citizens from non-EU countries in an EU-wide database every time they enter and exit the Schengen area, will enter into operation in the second half of 2024.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which will require non-EU nationals from visa-exempt countries to apply for a digital authorisation before departure, will follow in n the first half of 2025.

READ ALSO: EU confirms timeline for rollout of EES and ETIAS border systems

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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in July 2024

From price hikes to disrupted train travel, this is what you can expect in Switzerland in July 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in July 2024

July is a traditional holiday month in Switzerland and much of the country comes to a standstill (the same way as Italy and France do in August).

The government is also on a break, so political life slows down as well.

Additionally, a number of offices work on a reduced schedule, so it may seem that nothing at all happens in the country this month, but in fact quite a few changes, and other events, are underway:

July 1st: Legal definition of ‘rape’ is changed

The new criminal law on sexual matters, to go into force on July 1st, will introduce a new definition of sexual violence: ‘No is no.’

This is a reform of a longstanding legislation, which has a much narrower definition of what constitutes rape.

For instance, current law requires that penetration takes place and that victim shows resistance for the act to qualify as sexual violence.

Under the new rule, however, participants need to agree in words or clearly demonstrate they want to engage in sexual activity.

If this condition is not fulfilled, the act will be considered as taking place against the person’s wishes, and thus be a criminal offence.

Also, to be considered as sexual assault, the actual penetration no longer needs to occur.

July 1st: Price of Swiss milk to go up

You will have to pay 3 cents more for a litre of milk — an increase which is meant to bring some financial relief to Swiss dairy farmers.

But only the milk intended for drinking will become more expensive; the product which is used for cheese production will not be impacted by the price hike. 

July 1st: Cost of certain medications will increase

Swiss consumers pay significantly more for their medicines than those in neighbouring European countries. 

From July 1st,  inexpensive medicines whose factory price is less than, or equal to, 15 francs, will become more expensive. 

This change will affect more than half of medications currently being sold in Switzerland.

As a result of this move, “additional costs of several hundred million will be passed on to patients,” according to Intergenrika, which represents generic drug manufacturers in Switzerland. 

In a nutshell, consumers will pay slightly lower prices for medicines that were previously more expensive, but will also end up paying more  for those that are currently cheaper – like generics.

July 1st: SBB will change public announcements concerning suicides on train tracks

About 112 people throw themselves under moving trains each year in Switzerland.

When that happens, and the train stops midway, the public system announcement over loud speakers in the train and at all stations impacted by the delay, cites “personal accident” as a reason for the disruption.

Everyone knows, however, that this is a code word for suicide, and such announcements upset commuters.

For this reason, Swiss national rail company, SBB,  said that from July 1st, “personal accident” will be replaced by a more neutral “event linked to an external cause” — which will cover all disruptions, and not just suicides. 

July 7th: Assistance system in cars

Some safety-relevant assistants will soon be mandatory in Swiss cars.

In line with the EU, every newly registered vehicle in Switzerland must have certain systems from July 7th, 2024. However, there is no obligation to retrofit older vehicles.

For example, an emergency braking assistant must now be installed. This constantly monitors what is happening in front of the vehicle and automatically initiates emergency braking if an obstacle is detected. This can either avoid a collision altogether or at least reduce its severity.

In the future, cars will also support the person at the wheel when reversing. Warning sounds and/or reversing cameras should make obstacles or people behind the vehicle quickly recognisable.

More price hikes: Swisscom’s new ‘package’ to become more expensive

From July 24th, Switzerland’s largest telecom will abandon its inOne Home package, which includes the telephone, Internet and television.
It will be replaced by a new service called Basic Home. But as it offers a high speed internet of 50 Mbps instead of the current 10 Mbps, the cost of the subscription will be higher as well: it will increase from 50 francs a month right now to 59.90 francs.  

The transition to the new package will be done automatically, so anyone who doesn’t want to pay higher subscription price should notify Swisscom as soon as possible.

July travel news: international trains are likely to be unreliable

If you’re planning to go abroad by train this summer, arm yourself with patience.

The reason is the abundance of construction sites across Europe, which slow down, or disrupt altogether, the train schedule.

In Switzerland, railroad maintenance work is carried out at night in order not to disturb the daytime timetable. Some neighbouring countries, however, “have decided to completely close train lines for the duration of the works”, Swiss media reports.

As a result, train travel to and from Switzerland will be chaotic amid the summer holiday rush.

You can see were in Europe train travel will be disrupted the most:

READ ALSO: Why you should not rely on trains to and from Switzerland this summer 

Also:

Culture!

There are plenty of festivals, concerts and other events taking place all over Switzerland in July.

You can see them here:

READ ALSO: 7 unmissable events in Switzerland this July

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