Price watchdog’s intervention lowers naturalisation fees in a Swiss municipality; five cantons now have an electronic learner driver’s permit, with more to come; and more news in our Tuesday roundup.
Price watchdog tells Swiss municipality to lower its naturalisation fees
According to Stefan Meierhans, Switzerland’s official price monitor, the ordinary naturalisation procedure for an adult should cost no more 1,000 francs at the cantonal level and 1,500 francs at the cantonal and municipal levels together.
However, Kreuzlingen, a municipality in canton Thurgau, had set its own prices, which exceeded the official threshold: it has been charging 1,500 francs for single individuals, with the possibility of increasing it by 500 francs to 2,000 francs for the cantonal naturalisation and 2,800 for the canton and the city.
But after Meierhans’ intervention, Kreuzlingen authorities significantly reduced their fees for ordinary naturalisation, eliminating the possibility of price hikes altogether.
Consequently, candidates for citizenship who live in Kreuzlingen will now be charged the following (lower) fees:
- Single people, 1,300 francs instead 1,500 francs previously
- Married couples, 1,800 francs instead of 2,000
- Minors, 600 francs instead of 800
READ ALSO: How Switzerland’s price watchdog can help you save money
Five cantons launch smartphone-based learner’s licenses
No more paper documents for learner drivers in Neuchâtel, Bern, Ticino, Valais, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, where the electronic permits (ePEC) are now the norm.
The same system will be available throughout Switzerland by the end of 2025.
ePECs are issued by cantonal motor vehicle authorities, and stored in an electronic wallet on the student driver’s their smartphone.
They can then present it during a driving lesson or at a roadside check.
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Climate change is weakening Swiss mountain slopes
This may not come as a surprise to all those who remember the case of Blatten, a village which was wiped out by a glacier collapse in May, and other similar events, but the news is nevertheless shocking.
With millions of cubic metres of rock constantly moving, mountain landslides are increasing in Switzerland.
According to public broadcaster RTS, which cites data from the Federal Environment Office, retreating glaciers, melting permafrost, and increased rainfall are the consequences of climate change.
These phenomena are all the more intense in Switzerland, which is warming twice as fast as the global average and is expected to see its temperatures rise by another 2 to 4C the end of the century.
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This is where in Switzerland you can watch autumn foliage
With the official start of the autumn season just days away (on September 22nd), you may want to wander around Switzerland to look at the changing leaves.
But you can’t be everywhere, which is why the country’s tourism body has an interactive foliage map showing which Swiss regions are worth visiting
If you have any questions about life in Switzerland, ideas for articles or news tips for The Local, please get in touch with us at news@thelocal.ch
