New travel rules and consultation about the Swiss-EU agreement, are among changes you can expect in Switzerland in October 2025.
October 1st: Housing shortage
In the event of a housing shortage, the cantons may, from this day onward, prescribe the use of the official form for the notification of the initial rent when concluding a new residential lease.
This ensures that tenants are informed about the previous rent and their right to contest their own.
The use of the official form is also intended to encourage the landlords to exercise restraint when increasing the rent or the when changing a tenant.
READ ALSO: Can you know how much your Swiss landlord charged previous tenants?
October 12th: New travel rules
Even though Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, it will introduce the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) from October 12th, with Geneva and Zurich set to be among the first airports to implement the checks for non-EU travellers.
The systems have been in the planning for years, and postponed several times due to concerns about readiness, but these two big travel changes are now due to come into effect between late 2025 and 2026.
At the time of writing, the start date for the Entry & Exit System (EES) is October 12th, 2025, with a six-month phased introduction.
You can read more about this new rule, and how it pertains to you, here:
READ ALSO: Travel to Switzerland – Your questions answered about EES and ETIAS
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Sometime in October: Health insurance carriers will inform you of 2026 rates
This time is probably the most dreaded period for Switzerland’s residents — except possibly for tax time.
We already know that the premiums for the obligatory health insurance will go up next year – though more so in some cantons than in others.
A reminder: all those who wish to switch to a cheaper insurance in 2025 must do so by November 30th at the latest.
READ ALSO: Five tips for getting cheaper health insurance in Switzerland
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.
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October 26th: 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 26th, clocks in Switzerland will be turned back one hour at 3 am.
This means that 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 morning and evening.
October 31st: Swiss–EU package
The agreements between Switzerland and the EU, which were initialled in May 2025 and approved by the Federal Council, are included among the documents for the consultation process along with the legislative texts necessary for domestic implementation and the explanatory report.
This process, which will last until October 31st, 2025, will be carried out with the cantons, political parties, umbrella organisations of the municipalities, cities and mountain regions, umbrella organisations of the business community, and other interested parties. The feedback will then be analysed with a view to preparing the final dispatch for Parliament (both houses).
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Also: new flights to and from Switzerland
Aside from the existing travel destinations to and from Switzerland, a number of new ones will be added to the Fall/Winter timetable, which is valid from October 26th 2025, to March 28th, 2026.
Let’s look at the Zurich Airport first
From its hub, SWISS airline will offer increased services to destinations like Rome (up to 21 flights weekly), Manchester (up to 15 weekly), Porto (up to 14 weekly), Naples (six weekly), and Krakow (nine weekly).
If you prefer a bit of tropics during the cold months, Edelweiss Air has added two destinations in Cape Verde: it will go to São Vicente and Praia from October 2025 to March 2026.
As for Easyjet, from October 26th, the low-cost airline will operate two weekly flights, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, allowing travellers to enjoy Malta also in autumn and winter.
EasyJet will also inaugurate two new routes from Geneva: to Rennes from October 31st and Skopje from November 3rd. These two flights will be operated twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
