From new cyber attack law to travel authorisation requirement for the UK — these are among the changes you can expect in Switzerland in April 2025.
April 1st: Swiss army colonel joins the Federal Council
Newly elected Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, 61, an army colonel, will join the Federal council from April 1st.
He replaces the outgoing Defence Minister, Viola Amherd.
Pfister, 61, is the health minister in his native Zug canton in central Switzerland and cuts a rare figure in the Swiss government, having never served in the national parliament.
“I know the barracks better than the Federal Palace,” he said, in his first speech before lawmakers.
READ MORE: Swiss army colonel elected to Federal Council
April 1st: Mandatory reporting of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure
In view of the increasing threat of cyber incidents, Switzerland is introducing a reporting obligation for cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, such as energy and drinking water suppliers, transport companies, hospitals, as well as cantonal and communal administrations.
These incidents must be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) within 24 hours of discovery of these threats or actual attacks.
April 1st: Subsides for solar panels
Several measures are being implemented to support photovoltaic energy.
The bonus for installations with a tilt angle of at least 75 degrees will increase significantly: it will increase from 250 to 400 francs per kilowatt of installed capacity for integrated installations and from 100 to 200 francs for additional or isolated installations.
The compensation rate has also been modified to allow the construction of large-scale, integrated rooftop installations. Those with a total capacity exceeding 100 kW will benefit from the compensation rate for integrated installations for capacities below 100 kW (330 francs /kW) and 250 francs/kW for installed capacity above this value.
Finally, the power-related contribution of the single payment will decrease by 20 francs for installations with a power of less than 30 kW and for additional and isolated installations from 100 kW.
These measures are intended to encourage the construction of larger installations and to exploit as much as possible the entire roof surface suitable for electricity production.
April 1st: Deadline for Geneva’s ban on plastic utensils in public places
The canton’s ban on disposable tableware on public property went into effect in April 2024.
However, the authorities granted an additional ‘transition’ period of one year before the ban goes into effect — which means April 1st of this year.
It extends to plastic straws, cutlery, crockery and cups, as well as any other items made of single-use plastic.
The reason for the move is that single-use tableware generates waste, and its disposal requires that additional human and financial resources be allocated to cleanups.
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April 2nd: Visa waiver for travel to the UK goes into effect
Anyone traveling to Great Britain will now have to dig deeper into their pockets: from April 2nd, 2025, travellers will need a digital ETA, which costs 10 pounds, the equivalent of 11.20 francs.
The ETA is already compulsory for non-EU citizens, but will also be required for anyone travelling on an EU or EFTA (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) passport.
It will be required for all types of travel, including tourism, short stays and family holidays. People in transit, connecting to other international flights, are excluded.
You can apply for this visa waver here.
READ ALSO: Do dual British-Swiss nationals need an ETA to travel to the UK?
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April 20th: Easter
Just like Christmas, this holiday comes every year but, unlike Christmas, it is celebrated either in March or April.
In most cantons (except in Valais and Ticino), April 18th, Good Friday, is also a public holiday.
As for Easter Monday (April 21st), it is an official holiday everywhere except the cantons of Lucerne and Neuchâtel — though many companies there give their employees time off as well, so many people enjoy a long weekend.
In terms of spring school vacations, they vary from canton to canton, usually lasting two weeks.
April 22nd: Earth Day
In Switzerland, as elsewhere, April 22nd marks the Earth Day, the world’s largest environmental movement.
This year’s theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, which calls for the commitment to “harness renewable energy to build a healthy, sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for us all.”
Various towns around the country, including schools and universities, will hold earth-related events for people of all ages.
Check your community’s calendar to find out what is planned for your area.
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April travel
Aside from all the ‘regular’ flights, three more will be added from Zurich:
- From April 1st, Easyjet will fly to Faro, Portugal twice a week
- From April 12th, Edelweiss will add two flights a week to the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, to its timetable.
- From April 17th SWISS, will fly to Dubrovnik, Croatia, also twice weekly.
READ ALSO: All the new flights from Swiss airports in Spring 2025
