July 2025 in Switzerland: 9 key things expats need to know

As we approach the midpoint of 2025, there is still a bevvy of changes and events happening in Switzerland. Here’s a rundown of all you need to know about July 2025, from footballing action to rents, driving and healthcare:

1. Women's European Championships come to Switzerland

It’s safe to say that 2025 has been the year of big events in Switzerland. After hosting the carnival of colour that is the Eurovision Song Contest in May, the alpine nation’s next big occasion will begin on July 2, when the country will host the UEFA Women’s Championship.

Will the tournament favourites Spain storm to victory, will rivals England, France or Germany be in with a shot, or will home advantage see Die Nati make a spectacular run to the final? Only time will tell.

If you want to find out how you can experience all the tournament has to offer, check out our guide to UEFA Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

2. Tech questions added to the Swiss driving test

From the start of July, those learning to drive in Switzerland will have to get clued up on driving assistance systems if they are to pass their test. Under the new guidance, the driving test will grill new drivers on how cruise control, lane change and lane departure alerts work when on the road. 

The Federal Roads Office hopes that changes will better fit the needs of driving today, as most new vehicles come equipped with the sensors. The goal is for new drivers to understand how the systems can benefit them, while also recognising their limitations.

3. Changes to e-bike and moped rules

Switzerland is also set to impose brand new regulations on those who use e-bikes and cargo bikes. Under the new rules, fast e-bikes, petrol, electric and other mopeds and new "heavy electric motorised bicycles" weighing 450 kilos or less will be treated as mopeds when it comes to traffic restrictions.

This means that if a road or cycle path has a moped restriction, high-speed e-bikes and mopeds will not be allowed to use it, even if their motor is switched off. Bear in mind that this does not apply to slow e-bikes (assistance up to 25 kilometres an hour) and electric scooters with a top speed of 20 km/h.

The changes also allow local councils to permit mopeds to drive on cycle-only sections if they choose to. They are also able to install new road signs whereby mopeds, but not fast e-bikes, are banned on certain stretches.

4. Expanded rent subsidies in Basel for low-income residents

Thanks to new reforms coming into place in Basel, more people in the city will benefit from subsidised rent. From July 1, single people and couples without children who have lived in Basel for at least two years, with a total annual income of 50.000 francs or less, will be eligible for rent subsidies.

The benefit varies by income, apartment size and rent, but can range from 50 to 1.060 francs a month. For more information, check out the official website.

5. Switzerland to expand renewable energy production

Following the approval of the Secure Energy Supply Act at a referendum in June 2024, the government has been moving to make the proposal’s goals a reality. These are to increase the amount of energy produced in Switzerland through renewable sources, reduce reliance on power produced overseas and meet the country’s climate targets.

Under the proposal, more funding will be given to place solar panels on buildings, planning permission for wind and solar farms will be streamlined, the Swiss grid will be updated, and 16 hydroelectric power plants will be either built or expanded. The first part of the proposal was imposed on January 1, 2025. The latest changes - relating to spatial planning - will be enacted on July 1, and the remainder of the changes will be made law at the beginning of 2026.

6. Counterfeit goods can be more easily destroyed

From the start of July, it will be much easier for authorities in Switzerland to destroy counterfeit goods. If customs agents discover packages containing up to three counterfeit goods, weighing up to five kilograms, they only have to notify the buyer, rather than both the buyer and the seller. If the buyer does not object to the item’s destruction, it can then be destroyed without any further proceedings.

Officials note that the previous system allowed sellers of counterfeit goods to bog down the process through requests for more information, legal action and other delaying tactics. The government, therefore, hopes that by taking the seller out of the mechanism, more counterfeit goods will be found and destroyed in less time.

7. More people will be covered for colon cancer screenings

In the future, more people will be covered for colon cancer screenings in Switzerland. From July 1, basic health insurance will cover colorectal cancer screenings for those between 50 and 75 years old, up from the previous maximum age of 69. 

8. Get your hands on a solid gold 100-franc coin

Whether you want a piece of Swiss history or like the idea of having your own “piece of eight”, from July, Swissmint will be re-releasing its 100-franc coin that it stopped minting in 1949. Made of gold, the 100-franc Vreneli coin will be sold to the public at an estimated cost of 3.000 francs each.

However, with the old Vrenelis often selling at auction for more than 20.000 francs each, anyone who gets one will likely be sitting on a small fortune in just a few years' time.

9. Summer holidays and concert season

Just as the weather starts getting just a little too hot, students in practically all Swiss cantons will be off for the school holidays by July. Whether you use the hot months to jet off on holiday to places overseas or spend the month enjoying everything Switzerland has to offer, we hope you have a wonderful summer.

There’s plenty to do across the cantons, too! Alongside the aforementioned Euros, the concert season truly gets underway in July, with the likes of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Openair Frauenfeld, Moon and Stars, and many others returning to delight audiences.