November 2025: 9 important things expats need to know

With clock changes, the first storm of the season, and Halloween almost behind us, many start looking to November for some festive activities to get into the holiday spirit. Before we can officially start our Christmas countdown, here are nine things expats need to know about in November in Switzerland:

1. End of November health insurance deadline 

People looking to switch health insurance providers must notify their current provider, in writing, that they wish to change by November 30. New insurance plans will start from January 1, 2026. 

Health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland and every year, around September or October, insurance providers inform clients of any changes to premiums for the following year. In 2026, health insurance premiums are expected to rise by 4,4 percent, on average. 

The Swiss government has provided a 2026 premium calculator (in German, French and Italian) that can be used to compare health insurance premiums and providers. You can also find termination letter templates to send to your previous insurer by post.

2. Switzerland to vote on two referendum proposals

Two items are on the agenda in November in the latest round of national referendums. Voters in Switzerland will decide on two proposals: whether to expand compulsory civic duty to include women, and a 50 percent federal inheritance tax on gifts and estates worth over 50 million Swiss francs.

For more information, take a look at our guide to the Swiss referendums on November 30.

3. Zurich Airport to implement new Entry and Exit System

Basel and Geneva Airports were the first Swiss airports to introduce the new EU Entry and Exit System (EES) on October 12. From November 17, Zurich Airport will also implement the new system.

Read more about what the new Entry/Exit System means for non-EU travellers here.

4. Changes to S permits for Ukrainians

From November 1, S permit (protection S status) applications, primarily from Ukraine, will be accepted or rejected based on the applicant's region of origin. This will not apply to anyone who is already in Switzerland and who holds an S permit. It will apply to any application reviewed on or after November 1, including those submitted but not reviewed before October 31.

In October 2025, the Swiss government decided that S permits, given to people in need of protection from events such as war, will not be issued to people coming from regions that the SEM (State Secretariat for Migration) considers safe to return to. Currently, this includes the Ukrainian regions of Volyn, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi. 

The SEM list of “reasonable” regions to return to, available on the government website, will be regularly reviewed and updated.

5. New QR invoice regulation

New QR invoice regulation comes into effect on November 22. QR invoices, used for digital payments such as bills for utilities or mobile phones, will need to include address information in a structured format (also known as address type S). This means that each line of the address must be separated, e.g. house number, street, city, postcode. 

Businesses and individuals who accept payments via QR invoices must ensure that the bills are compliant. SIX Group, the financial infrastructure company that launched the technology, provides information and guidance via its website.

6. Visa interchange fees will reduce

In October, the federal government announced that COMCO, the Swiss Competition Commission, had reached an agreement with credit card company Visa over fee rates.

From November 1, the interchange fee made between a merchant’s and a customer’s bank for payments made with a Visa debit card will change. At physical points of sale (for example, in supermarkets or restaurants), the interchange fee will be limited to up to 0,15 percent. The fee for domestic online debit card payments will be reduced from 0,31 percent to 0,25 percent.

Cross-border credit and debit card interchange fees will also reduce from 1 percent to 0,2 percent for debit cards, and 1,15 percent to 0,44 percent for credit cards. “This measure will ease the financial burden on Swiss merchants by more than 10 million Swiss francs per year”, according to the government’s press release.

7. Swiss Christmas markets begin in November

One guaranteed way to boost your festive spirit is to visit one of Switzerland's top Christmas markets. 

From November, markets will begin to fire up their outdoor heaters and melt that classic Swiss fondue cheese. Lucerne is the first major Swiss city to kick off the season on November 15, followed by Zurich, Lausanne, Montreux and Geneva on November 20. Basel and St. Gallen will open their festive doors on November 27, and Bern on November 28.

8. All Saints’ and St Martin’s Day in Switzerland 

All Saints’ Day will be celebrated on November 1 in several Swiss cantons. The event is designed to celebrate and honour saints of the Christian Church, and remember loved ones who have passed away.

All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in 15 different Swiss cantons. These are Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, St. Gallen, Solothurn, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais and Zug. Some shops may be shut in these cantons, so make sure to visit your local supermarket in advance.

On November 11, communities across Switzerland will also celebrate St Martin’s Day. The day aims to remember the life and work of Saint Martin of Tours. The end of the harvest is also typically celebrated via turnip lantern processions, fairs, markets and other traditions. 

9. Swiss ski season set to start in some ski resorts

Temperatures are dropping and many Swiss mountains are covered with a dusting of snow. This can only mean one thing: ski season is here! On November 1, Zermatt, Saas-Fee, and Verbier will be among the first ski resorts to open for the winter. 

Depending on the weather, various other resorts in Switzerland will also start opening throughout November.