It may only be the second month of 2025, but there are already loads of important changes and events happening in Switzerland. From motorway vignettes to alarm tests and Valentine’s Day, here are 11 important changes coming your way during the shortest month of the year.

1. Swiss sirens to be tested on February 5

As Dinner for One so vividly puts it “same procedure as last year, same procedure as every year”, so too with the annual siren test (Sirenentest) in Switzerland. In 2025, the Sirenentest will begin at 1.30pm on February 5.

On the day, around 7.200 mobile and static sirens will be tested across the country, starting with a “general alert” between 1.30pm and 2pm. For reference, this sounds like a regular ascending and descending tone and will continue for one minute before being repeated after a two-minute silence.

Those living near some Swiss lakes, rivers and hydroelectric dams will also hear officials test the “water alert” signal between 2pm and 4.30pm. This signal consists of 12 low continuous tones lasting for 20 seconds, which is repeated at 10-second intervals.

2. Deadline for the 2025 Swiss motorway vignette

From the start of February, anyone who wants to use the motorway network in Switzerland will have to have purchased a motorway vignette for 2025. The annual pass costs 40 francs and grants drivers unlimited access to major highways.

The vignette can be purchased at the majority of petrol stations, post offices and border crossings, and should then be affixed to the front windshield of your car. Alternatively, an online version of the vignette is available via the official website.

Make sure you are covered by February 1 though, as anyone caught speeding down the motorway without a vignette risks a 200-franc fine from the police.

3. Minimum wage rise for hospitality workers in Switzerland

From the beginning of February, those working in the hospitality industry will benefit from a 1,1-percent increase to their minimum wage. This was enforced by the court of arbitration after employers and staff could not agree on a new salary agreement.

The minimum salary for full-time hospitality workers without a vocational qualification will now be set at 3.706 francs a month. This rises to 4.519 francs a month for those with a recognised vocational certificate, and 5.282 francs a month for those who have completed a federally recognised professional exam.

4. Switzerland to vote on Environmental Responsibility Initiative 

February 9 will see Swiss citizens head to the polls to vote on the first national referendum of the year. This time around, only one proposal is on the ballot nationwide: the Environmental Responsibility Initiative.

If approved, the plans would require Switzerland to dramatically reduce its CO2, gas and nitrogen emissions in the next 10 years, so that the country does not "consume more resources and release more pollutants than the renewability of nature allows.” 

With the vote looming large, the latest polling from SRF released on January 29 shows that the plan is expected to struggle at the ballot box. 37 percent said they are partially or fully in favour of the idea, compared to 61 percent against.

For more detailed information and what the impact of the vote will be if it passes, check out our guide to the Environmental Responsibility Initiative in Switzerland.

5. New restrictions on importing puppies to Switzerland

As part of strengthened animal protection laws, the government will restrict the import of puppies to Switzerland from February 2025. To help “curb irresponsible dog trading from abroad,” commercial imports of puppies younger than 15 weeks old will be banned. Only private owners will be allowed to bring their baby pooches to the alpine nation.

The new measures will also ban the trimming of lamb’s tails and culling of chicks, and tighten the rules around using animals in laboratory experiments.

6. Deadline for filling in the Swiss census

If you were one of the 200.000 people who got sent a census questionnaire from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), the deadline for submitting the form is February 28, 2025. The aim of the study is to collect information which typically isn’t known by local councils and other officials, such as language proficiency and religious affiliation.

Crucially, anyone who received the questionnaire is required to fill it out either physically or online. Anyone who doesn’t fill out the form will be sent a written reminder by the FSO, and those who ignore two written reminders face a fine of 1.000 francs.

7. Citizens of Vanuatu need a visa for Switzerland

For the 300.000 people who call the Pacific nation home, from February 4 citizens of Vanuatu will need a visa to visit Switzerland and other members of the Schengen area. As of 2015, Vanuatu nationals have been exempted from short-stay visa requirements. 

However, due to the increased number of Vanuatu passports being issued to foreign investors, the EU determined that the visa-free system was now a security risk. As a result, all Vanuatu citizens will need to apply for a visa to enter Switzerland.

8. WhatsApp shut off for certain phones

If you are still holding on to your classic mobile phone, bear in mind that WhatsApp functionality will end on various older phones from February 2025. The change will affect all mobiles which use the KaiOS operating system - typically used by buttoned mobile phones like Nokias. 

Those affected by the change are advised to either switch to a newer phone or use an alternative messaging service.

9. Changes to Edelweiss and SWISS flights

The second month of 2025 will also see several changes to flight services out of Swiss airports. First, from February 1 SWISS will resume its flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv, following the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. 

Services between Switzerland and Israel have been irregular since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon. SWISS will also resume using Israeli airspace, though will continue to fly around Lebanon.

From February 25, Edelweiss Air will launch a new flight from Zurich to the Omani capital Muscat and then on to the sun-kissed beach resort of Salalah. The service will take around 9 hours and 30 minutes.

However, due to declining demand and ongoing concerns around flight operations in Cuba, Edelweiss will be scrapping its direct services between Zurich and Havana. The last flight to the Caribbean island will take off on February 27.

10. Swiss schools to break up for the sports holiday

Though the joys of the Christmas holidays are still fresh in people’s minds, from the start of February Switzerland will be given another helping of school holidays. The so-called “sports break” typically gives students two weeks off to go on holiday and visit the country’s ski resorts, hence why many people call it the "ski holiday" or "ski week".

The holiday itself is staggered so that not every part of the country will have the same days off. However, the roads are still expected to be very busy, so plan ahead if you can.

11. Valentine's Day in Switzerland

Finally, it’s time to either grab the flowers, chocolates and cards or treat yourself to an evening with all your other single friends, as Valentine’s Day is upon us! Whether you are planning a romantic day out, a cosy night in or bracing to tell someone how you really feel about them on February 14, best of luck and have fun! 

Thumb image credit: Stefano Ember / Shutterstock.com