The changes for travellers in 2025

Swiss travellers should prepare for several changes in the new year. Here is a summary of the key points and innovations.

Duty-free limit: Swiss citizens who shop abroad must take the new duty-free limit into account. While the upper limit was previously CHF 300 per person per day, from 1 January 2025 only goods up to CHF 150 for private use can be imported free of VAT. The new regulation impacts not only shopping tourists who drive to neighbouring countries but also air travellers returning to Switzerland from abroad.

All goods carried will be taken into account when granting the tax-free limit – including duty-free food, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, pets and repairs and maintenance work carried out abroad on one's own vehicle.

Environmental cost surcharge: From January, travellers will have to pay an environmental cost surcharge for flights with Lufthansa Group airlines. For short and medium-haul flights in Economy Class, the surcharge is between 1 and 5 francs. For long-haul flights in Economy Class, the surcharge is between 6 and 12 francs. For long-haul flights in First Class, the surcharge is between 36 and 72 francs.

Austria: The annual motorway toll sticker for cars in Austria will now cost €103.80 – an increase of seven percent compared to 2024. The one-day motorway toll sticker for cars will become eight percent more expensive and now costs €9.30. The cost of the ten-day motorway toll sticker will increase: instead of €11.70, it will rise to €12.40 in the future.

Bulgaria, Romania: Travelers by car or train currently need to show their ID at the border. However, this will change in 2025 when both countries join Schengen.

China: Swiss tourists can visit China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.

Croatia: Travelers driving in Croatia will need to adapt to a new toll system. From 2025, motorway tolls will be fully digital, rendering toll stations obsolete.

France: The toll system in France will be gradually converted over the next few years. In the future, tolls can only be paid electronically via the ‘Free Flow’ system. The so-called Zones à Trafic Limité (ZTL), which are already familiar from Italy, will be gradually introduced. The test phase will continue until the end of March – from April 2025, the ZTL will apply 24 hours a day.

Greece: From 2025, cruise passengers will have to pay a new fee at busy ports such as Santorini and Mykonos – 20 euros per person in the high season (June to September), 10 euros in the low season (April, May, October), 4 euros in the low season (November to March).

Italy:

• While the 5-euro entry fee in Venice was previously valid for 29 days, the fee will be valid for 54 days in the new year if the visit is booked four days in advance. Less than four days before the visit, the fee for day tourists doubles to 10 euros.
• Drivers beware: in Italy, you now have to pay a fine of €250 if you are caught driving with your smartphone in your hand. Repeat offenders have to pay up to €1,400 and surrender their driving licence for three months.
• A maximum of 400 people are allowed at Trevi Fountain in Rome at any one time. The new access restrictions apply from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Mondays and Fridays, access is not possible until 11 a.m. so that the coins can be removed from the basin. Admission tickets have not been planned so far.

Mexico: From 2025, a tax of 42 dollars will be levied on every passenger who goes ashore in Mexico as part of a cruise. Until now, cruise passengers were exempt from this tax because they did not spend the night on land.

Maldives: In 2025, a complete ban on electronic cigarettes and vaping devices will come into force in the Maldives. Violators will face heavy fines if they import or use these devices illegally.

Namibia: From 1 April 2025, a visa will be required for Swiss citizens.

Netherlands: Until now, the Dutch motorway network was completely free of charge. However, a new motorway section that works according to the free-flow principle was introduced in mid-December 2024. This barrier-free system allows users to automatically pay for their journeys via sensor-equipped portals.

Poland: An environmental zone will be introduced in Krakow from 1 July 2025.

South Korea: From 1 January 2025, the electronic K-ETA form will be mandatory for all travellers. This form must be completed online before departure.

Thailand: From 2025, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be required for stays of up to 60 days in Thailand, which can be extended to up to 90 days. However, the authorisation is not yet in force (as of 3 January 2025).

Tunisia: Swiss citizens can still enter Tunisia with an ID card until 31 December 2024. After that, holidaymakers will need a passport as well as proof of a hotel reservation and a return flight ticket.

United Kingdom: From 2 April 2025, travellers to the United Kingdom will require a digital entry permit (ETA), for which a fee will be charged. The best way to apply is to use the UK ETA app. The cost is 10 pounds (11.20 francs) and applications will be accepted from 5 March 2025.

USA: New York is the first city in the USA to introduce a congestion charge. From 5 January, anyone driving into the areas south of 60th Street in Manhattan during the day will have to pay a fee of nine dollars.