Category: Austrian News

Internet slang term narrowly beats “Peak” and “Crashout” in Langenscheidt’s annual youth language poll “Ragebait” has been named Youth Word of the Year 2026, narrowly defeating the terms “Peak” and “Crashout” in an online vote organised by German publishing house Langenscheidt. The result was announced on Saturday at the Frankfurt Book Fair, with “Ragebait” securing 36.5 per cent of the votes. The competition was remarkably close, with “Peak” finishing second with 33.8 per cent and “Crashout” taking third place with 29.7 per cent. What Does “Ragebait” Mean? The English term…

Read More

Fraudsters are sending fake SMS messages, emails and WhatsApp notifications across Austria in an attempt to steal personal information and banking details. People across Austria are being warned about a renewed wave of fraudulent messages impersonating FinanzOnline, the country’s online tax service. The scammers claim that users’ access to FinanzOnline, their ID Austria account or their registration is about to expire, urging them to click on a link to avoid a possible suspension. Although the scam is not new, it continues to pose a serious risk to unsuspecting recipients. Fake…

Read More

After an unusually warm start to October, a cold front is bringing a sharp change in weather, with frost, heavy rain and fresh snowfall expected in parts of the country. Austria is preparing for a significant drop in temperatures as the summer-like weather finally comes to an end. Following several unusually mild days at the beginning of October, a cold front reached the country on Thursday, ushering in a colder and more wintry period. The change will be felt most strongly in western Austria, where temperatures are expected to fall…

Read More

BRUSSELS — Millions of products ordered online and imported into the European Union will soon be subject to a new €2 processing fee under plans aimed at tackling the growing flood of low-cost goods entering the bloc from countries such as China and the United States. According to a European Commission document, the new charge will take effect on 1 November and will apply to goods imported from non-EU countries. Responsibility for paying the fee will fall on online marketplaces rather than consumers, with national authorities tasked with collecting the…

Read More

VIENNA — Austria is set to make continued employment beyond the statutory retirement age more financially attractive through a new tax-advantaged “Aktivpension” scheme approved by the National Council on September 23. The reform aims to encourage older workers to remain in the labor market by introducing tax exemptions and reducing pension insurance contributions for eligible employees and self-employed individuals. According to tax adviser and social insurance expert Wolfgang Höfle of TPA, the centerpiece of the initiative is a new “activity allowance” that will exempt up to €15,000 of annual earnings…

Read More

A fraudulent SMS and WhatsApp scam that first circulated in 2025 has reappeared, targeting Austrian taxpayers with fake messages claiming their FinanzOnline ID is about to expire. The messages are designed to look as though they come from Austria’s tax administration and urge recipients to renew their allegedly expiring FinanzOnline account. To do so, users are instructed to click on a link included in the message. However, the link does not lead to the official FinanzOnline platform. Instead, it directs victims to a counterfeit website created by cybercriminals seeking to…

Read More

VIENNA – Austria’s passport remains one of the most powerful travel documents in the world, ranking 10th globally in the latest Passport Reports index. The Austrian passport achieved 173 mobility points and a global access rate of 87.4%, reflecting the broad range of destinations accessible with minimal entry restrictions. According to the ranking, Austrian citizens can travel visa-free to 119 countries and territories. A further 44 destinations allow entry through visa-on-arrival systems or other simplified entry procedures, while 10 destinations require travelers to obtain an electronic travel authorization before departure.…

Read More

VIENNA, Oct. 3, 2026 – Vienna’s public transport operator Wiener Linien is accelerating its digital transformation, with the WienMobil app becoming an increasingly important hub for ticket purchases, journey planning and customer services. At the same time, some traditional services are being phased out as more passengers shift to digital channels. According to Wiener Linien, the WienMobil app recorded around 1.7 million active users during the second quarter of 2026, underlining its growing role as a daily travel companion for residents and visitors alike. The app allows passengers to purchase…

Read More

VIENNA – Ticket prices on Vienna’s public transport network are set to rise again at the beginning of 2027, with operator Wiener Linien preparing another fare adjustment linked to inflation. The extent of the increase has not yet been determined, with details expected to be announced later this autumn. The annual adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which increased by 3.2 percent between August 2025 and August 2026, according to Statistics Austria. While the inflation figure provides the framework for the revision, Wiener Linien has not yet…

Read More