Category: Austrian News

Shoppers in Austria may notice a pleasant surprise on their next receipt. The federal government has announced a targeted reduction of value‑added tax (VAT) on a range of essential food items, aiming to ease pressure on household budgets. During an interview on ORF’s Pressestunde on Sunday, Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ) confirmed which products will benefit from the new reduced tax rate. The measure focuses on staple foods and locally produced agricultural goods—items that form the backbone of many Austrian households’ daily meals. The newly introduced VAT rate will be…

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Austria’s Finance Ministry has issued an urgent warning about a surge in fraudulent emails sent in its name, targeting both private citizens and businesses across the country. The scam involves fake payment reminders designed to pressure recipients into transferring money to foreign accounts. Fake Payment Notices Circulating According to the ministry, the deceptive emails claim that outstanding payments must be settled immediately. Attached to these messages is a forged payment reminder intended to create a sense of urgency. Cybercriminals hope that recipients will react quickly and transfer funds without verifying…

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Austria is heading into a chilly stretch of days as a mix of clouds, fog, and occasional sunshine shapes the weather from the weekend into early next week. According to a Thursday forecast from Geosphere Austria, temperatures remain low nationwide, and although no fresh snowfall is expected, light rain could once again lead to patches of black ice in some regions. Friday: Sunshine in the West, Fog in the East High pressure dominates on Friday, bringing bright and sunny conditions to western Austria and higher elevations. In contrast, inner‑alpine basins,…

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Few national documents carry as much symbolic and practical weight as a passport. It’s more than a booklet of pages and stamps — it’s a key that unlocks the world. And in 2026, Austria once again holds one of the most powerful keys on the planet. According to the annual Henley Passport Index, the Austrian passport grants visa‑free access to 185 countries worldwide. This impressive reach secures 4th place globally, alongside nations such as Finland, Germany, and Norway. For Austrian citizens, it means smoother travel, fewer bureaucratic hurdles, and the…

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Austria remains firmly under the spell of persistent fog and low clouds, with large parts of the country waking up to thick mist on Thursday. The most stubborn fog stretches across low-lying areas in the north and east, as well as inner‑alpine basins and valleys. In the eastern lowlands, the fog is especially tenacious, barely lifting throughout the day. Outside the fog zones, denser cloud bands move in from the west, particularly affecting northern and eastern regions. A few isolated raindrops may fall from these clouds, though most areas are…

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A crucial deadline is now looming for anyone planning to drive on Austria’s motorways in early February. Those who want their digital annual vignette to be valid from 1 February must complete their online purchase no later than Wednesday, 14 January. Why the Rush? Although the sea‑green 2025 vignette remains valid until 31 January 2026, drivers who continue without a valid replacement after that date risk hefty fines. The digital version, while convenient, comes with a catch that often surprises motorists: it does not become valid immediately. Digital vs. Sticker:…

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Austria’s sharp drop in temperatures appears to be easing after two weeks of intense cold that followed an unusually mild December. While icy roads continue to pose risks and both rail and air travel remain disrupted as of Tuesday, meteorologists emphasize that the current conditions do not qualify as a record-breaking cold wave. Konstantin Brandes, meteorologist at the weather service Ubimet, notes that such cold spells were far more common in past decades. “In the 1970s and 1980s, cold waves like this were routine,” he explains. The past four Januaries,…

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A new Omicron subvariant is spreading and has also reached Austria. Why experts are closely monitoring BA.3.2. Since the turn of the year, a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been the focus of attention: the Omicron descendant BA.3.2. This variant was first discovered in South Africa at the end of November 2024, but was not officially classified as a variant under observation by the World Health Organization (WHO) until December 2025. This was a long period of time during which BA.3.2 spread quietly and secretly, earning it the…

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Postal service sets parcel record thanks to online shops and other factors The Austrian Post delivered an incredible 232 million shipments last year – every Austrian received the equivalent of around 25 parcels, and the boom is likely to continue … The domestic postal service set a new record in 2025: 232 million parcels were delivered in this country alone – an increase of 3.5 percent. This means that every Austrian between Lake Boden and Lake Neusiedl received more than 25 parcels delivered directly to their door. In December, postal…

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