Vienna municipal elections on April 27th
Vienna holds its state and district elections on April 27th. Austrian citizens aged 16 and over can vote for the City Council and mayor. EU citizens aged 16 and over with main residence in Vienna can vote in their district council election.
Campaigning is underway citywide, and public transport disruptions are expected near polling stations on election day.
Voters with a Wahlkarte (voting card) may vote in person or by mail. Preliminary results will be published the same evening.
READ ALSO: Who can vote in Vienna's 2025 elections and what's at stake?
Major tax and economic changes take effect
A series of measures under the Budget Sanitation Act 2025 come into force on April 1st. The 0 percent VAT rate on photovoltaic systems ends, with the standard 20 percent VAT now applying to sales, imports and installations. Additionally, electric vehicles will no longer be exempt from the motor-related insurance tax.
Tobacco tax increases also take effect. The minimum excise duty on cigarettes rises to €175 per 1,000 units. Heated tobacco will now be taxed at €339 per kilogram, up from €197. These changes align taxation more closely across tobacco products.
A new betting fee of 5 percent (up from 2 percent) will apply to all wagers placed from April 1st. Also, the top income tax rate of 55 percent for incomes above €1 million will be extended through 2029.
READ ALSO: Inside Austria: New austerity cuts and Vienna’s election gamble
UK travel: ETA required from April 2nd
Starting April 2nd, Austrian and other EU/EEA nationals must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering the UK.
The ETA visa waiver costs around €10, is valid for two years or until the traveller’s passport expires, and allows visits of up to six months.
Travellers should apply online a few days in advance. This UK scheme is separate from the EU’s upcoming ETIAS system, which is not yet in effect.
READ ALSO: Key points: The big travel changes in Austria in 2025
End of state-supported education leave
Austria’s Bildungskarenz (education leave) and Bildungsteilzeit (part-time education leave) end on March 31st. Starting April 1st, new applicants will no longer receive the AMS training allowance (Weiterbildungsgeld).
Existing agreements or approved leaves remain valid if they were finalised in time.
The government cited high costs and limited employment impact as reasons for the cut. A new education leave model is expected in the future, but no replacement is planned before 2027.
Rent increase freeze extended until April 2026
Regulated rents for Altbau apartments, municipal flats and cooperative housing will not increase on April 1st.
The federal government extended the inflation-based rent freeze for another year, covering guideline (Richtwert) and category (Kategorie) rents.
Without this measure, rents would have risen by around 3 to 5 percent. The next increase is now scheduled for April 1st, 2026, and will be capped based on 2025 inflation. The freeze does not apply to private-market leases.
READ ALSO: The changes property buyers and renters can expect in Austria in 2025
Border checks remain at some eastern crossings
Austria will maintain Schengen border controls on its land borders with Slovakia and the Czech Republic through April 15th. After that, normal border-free travel rules could resume unless the government extends the measure.
Checks on the Hungary and Slovenia borders remain in place through May 11th.
Key tax deadlines in April
April 30th is the deadline to submit 2024 income tax returns if filing by paper. Those filing electronically through FinanzOnline have until June 30th.
The deadline applies only to people obligated to file, such as self-employed workers, since employees filing voluntarily for a refund have up to five years.
Businesses must also file VAT returns for the first quarter of 2025 or for March monthly VAT by April 15th.
Public holidays and Easter celebrations
Easter comes late this year, with Easter Sunday on April 20th and Easter Monday (a public holiday) on April 21st. Good Friday, on April 18th, is not a public holiday, but many offices, banks and markets could be closed.
Austria celebrates Easter with family gatherings, religious services and seasonal markets.
The Schönbrunn Easter Market runs from March 27th to April 21st. Other popular markets in Vienna include those at Freyung and Am Hof.
Schools across Austria are on Easter break from April 12th to April 21st. Many families travel during this time, and some offices may operate with reduced staff.
READ ALSO: How to celebrate Easter like an Austrian
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