Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

LIVING IN AUSTRIA

Everything that changes about life in Austria in February 2022

From local elections to holidays and changes to Covid restrictions, here's a rundown of what to expect this February in Austria.

Published: 27 January 2022 07:41 CET
Updated: 19 February 2022 08:43 CET
TV
It's getting more expensive to watch TV in Austria, and other changes to expect this February. Photo: Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters/Unsplash

Vaccine mandate

Possibly the most major change on this list and one of the most controversial is the introduction of a law making vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory, which comes into effect from February 1st.

From this date, every adult (aged 18 or over) with a registered residence in Austria should have valid proof of vaccination.

But the first fines won’t be issued this month, as the government will begin with an ‘information phase’ letting people know about the law and sharing information about the protective effect of the vaccines. The first fines will be issued from mid-March, and it will be possible to avoid the fee of up to €600 by getting the vaccine within two weeks even after that.

EXPLAINED: How does Austria’s vaccine mandate compare to other countries?

Thousands of vaccine passes lose validity

From February 1st, proof of vaccination will only be considered valid for six months after the second vaccine dose, down from the current nine months.

After that, you need a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated, and this is valid for nine months. Otherwise, if your second dose was more than six months ago, you won’t be considered to have 2G proof.

If you have recently had a confirmed infection of Covid-19, you may not be able to get the booster dose immediately but a recovery certificate from a doctor will give you 2G proof.

People under 18 are exempt from the shorter validity, and in this age group a second dose is considered valid for 210 days or seven months.

Booster dose possible from 3 months after second dose

Starting from February 1st, it will be possible to get a booster dose from three months (90 days) after the second dose, reduced from four months.

However, the National Vaccination Committee still recommends getting the booster between four and six months after the second.

Some people who received their booster dose before the four-month limit were unable to receive official proof of this, with their vaccine certificates showing they had received only ‘2/2’ doses instead of ‘3/3’. After the change, these people should be able to get their valid vaccine proof.

End to Austria’s lockdown for the unvaccinated

Austria’s lockdown for people without proof of 2G will end on January 31st.

In practice, not a huge amount changes. People without proof of 2G can now leave their homes for any reason and not just for things like exercise and food shopping — but most public venues require 2G proof to enter.

Other changes to Austria’s Covid rules

The curfew for restaurants and bars will be extended from 10pm until midnight starting on February 5th, while the maximum number of guests at an event will be raised to 50 people on the same day, the Health Ministry confirmed.

The following week, on February 12th, the so-called 2G rules for retail will be removed, meaning that people will no longer need to produce proof of vaccination or recovery at the entrance to shops. Customers will still have to wear FFP2 masks.

The 2G rule for restaurants and bars as well as for events will switch to 3G the following week on February 19th

It’s worth noting that Vienna’s mayor has criticised the re-opening plan, and previously Vienna has had harsher measures than the national ones, so it’s possible stricter rules may be announced for the capital region.

READ MORE: How Austria’s Covid restrictions are changing in February

GIS fees increase

Anyone who has a TV and/or radio which is capable of receiving television channels needs to pay the fee, even if you don’t use the device for that purpose and only ever stream Netflix for example. In the latter option, it may pay off to have the tuner removed from your device. If you do not own a device capable of acting as a TV, you can opt out of the contributions.

The fees are highest in Styria at €28.65, while residents of Upper Austria and Vorarlberg enjoy the nation’s lowest fees at €22.45.

EXPLAINED: How to pay Austria’s TV and radio tax, or (legally) avoid it

School holidays

The February holiday (Semesterferien) is staggered across the country, so these are the dates schools in different regions are closed:

Vienna and Lower Austria: February 7th – 13th
Burgenland, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg: February 14th – 20th
Upper Austria and Styria: February 21st – 27th

During those weeks, expect the cities to quieten a bit and ski areas to get busier.

Drivers need the 2022 vignette to drive on motorways

If you use Austria’s motorways and haven’t bought the 2022 vignette yet, remember that the 2021 version loses its validity on January 31st.

Regional elections in Tyrol

Tyrol will elect municipal councillors and mayors on February 27th. If you are an EU citizen resident in Tyrol and are aged over 16, you are eligible to vote; the region has information in simplified German on its website.

Candlemas and carnival season

It might be one of the gloomier months of the year and some of the changes on this list bring price hikes and bureaucracy, so we’ll end on a lively and colourful note: February is carnival time!

February 2nd is Candlemas, and in rural Lower Austria in particular this is the time when groups of singers go house to house similar to Christmas carol singers in the US or UK.

Usually, carnival season is inaugurated with a series of balls throughout January but this year many of the events have been called off due to Covid restrictions. Depending on the development of the pandemic, there’s hope that some of the other carnival events will still go ahead.

Carnival is a particularly big deal over in the west of the country, with the Tiroler Fasnacht and Fasching in the Salzkammergut region attracting a lot of visitors. Expect parades, costumes and a lot of music.

Even if you’re not attending any of the festivities in person, don’t miss out on the excuse to eat plenty of seasonal Faschingskrapfen, apricot jam-filled doughnuts.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

LIVING IN AUSTRIA

‘Haushaltsversicherung’: How does Austria’s home insurance work?

'Haushaltsversicherung' is one of Austria's most popular types of insurance. It is not mandatory, but it is certainly worth evaluating, especially as it comes with many possible add-ons.

Published: 2 May 2024 15:22 CEST
'Haushaltsversicherung': How does Austria's home insurance work?

Austrians are certainly obsessed with insurance coverage, and one of the most popular and common ones is known as the “Haushaltsversicherung”—if you don’t have it already, you have certainly heard of it. Here’s what you need to know about household insurance.

Firstly, this insurance covers damages to “all movable objects within your own four walls,” as Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK) explains. This includes furniture, carpets, and electrical appliances. It would also cover damages caused by fire, storms, water, burglary, and glass breakage. 

Certain types of insurance, such as private liability insurance or mandatory dog liability insurance, are almost always combined with household insurance—another reason why the Haushaltsversicherung is so popular in Austria.

READ ALSO: What kind of insurance do I need to have in Austria?

However, there are enormous differences in premiums and benefits, so experts suggest you check precisely what you need before taking out insurance. The AK also says you should talk to an insurance advisor to learn more about your specific case and needs, particularly if you have any valuables in your home. 

Additionally, they said: “It makes sense to check your policy every few years to ensure that you are properly insured. This guarantees that the sums insured and the risks included are up-to-date and sufficient”.

What should I keep an eye on when reviewing policies?

Of course, different companies have their own offers, and they are often highly customisable to fit your apartment and lifestyle—some things you need to be aware of, though.

Certain policies are tied to the size of your apartment, while others will have a lump sum regardless of the size of your place. Policies also usually differ depending on whether you live in an apartment or a house. 

While most insurance will cover glass breakage (such as when a hail storm breaks your window, for example), some might have it as an add-on (wahlweise mit Glasbruch). 

You may also add other types of insurance to your household insurance, the most common being mandatory dog liability insurance (Hunde-Haftpflicht), legal insurance (Straf-Rechtsschutz), and sports insurance.

READ ALSO: Should I take out insurance before skiing in Austria?

It’s worth it to read each policy, but you should know some common clauses beforehand. For example, insurance often won’t cover burglary costs if your house has not been properly secured and locked. This might seem obvious, but since door knobs don’t open from the outside without the key, people often leave their homes, especially for short errands, and don’t lock the doors all the way. Insurance and safety experts recommend you get in the habit of locking your home doors.

It’s also important to check if your insurance will pay you “Neuwert” or “Zeitwert” in case of damage. 

A Neuwert means the insurance will pay for a replacement object, regardless of how old the stolen or broken one was. However, many insurance policies still contain the so-called “Zeitwert”, something like “current value”, so you wouldn’t receive an amount that could pay for a new product. Instead, a loss of value of around 10 percent per year could be expected for most objects.

What should I do if there is damage to my home?

If you see any damage to your home from burglary, accident or other types, you need to notify your insurer immediately and report the damage you have suffered. 

The insurance conditions usually stipulate a maximum period of three days for reporting a claim in property insurance. The Chamber of Labour also recommends that you send a written notification of the claim (preferably by registered mail, they add).

“Make a list of all items that have been destroyed or lost and enclose it with your report to both the insurer and the security authorities”, they said. And, of course, in the event of fire burglary or robbery, always inform the fire department or police authorities.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: The Austrian insurance for if you get sued – or want to sue someone

How long does the insurance last, and how much does it cost?

The insurance term is usually specified in the counteract. In general, though, you can terminate it after the third year with one month’s notice if the contract has not already expired.

If you move house or move abroad, you can terminate your household insurance contract. You can cancel the insurance the day before the move begins (preferably by registered letter).

If you do not exercise your right of termination, the insurance will remain valid during the move and in the new home.

Regarding prices, they can be as low as a few euros a month (such as insurance specifically tailored to students living in shared flats) to several hundred a month if you have a large place with plenty of valuables or include several add-ons. 

SHOW COMMENTS