Austria is rolling out major legislative changes on October 1, 2026, reclassifying e-mopeds as motor vehicles, introducing a two-euro package tax for major online retailers, expanding the Eltern-Kind-Pass examination program, and launching new psychotherapy training programs.
A sweeping package of Austrian laws takes effect on October 1, 2026, bringing strict new operating rules for urban delivery vehicles, a fresh levy on high-volume e-commerce platforms, and structural expansions in healthcare and family support. The legislative updates touch transit, consumer costs, public health training, and family welfare across the country.
Reclassification of E-Mopeds and New Traffic Restrictions
The most visible transit shift targets L1e-B category e-mopeds, which are no longer classified as bicycles under amendments to the road traffic regulations (StVO) and motor vehicle law (KFG). Instead, lawmakers have officially designated them as two-wheeled micro-motor vehicles.
The shift carries direct operational consequences for riders. E-mopeds are banned from bike lanes and shared cycling paths, restricting them solely to the main roadway. Operators must now secure official vehicle registration, display a license plate, and maintain mandatory motor vehicle liability insurance. Drivers are also required to hold a valid driver’s license and wear a crash helmet.
Mobility Minister Peter Hanke designed the implementation timeline to give courier services and delivery fleets months to adjust their operations. Major delivery services operating in Austria have responded with distinct operational shifts. Foodora announced plans to transition its entire delivery fleet to traditional bicycles and e-bikes, while Lieferando pointed to ongoing safety campaigns and leasing partnerships. To support the transition, the ministry has organized traffic safety training programs running through 2029, with major delivery platforms subsidizing participation for couriers.
Two-Euro Package Tax on High-Volume E-Commerce Platforms
Retailers and online marketplaces face a new financial hurdle starting October 1, 2026. Under provisions tied to the federal budget legislation, large-scale shipping companies and digital platforms that exceeded 100 Mio. € in revenue during the previous fiscal year must pay a two-euro tax for every domestic parcel delivered within Austria.
Firms can alternatively choose to settle the fee on a per-order basis. Designed to partially offset value-added tax reductions on selected staple foods, the levy falls due the moment payment is accepted, regardless of when physical delivery occurs. The tax applies even if a customer ultimately returns the ordered merchandise.
Eltern-Kind-Pass Modifications and Healthcare Training Expansion
Expectant parents and families navigating the healthcare system will encounter immediate program updates, even as the full rollout of the electronic Eltern-Kind-Pass faces a one-year delay. A new administrative regulation expands the official examination program to include a second voluntary midwife consultation, an additional ultrasound near the end of pregnancy, and structured health discussions screening for socioeconomic and psychological stressors.
Because the digital version remains under development, physicians and clinics will document these expanded checks using a temporary 17-page supplement booklet attached to the traditional paper pass.
Concurrently, the education sector sees the rollout of new provisions under the psychotherapy law. The winter semester marks the launch of the new master’s degree in psychotherapy, establishing 500 training positions distributed across universities and universities of applied sciences nationwide.
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