Latest Travel advice Hungary

Non-Hungarian nationals may enter the territory of Hungary only in exceptional cases, and exemption to the rules of entry may only be granted by the appropriate police agency at the point of entry into Hungary, or at the 18th District Police Station of the Budapest Police Headquarters upon entry at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport.

The police agency may authorise entry if the applicant proves that the purpose of entry is:

1. participation in a procedural step of a Hungarian judicial or administrative procedure, proven with an instrument issued by a Hungarian court or authority,

2. receipt of health care with the referral of a health institution or other appropriate proof,

3. a study or examination obligation based on student or pupil status, if proven with a certificate issued by the educational institution,

4. passenger travel related to work associated with forwarding, the purpose of which is travel to the point of departure of the forwarding assignment (location for starting work), or return home by passenger travel after said work, if proven with the certificate issued by the employer,

5. participation in family events (marriage, baptism, funeral),

6. caring for or nursing a relative in accordance with Act V of 2013 of the Civil Code,

7. participation in an international, major religious event, or

8. other equitable grounds.

The application may be submitted only by electronic means using the relevant electronic forms in Hungarian or English. The original copy of the submitted document must be presented upon entry to the territory of Hungary.

Upon entry to Hungary, the passenger may be subjected to a medical examination. If such examination determines a suspicion of infection, the passenger may not be permitted to enter the territory of Hungary. If there is no suspicion of infection, the passenger shall be accommodated in quarantine designated by the competent epidemiological authority for 10 days, or in official home quarantine. The passenger may be granted exemption, if they present two negative tests in conformity with professional medical regulations within 5 days, with at least 48 hours difference between the tests.

Upon entry to Hungary, a PCR test performed once in a Schengen Member State is recognised as equivalent to the Hungarian test. In addition to countries belonging to the Schengen area, SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests performed in the Republic of Croatia, the United States, and Canada are also accepted, the result of which shall be evidenced with a Hungarian or English language instrument.

We recommend that foreign nationals with valid reservations to Hungary contact their travel agents. Hungarian accommodation establishments and service providers are flexible.

Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience, but the protection of health and human life is the priority now. Strict measures are necessary to ensure that we can safely and freely receive guests again as soon as possible.

Rules applicable to Hungarian nationals

After travel from Hungary for economic or business purposes, Hungarian nationals may enter the territory of Hungary – subject to the exception below – in accordance with rules defined in the sub-title “Rules on the entry of Hungarian nationals to Hungary”.

Where the purpose of travel is economic or business activity, as proven by the Hungarian national returning to Hungary, said Hungarian national may leave to and re-enter the territory of Hungary without restriction from:

a) a Member State of the European Union,

b) other states that are signatories of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, other than those under clause a),

c) a state with a legal status equivalent to that of a state that is party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area in relation to the freedom of movement and the right of residence, pursuant to an international agreement entered into by and between the European Community and its member states and with states not party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area,

d) candidate states of the European Union,

e) the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or

f) from a state designated by decree by the minister in charge of foreign policy, in agreement with the minister in charge of border policing, other than those listed in clauses a)–e),

Rules applicable to non-Hungarian nationals

Non-Hungarian nationals may enter the territory of Hungary for economic or business purposes – subject to the exception below – in accordance with rules defined in the sub-title “Rules on the entry of non-Hungarian nationals to Hungary”.

If the national of:

a) a Member State of the European Union,

b) other states that are signatories of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, other than those under clause a),

c) a state with a legal status equivalent to that of a state that is party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area in relation to the freedom of movement and the right of residence, pursuant to an international agreement entered into by and between the European Community and its member states and with states not party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area,

d) candidate states of the European Union,

e) the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or

f) from a state designated by decree by the minister in charge of foreign policy, in agreement with the minister in charge of border policing, other than those listed in clauses a)–e),

or a person authorised to stay in such state for more than 90 days, enters Hungary for economic or business purposes, which they prove upon entry to the territory of Hungary, they may enter the territory of Hungary without restriction.

If, upon entry of a non-Hungarian national to Hungary, there are doubts as to the authenticity of proof of the above reason, rules on the entry of non-Hungarian nationals to Hungary are applicable.

Nationals of neighbouring states, as well as Hungarian nationals living there, may enter the territory of Hungary for a period of up to 24 hours, within a 30-kilometre distance from the state border. Hungarian nationals may also return from the territory of neighbouring countries without restriction, if the duration of their stay abroad did not exceed 24 hours and if, in the neighbouring country, they did not leave the maximum 30-kilometre zone from the state border.

Non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad in passenger transit travel may enter the territory of Hungary, so long as they agree to a medical examination upon entry and, such examination does not determine a suspicion of infection.

As an additional condition of entry for the purpose of transit travel:

a) non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad shall meet the entry conditions prescribed in the Schengen Borders Code,

b) non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad shall provide satisfactory proof of the purpose of travel and the country of destination, and

c) the entry of non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad to the country of destination, and their entry for such purpose to states neighbouring Hungary located along the route of planned travel, is ensured.

During transit through the territory of Hungary, non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad for transit purposes may only travel along the route determined by the National Chief Police Commissioner and published on the official website of the police. They may only stop for reasons essential for transit, and only at rest places determined by the National Chief Police Commissioner and published on the official website of the police. They must leave the territory of Hungary during the time frame determined by the National Chief Police Commissioner for such purpose, but within 24 hours at the latest.

In addition to stops made at rest places designated by the National Chief Police Commissioner, non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad and entering Hungary for transit purposes may interrupt travel and stop along the designated route only in technical or health emergencies requiring immediate intervention,

The road border crossing points serving the entry and exit of transit traffic, the transit traffic routes, the rest places, and the time frame available for leaving Hungary are all determined by the National Chief Police Commissioner and published on the official website of the police.

The strict conditions applicable to entry and exit for Hungarian sporting events also apply to cultural events.

According to such conditions, attendees of international sporting events and cultural events organised in Hungary may enter Hungary only if they possess a negative PCR test result, with said single test having been performed within 3 days prior to entry, and if they present the ticket to the event and agree to a medical examination, if necessary. Attendees of international sporting events and cultural events held in Hungary must leave the country within 72 hours of entry.

Hungarians returning from abroad must go into quarantine for 10 days, or until they can present two negative tests performed two days apart.

If the medical examination determines the suspicion of infection, such nationals shall be accommodated in a designated quarantine or, if this does not carry an epidemiological risk, in official home quarantine.

Upon the request of the person accommodated in quarantine, the epidemiological authority may authorise the quarantined person to take two tests – performed within 5 days, at least 48 hours apart – in conformity with professional medical regulations (molecular biological testing – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test). If the virus is not detected, such person shall be exempted from the quarantine.

For updated information, please visit any of the following sites:

VISITHUNGARY.COM,