GENERAL INFORMATION
ON THE
SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS
Information updated: 15^th of September, 2008

Visa free entry

Citizens of EU and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States, as well as citizens of the countries listed below may travel to Hungary without a visa:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong (the exemption applies only to holders of a “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”), Iceland, Israel, Japan, Macao (the exemption applies only to holders of a “Regio Administrativa Especial de Macau” passport), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Salvador, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela

Family members of citizens of EEA Member States may also travel to Hungary without a visa – if they received a residence card issued for family members of EEA citizens or a residence permit issued by any Schengen Member State (hereinafter referred to as ‘SMS’).

Entry conditions for foreigners under visa obligation

• The Schengen visa and entry regulations are only applicable for stays not exceeding three months. The rules of Schengen visa issuing at the diplomatic posts of the SMSs are generally identical, visa fees are uniform. Rules for long stays exceeding three months are laid down by the national law of the SMS concerned.
• It is important to note, that a visa is only a preliminary permission for entry, which does not authorise its bearer automatically to enter the country. It enables aliens subject to the visa requirement to present themselves at the external border of the country which issued the visa or that of another country and request, depending on the type of visa transit or residence, provided that the other transit or entry conditions have been met. Since the issuing of a visa presupposes that the consulate considered that the conditions of entry were fulfilled at the time the visa was granted, mere possession of a visa does not confer automatic right of entry. The conditions of entry are checked a second time when the person presents themselves at the external border (land, sea or airport) of the SMSs. If the border police decide that a person holding a visa does not fulfil the conditions of entry, they will be refused entry, even if they have a visa in their passport.
• The Hungarian immigration authorities do not issue visas upon arrival at the border crossing point.
• Significant changes subsequent to the Schengen accession of Hungary are as follows: Visas and residence permits issued by one of the SMSs are valid also for Hungary, and on the other hand Visas issued by Hungarian representations abroad and residence permits issued by Hungarian national authorities are also valid for the entire Schengen Area.

Visa free transit

• In accordance with the Council Decision 895/2006/EC visa free transit through the territory of Hungary for holders of visas or residence permits issued by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus will be allowed until the end of the validity of these visas or residence permits - but not beyond 30 June 2008. Visa free transit through the territory of Hungary for holders of residence permits issued by Switzerland or Liechtenstein remain unchanged.
• The duration of visa free transit cannot exceed 5 days.
• Transit means travelling from one Third State to another Third State (e.g.: coming from Croatia to the Ukraine) through Hungary.

Types of Schengen visa

• Airport transit visa (A): entitles the bearer, who is required to have such a visa, to pass through the international transit area of airports without actually entering the national territory of the country concerned, during a stop-over or transfer between two stages of an international flight. Nationals from these countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo and persons who are not necessarily nationals of those countries, but who possess travel documents issued by their authorities, are required to possess this type of visa.
• Transit visa (B): entitles the bearer who is travelling from one Third State to another Third State to pass through the territories of the SMSs. This visa may be issued for one, two or exceptionally several transits, provided that the duration in each case does not exceed five days.
• Short-stay or travel visa (C): entitles the bearer who seeks to enter the territories of the SMSs, for reasons other than immigration, to pay a continuous visit or several visits, the duration of which does not exceed three months in any half-year from the date of first entry. As a general rule, this visa may be issued for one or several entries. In the case of applicants, who need to travel frequently to one or several SMSs, (for example on business), short-stay visas may be issued for several visits, provided that the total length of these visits does not exceed three months in any half-year. This multiple entry visa may be valid for one year.

Where to submit the visa application?

• Schengen visa applications have to be submitted at the representation of the country in whose territory the sole or main destination of the visit is situated. The Consular Department of the Embassy of Hungary (hereinafter referred to as ‘Consular Department’) shall decide, on a case-bycase basis, which is the country of main destination.
• When the country of main destination cannot be determined (i.e. in case of visiting several states with stays of approximately the same duration), the country of first entry is responsible for examining applications for short-stay or transit visas.
• Border guards are not liable to accept Schengen visas issued by another SMS for foreign nationals having Hungary as their main destination, if those cannot justify why their visa was not provided by a Hungarian Consular Department. The same procedure applies for the entry into another SMS, if the foreign national has a visa issued by any of the Hungarian Consular Departments.
• Hungary will enter into bilateral representation agreements with other SMSs. The essential element of these agreements is, that Hungarian visa can be requested in countries without Hungarian foreign representation. The Consular Department of the country representing Hungary will issue visas for entering Hungary, according to the common Schengen visa policy, as if issuing visas for entering their respective country. A prospective representation agreement between Hungary and another SMS already represented in Khartoum, Sudan is currently under study – since there is no Hungarian representation at present in The Sudan.

Who can submit a visa application?

• In accordance with the aforementioned Schengen regulations, applicants having Hungary the sole or main destination, or the country of first entry, may submit their visa applications at the Consular Department.
• The Consular Department has the competence to process the applications of the following persons: Nationals and Permanent residents of Azerbaijan and Persons with no Hungarian foreign representation in their country.

Attention!

• As a general rule, the applicant shall be called on to appear in person, in order to explain verbally the reasons for the application. Applicants being permanent residents of Azerbaijan can only submit their application personally or by issuing an authorization (proxy) duly signed and stamped by a notary public. The authorisation is only valid for submitting the application and for collecting the visa issued. Nevertheless, the application form has to be signed by every traveller personally. Applications that are not personally submitted and/or not supported by such an authorization are not accepted.
• Applicants that are not residents in Azerbaijan may send their application with a courier company and arrange (i.e. pay for) the two-way shipment directly to the courier company, before sending the application, supporting documents and passport(s). However, they may also be required to submit the application personally in Baku (Azerbaijan) and attend an interview.
• In countries where there is no Hungarian foreign representation competent to issue visas, or where Hungary is not represented by another SMS, the honorary consuls are also entitled to receive visa applications with the purpose of transferring them to the Consular Department.
• The Consular Department may receive visa applications at the earliest: 3 months before the beginning of the planned visit.

Supporting Documents for the Application

1. General requirements

• Valid passport (the validity of which has to exceed that of the requested visa by at least 3 months),
• A photocopy of the personal data page of the passport,
• 1 passport-sized colour photo not older than 6 months (see the General Information on the Photo Requirements of the Residence Permit Application for further information),
• A wholly and legibly completed and signed visa application form, that can be obtained free of charge from the Consular Department, or can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.mfa.gov.hu/). Schengen visa application forms are uniform, therefore any application form used by any of the SMSs can also be used for applying for a Hungarian visa.
• Adequate and valid individual travel insurance, to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment. The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the SMSs and cover the entire period of the applicant’s stay. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000.
• In case the applicant is not an an Azerbaijanian citizen, certificate/proof certifying lawful stay in Azerbaijan.
• In case of a multiple entry visa, documents certifying the grounds for the multiple visit and,
• In case of minors, written declaration by the legal representative, giving consent to the travel.

Besides meeting the general requirements, the applicant shall also supply a certificate of the financial coverage of his expenses and a certificate of the purpose of the visit.

2. The financial coverage of the expenses shall be certified with the following documents

• An original income certificate issued by the employer.
• A bank account statement on the account turnover (of the Applicant) during the last three months.
• A return airline print-out (reservation sufficient, ticket not required).
• Certificate of reserved accommodation, and
• In case of minors: written declaration by the legal representative on the coverage of the costs and on the existence of the financial coverage.

3. The purpose of the visit shall be certified with the following documents

Applying for a transit visa:

• A valid ticket certifying the purpose of the visit and a visa to the destination country, if necessary.

Applying for a short stay visa:

• In case of a tourist visit: the certificate of the travel agency; or in case of an individual visit: the prepaid reservation of accommodation.
• In case of an entry with an educational or other scientific or professional training purpose: the certificate of the receiving institution, the certificate of accommodation in Hungary.
• In case of an entry for visitation: the letter of invitation issued and endorsed by the Office of Immigration and Nationality (BÁH), or the letter of invitation in the form of a public notarial document and a photocopy of the data page of the personal identification document/passport of the inviting party in Hungary.
• For the purpose of cultivation of family relations: an invitation letter as described above or a letter signed by the applicant in full awareness of his/her criminal liability describing the degree of the family relation, giving the name, address and phone number of the family member and the purpose of the entry and stay.
• In case of an entry for business purposes: a letter of invitation from the business partner, the certification of the existence of commercial-business relations, the certificate of the local chamber of commerce on the existence of business relations and certificate on the accommodation in Hungary.
• In case of an entry with the purpose of medical treatment: the certificate of the receiving health institution, including reference to the fact that the expected coverage of the medical treatment is available, and other certification of the coverage of the medical treatment, as well as the certification of accommodation in Hungary.
• For the purpose of sport: accreditation proving the participation in the sports event or contract with the Hungarian sport club, the certificate issued by the delegating sport club / Olympic Committee / Ministry of Sport, certificate issued by the delegating sport federation on the results achieved by the applicant in major international sport competitions and certificate issued by the organizers of the major international sport competition on the results achieved by the applicant.
• For the purpose of cultural activities: agency contract with the Hungarian service provider, invitation letter issued by the host organisation.
• For the purpose of attending conference: invitation letter issued by the host organisation, confirmation on participation issued by the host organisation, certification issued by the delegating organisation and receipt fro payment of the registration fee.

Attention!

• The Consul may request the presentation of further documents, in addition to the ones outlined above. All documents must be submitted in English and/or in Hungarian.
• Documents shall be annexed to the applications being submitted in the original. If the applicant needs the original document, then a photocopy shall also be annexed besides presenting the original document for verification.
• Any information on the application are given only to the applicant, or to those, who are legally authorized in the aforementioned way by the applicant.

Visa fee

Application for an airport transit visa, transit visa or short-stay visa: EUR 60.

Attention!

• The visa fee shall be paid upon submitting the application.
• The visa fee shall be paid exclusively in EUR banknotes.

Applications for Visas free of charge to:

• Children under the age of 14 and entered into the passport of the parent,
• Children under the age of 6, travelling with their own passports,
• Family members of EEA citizens.

Visa application processing time

30 days from the day of submitting the complete application..

Rejection of the visa application

• In case of entry ban, or doubts concerning the application, the Consular Department will refuse the visa application. Presentation of counterfeit documents is a reason for refusal in itself. Furthermore, the Consular Department reserves the right to examine the authenticity of the communicated data and the submitted documents. The communication of false data in itself will lead to the refusal of the visa application.
• Notification on the reason for refusal can be obtained at the Consular Department only by the applicant in person. At the applicant’s request, the notification can be issued in written form, as well.
• If the visa application is refused, the fee will not be reimbursed.
• There is no legal remedy against the rejection of an application for an A, B or C visa, however, a complaint can be lodged to the Consul, the Ambassador or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary.

General Information on the Photo Requirements
of the Schengen Visa Application

One photograph shall be attached to the Schengen Visa Application Form.

The photograph must be:

• no more than six months old,
• in colour,
• sized as for licences (35-40 mm wide),
• sharp, clear and of good quality,
• full-face (showing the entire head and the top of the shoulders),
• taken in front of a light background,
• without a head-dress, except for religious reasons,
• taken directly from the front.

Glasses are permitted, provided that that the eyes remain clearly visible and there is no reflection in the lenses. Head-dress is permitted only for religious reasons, provided that all facial details are still clearly visible and the head-dress does not cast any shadow over the face.

Examples of acceptable photographs:

Examples of non-acceptable photographs:

disturbing background

shadow over the face

hair covers half the face

The photograph attached to the Schengen Visa Application Form must satisfy the requirements listed above. If those are not met, the applicant will be asked to present a new photograph that satisfies the requirements.

Application for Schengen Visa