General information

Please note that the Schengen visa and entry regulations are only applicable for a stay not exceeding 90 days!

With the purpose of staying in Hungary for more than 90 days, please visit the web site of the Office of Immigration and Nationality (www.bmbah.hu)

Visas and residence permits issued by one of the Schengen States are valid also for Hungary, and visas issued by Hungarian representations abroad and residence permits issued by Hungarian national authorities are also valid for the entire Schengen Area.

Schengen area: 22 of the 27 member states of the European Union (these are the following: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) as well as Norway , Iceland and Switzerland. Whereas several members of the European Union, i.e. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom still do not participate in the Schengen cooperation.

The Schengen cooperation agreement

The Schengen Cooperation Agreement enables aliens (regardless of their nationality) holding a valid residence permit issued by one of the Schengen member states (which includes Sweden) to travel without restrictions through the Schengen territory for a maximum period of 90 days, provided that they meet the other requirements for entry. One of the requirements is that they need to travel with a valid and by all Schengen member states recognised travel document. Please note that the Swedish Aliens Passport is also a recognised travel document that has been recognised by all Schengen member states as long as it implies that the holder can return to Sweden without any restrictions.

Briefly the schengen agreement allows that:

• Holders of a valid Swedish residence permit can travel without restrictions throughout the Schengen territory (including Hungary) for a maximum period of 90 days.
• Holders of a Swedish residence permit do not need transit visa to transit one of the schengen member states (including Hungary).
• Holders of a Swedish Alien Passport with the remark "Identity of the holder has not been established" are also allowed to travel into the Schengen territory (including Hungary).

However, the decision to admit travellers at Liszt Ferenc Budapest Airport is always taken by the competent hungarian authorities. 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.

The traveller may be requested to provide proof of the existence of the conditions of his entry and stay in Hungary and if he is not able to fulfil this, he may be returned from the border.

Passengers travelling outside the Schengen territory must hold a valid travel document that is recognised by the country of final destination and, if necessary, must have a valid visa for that country.

Visa free entry for EEA citizens and for citizens of certain countries

Citizens of EU- and EEA-member states (including swedish citizens) may travel to Hungary without a visa. 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.

The citizens of certain countries may also travel to Hungary without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days. The list of these countries can be found on the following web site: www.kulugyminiszterium.hu (english version) →SCHENGEN→

http://www.kulugyminiszterium.hu/NR/rdonlyres/041A2CFC-AB95-4BAF-A5E4-26B0164031EE/0/071122_kulfoldiek_beutazasa_en_new.pdf (foot-note)

The visa application forms can be downloaded in hungarian, english, german, french, russian, ukrainian, serbian and turkish languages from the web-site of the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs:

http://www.kulugyminiszterium.hu/kum/en/bal/consular_services/Entry_of_Foreiners_to_Hungary/Visa_application_forms/

Long stay (exceeding 90 days)

Foreign nationals requesting to enter Hungary with a purpose of a long stay may submit a residence permit application. In case of successful application, s/he will get a visa authorizing him or her to a single entry for receiving a residence permit and at longest to stay for 30 days in Hungary.

Attention! Family members of EU/EEA nationals with the right of free movement may enter Hungary with a short-stay (C), even they intend to stay in Hungary more than 90 days. In such cases, within 93 days from the entry, the family member shall apply for a residence card from the regional directorate of the Office of Immigration.

Attention! Foreigners have been staying already in Hungary can submit their applications for a residence permit directly at the regional directorate of the Office of Immigration, if

a) the applicant can prove the exceptional reasons of the request, among others, family reunification or medical treatment,

b) the purpose of stay is research,

c) if the applicant concerned is a national of one of the countries listed on Annex II of Council Regulation EC no 539/2001 (visa free countries).

Depending on the purpose of entry, the following documents are needed for the application for residence permit:

In case of a visa for the purpose of paid activity:

• a work permit,
• a contract of employment,
• a document certifying occupancy in Hungary, and
• a certificate on how the person will make a living until he receives his first salary (bank account statement, employer’s certificate that he will pay an advance to the person, etc.)

or,

• a certificate on the character of the gainful activity (the articles of association),
• the resolution on the court registration of the enterprise,
• a document certifying occupancy in Hungary,
• a certificate on the acquisition of the qualification necessary for filling the position,
• a declaration, certificate on the (expected) yearly income,
• a certificate of the amount of money at the person’s disposal in Hungary,
• the simplified balance sheet of the previous year (for a firm already operating),
• a certificate that the firm has no public debt (for a firm already operating),
• if the firm has Hungarian employees: their employment contracts,
• in case of a new enterprise: a brief business plan.

In case of a visa for educational purposes:

• a certificate of school attendance,
• a document certifying occupancy in Hungary (the document certifying accommodation in a student hostel or the tenancy contract with a duplicate of the title deed), and
• the documents certifying subsistence in Hungary (bank account statement; or the declaration of the parents that they assume coverage of all costs of the stay in Hungary; or the document certifying the scholarship).
• Attestation of the school that the applicant is exempt from the payment of school fees or that he/she has already paid the tuition fees.

In case of a visa for family reunification:

• a document certifying occupancy in Hungary,
• a document certifying subsistence in Hungary,
• a marriage certificate / birth certificate, and
• a copy of the passport of the Hungarian relative.

In case of a visa for visit:

• an official letter of invitation or an invitation included in a notarial document,
• a certificate of the average income of the inviting party,
• a duplicate of the title deed, and
• a copy of the passport or the personal identification document of the inviting party.

In case of a visa for medical treatment:

• the name and address of the health institution providing the treatment,
• a certificate of the character and the expected duration of the medical treatment,
• a certificate of the financial coverage for the medical treatment and the stay in Hungary,
• the certification of occupancy in Hungary provided that the applicant does not stay in the medical institution,
• in case of a minor child or a family member in need of help: the certification of the accommodation and the subsistence of the accompanying person.

In case of a visa for research:

• contract with an accredited research institute
• if the researcher does not dispose of sufficient financial means, a written commitment of the research organisation to refund expenses incurred concerning the expulsion of the researcher in case of a stay exceeding the authorized period of stay.

In case of a visa for voluntary work:

• contract with a Hungarian receiving institution, organisation (church, library, town hall, etc.)

The application forms for the residence permit are available on the web site of the Immigration Office: www.bmbah.hu

• In Hungarian and Russian: www.bmbah.hu/nyomtatvany_mintak.php (www.bmbah.hu /Enter using Hungarian language → Ügyintézés/Nyomtatványminták
• In English: www.bmbah.hu /Enter/Administration/Standard forms
• In German: www.bmbah.hu /Eintritt/Amtsführung/Vordruck
• In French: www.bmbah.hu /Entrer/Administration/Formulaires

For more information: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Hungary