Opening hours

The Consular Office is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

Address : Consulate of the Republic of Hungary, 250 North Bridge Road #29-01/A Raffles City Tower, Singapore 179101

Tel : 6883-0882, 6883-1448

Fax: 6883-0177

Email: admhunem@singnet.com.sg

hunemsin@singnet.com.sg

Application forms

Application forms can be downloaded from the following websites:

Schengen visa application forms: www.kulugyminiszterium.hu (Entry for foreigners to Hungary –> Entry and stay rules –> Visa application forms)

Application forms for residence permit: www.bmbah.hu (Administration –> Standard forms)

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From December 21, 2007 Hungary is a member of the Schengen Area, and applies the Schengen legislation in full. From December 21, 2007 24 states, 22 of the 27 member states of the European Union (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 and Iceland are part of the Schengen Area. At the same time several members of the European Union, i.e. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom do not yet participate in the Schengen cooperation.

Significant changes subsequent to Hungary’s Schengen-membership are that

· visas and residence permits issued by one of the Schengen States are valid also for Hungary,

· visas issued by Hungarian representations abroad and residence permits issued by Hungarian national authorities are also valid for the entire Schengen Area.

The Schengen visa and entry regulations are only applicable for a stay not exceeding 90 days. Rules for a long stay exceeding 90 days are laid down by the national law of the member states concerned.

Visa free entry

Citizens of the EU/EEA member states and of the following countries 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.

According to bilateral visa agreements holders of diplomatic and service passports may be entitled for a visa free entry. Please check the website of the MFA (www.kulugyminiszterium.hu).

Basic rules for the issuance of Schengen visas

Types of Schengen visas

• Airport transit visa (A): authorizes the bearer to enter the international zone of the airport and to remain there until the time of the departure of the flight to the destination country. Only nationals of the following states are obliged to apply for an airport transit visa: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Syria

• Transit visa (B): authorizes the bearer to a single, double or multiple transits, not exceeding 5 days at a time.

• Short stay visa (C): authorizes the bearer to a single, double or multiple entries and, in case of an uninterrupted stay, to a stay of maximum 90 days, while in case of an interrupted stay, to a stay of altogether maximum 90 days within the 6 months counted from the date of the first entry.

Where to submit a visa application?

Schengen visa applications have to be submitted at the representation of the country which is the main destination of the visit. (If visiting several states with stays of approximately the same duration the consulate responsible for issuing the visa is that of the country of the first entry into the Schengen area.)

Thus, according to the above described Schengen regulations applicants having Hungary as the main destination, or the country of first entry in case of a trip stretching through several Schengen Member States can submit their visa applications at the Hungarian representations.

It is sometimes difficult to determine the main destination, for example where the traveler intends to make several consecutive short stays of approximately the same length in various Schengen States. In this case, you should go to the consulate of the first country you intend to visit.

According to the Schengen rules border posts do normally not issue visas, except for family members of EEA citizens and only under extraordinary circumstances for other third country nationals (e.g. entry with a purpose of attending the funeral service of a deceased family member, when it can be proved that there has not been any possibility to apply for a visa beforehand).

Which of the Hungarian consulates is responsible for issuing a visa?

Once it has been established that a Hungarian consulate is responsible for issuing a Schengen visa, it has to be chosen which one of them. The general rule is that an application can be handed in to the consulate which is in the country

- where the applicant has a habitual residence

- whose citizen the applicant is

If there is no Hungarian consulate in the country where the applicant has his/her habitual residence the visa application can be handed in at any Hungarian consulate.

Who can submit a visa application?

- The applicant can submit personally his/her own or his/her family member’s visa application

- In case of organized tourist trips, an accredited travel agency may submit the visa application

- In case of group travel – other than organized tourist trip - , the application may be submitted by a representative sufficiently authorized.

The documents needed for visa applications

I. General requirements:

- a valid passport the validity of which has to exceed that of the requested visa by at least 3 months;

- 1 passport-size colour photo (not older than 6 months);

- a wholly and legibly completed, signed application form:

(The application form may be acquired free of charge at the consulates or downloaded from the website of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.kulugyminiszterium.hu ). Schengen application forms are uniform, therefore any application form used by any of the Schengen Member States can be used for applying at Hungarian consulates.)

- a travel medical insurance (a travel insurance providing cover for at least 30.000 € for financing urgent health services and homeward transportation due to medical reasons, valid for the whole period of stay and for the territory of every Schengen State);

- a certificate proving lawful stay, if the applicant is not a citizen of the country where he/she hands in his application.

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

The financial coverage of the expenses can be certified with one of the following documents:

- an original income certificate of the employer or

- a bank account statement on the account turnover during the last three months or

- a pension slip or

- a certificate of registration in the case of an individual entrepreneur or one-man firm or

- a valid ticket, a certificate of a reserved and prepaid journey, accommodation or

- in the case of minors, a declaration by the legal representative on the coverage of the costs and on the existence of the financial coverage or

- a letter of invitation issued and endorsed by the Office of Immigration and Nationality.

The purpose of the entry can be certified with the following documents:

When applying for a transit visa:

- a valid ticket certifying the purpose of the visit; or the document of a transport vehicle used and appropriately insured,

- a visa to the destination country, if necessary.

When applying for a short stay visa:

- In the case of a tourist visit: the certificate of the travel agency; or in the case of an individual visit: the prepaid reservation of accommodation.

- In the case of an entry for business purposes: in case there already exists a business partner in Hungary: a letter of invitation from the business partner, proof of the existence of commercial business relations; or the certificate of the local chamber of commerce on the existence of business relations, and the certification of the address of the envisaged place of accommodation in Hungary.

- In the case of an entry with an educational or other scientific or professional training purpose: the certificate of the receiving institution, the certificate of the envisaged place of accommodation in Hungary

- In the case of visiting friends, acquaintances: a letter of invitation issued and endorsed by the Office of Immigration and Nationality or the letter of invitation in the form of a public notarial document and a photocopy 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 in the previous indent 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 the 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 the address of the expected place of accommodation in Hungary.

- In the case of carriers: the certification or request of the carrier firm.

- For the purpose of visiting the grave of a deceased relative buried in Hungary: a document certifying the existence of the grave and the degree of relationship.

- For the purpose of cultural activities: accreditation proving the participation in the sports event or contract with the Hungarian sport club, or the certificate issued by the delegating sport club / Olympic committee / Ministry of Sport, etc.

- For the purpose of sport: agency contract with the Hungarian service provider, invitation letter issued by the host organization

- For the purpose of attending a conference: invitation letter issued by the host organization, confirmation on participation issued by the host organization, and/or a certification issued by the delegating organization; receipt on payment of the registration fee

- In the case of other purposes of entry (regular shopping, entertainment, etc.) not listed in any of the above categories: a declaration presenting the purpose of the entry and stay, made in full awareness of the person’s criminal liability.

Visa fees

Attention!

- The visa fee shall be paid when the application is submitted.

- The consulate does not charge any further fees other than the above for issuing a visa.

- If the application for a visa is refused, the fee will not be reimbursed.

- The fee shall be paid in euros.

- Payment can be made in cash only.

General exemptions from the visa fees

- children under the age of 14 and registered in the passport of a parent: free of charge

- family members of EEA citizens: free of charge

- children under the age of 6, travelling with their own passports free of charge

- members of children’s groups consisting of more than 5 children free of charge

- students and accompanying teachers travelling for educational purposes free of charge

- researchers: free of charge

Processing time

According to law decision upon the visa application must not exceed 30 days.

Rejection of the visa application

In case of entry ban or doubts concerning the application the consulate will refuse the visa application.

Presentation of counterfeit documents is a reason for refusal in itself.

Notification on the reason for refusal can be obtained at the consulate only by the applicant in person. At the applicant’s request the notification can be issued in written form as well.

In case of refusal the consulate will not reimburse the visa fee.

There is no legal remedy against the rejection of an application, however, a complaint concerning the procedure can be lodged. Complaints will be examined in the first instance by the head of the consulate, in the second instance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In case of refusal a new application may be submitted at any time. In case of a new application the visa fee has to be paid again.

Attention!

Visa holders should carry with them supporting documents to demonstrate that they fulfill the conditions of entry, so that they can present them if need be during the checks at the EU border.

Entry for long stay (exceeding 90 days)

Regulations on a stay exceeding 90 days fall within the competence of national authorities, therefore there is no uniform routine among the Schengen Member States. Foreign nationals requesting entry to Hungary with a purpose of a long stay may submit a residence permit application. In case of successful application, he/she will get a visa authorizing him/her to a single entry for receiving a residence permit and to stay for maximum 30 days in Hungary. The decision on the residence permit falls within the scope of the regional directorates of the Office for Immigration and Nationality (OIN).

Attention!

Singapore citizens planning to enter Hungary for a period exceeding 90 days can enter Hungary without a visa for 90 days and then apply for the residence permit at the competent regional directorate of the Office for Immigration and Nationality. However, they can still apply at the Embassy as well. The application forms for resident permits can be downloaded from the OIN website (www.bmbah.hu). Each application form also contains the list of the documents that need to be attached to the application.

Supporting documents

- Valid passport (the validity of which has to exceed that of the requested visa by at least 3 months);

- 2 passport-size colour photos (not older than 6 months);

- a wholly and legibly completed, signed “residence permit” application form (can be downloaded from the website of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.kulugyminiszterium.hu);

- supporting documents of the purpose of stay;

- supporting documents of the accommodation;

- supporting documents of the subsistence;

- a health insurance .

The fee for the residence permit application is EUR 60.

As a general rule, the regional directorate processes the application within 30 days. If the purpose of entry is study or research the directorates shall make a decision within 15 days.

In case of refusal, the client may lodge an appeal within 5 days from the notification. The appeal shall be submitted directly to that regional directorate of the OIN that processed the application.