Do I need a visa to enter Hungary?

Citizens of the EU member states and of the following countries may travel to Hungary without a visa: United States of America, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (only those, who possess a passport of the “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”), Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Macao (only those, who possess a passport of the “Regio Administrativa Especial de Macau”), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, Salvador, San Marino, Switzerland, Holy See, Singapore, New Zealand, Uruguay, Venezuela.

I have heard that travellers may be returned from the border even if they have a valid visa. What is the reason for this?

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.

II. Types of visas in Hungary and their fees

Since December 2007 Hungary has been a member of the Schengen area. Schengen visas issued by any member state are valid for travel to Hungary. Similarly, Schengen visas issued by Hungary are valid for travel to any other country that is also a member of the Schengen area.

What kinds of Schengen visas exist?

• 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.

 How much does the visa cost? What kind of related expenses does it imply?

• The visa fee is generally 60 EUR. For cases when the fee can be less or even waived, please see "Consular information".

The visa fee shall be paid when the visa application is filed.

What other fees do I have to pay for obtaining a visa? (e.g. registration fee)

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

Do I get my money back if my visa application is rejected?

The fee is to be paid not for the visa, but for the handling of the visa application, thus the visa fee is not due back in the case of a rejection of the visa application.

May I pay in local currency or with a bankcard?

At our Consular Office all fees shall be paid in euros and in cash only.

III. Filing a visa application

Where shall I file my visa application?

Visa applications shall be filed personally at the Hungarian foreign representations competent in the place of the permanent residence or habitual residence of the applicant.

In case of an equitable condition certified by a document, the visa application may also be filed at another Hungarian foreign representation. Such an equitable condition may be e.g.:

• the state of health of the foreigner,
• if his travel back to his permanent or habitual place of residence  would involve disproportionately large costs,
• other extraordinary events (e.g. the death of a relative).

If there is no Hungarian foreign representation in the state of the permanent or habitual place of residence of the applicant, his visa application may be filed in any other Hungarian foreign representation also dealing with the issuing of visas.

May a family member file the visa application for me?

The general rule is that visa applications have to be filed personally, however, in case of family members travelling together, any member of the family who has reached his majority may file all the visa applications for the whole family. This does not exclude, however, for the other family members to be called upon to present themselves personally, if the consul deems this necessary.

May my friend, colleague file my visa application for me?

Friends or acquaintances may not file visa applications. If the purpose of the visit is an official, business visit, then the representative of the employer may file the application, if he possesses an appropriate authorisation. In case of group visits (e.g. art or school groups), the application may be filed by the leader or the representative of the group, if he has an appropriate authorisation. This, however, does not exclude the eventuality that the consul, if he deems it necessary, may call upon the applicants to present themselves personally.

What documents do I have to attach to the visa application?

• the applicant’s passport, the validity of which shall exceed the validity of the requested visa by at least 6 months;
• a photocopy of the data page of the passport;
• a passport-size colour photo, not older than 6 months;
• a visa questionnaire filled out without omissions, legible and signed;
  • the form may be acquired freely at the consular departments of the foreign representations, or downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.mfa.gov.hu/)
• a health insurance (providing coverage for the whole duration of stay in the Schengen area, includin all Schengen countries, with coverage of at least 30,000 euros);
• proof of confirmed accomodation for the duration of stay in the Schengen area;
• confirmed return air ticket;
• a certificate certifying lawful stay, if the applicant is not a citizen of the receiving country.

Important!: To fulfil the requirements of the visa application, the applicant, besides meeting these general requirements, shall also supply a certificate of the financial coverage of his expenses, and a certificate of the purpose of the visit.

How may the financial coverage of the expenses be certified?

The financial coverage of the expenses may be certified among others 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 inidual entrepreneur or one-man firm 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.

How may the official letter of invitation be applied for at the Office of Immigration and Nationality?

An official letter of invitation of the Office of Immigration and Nationality may be acquired personally at the Ministry of the Interior - Office of Immigration and Nationality (at the regional directorates or the customer service offices of the Ministry of the Interior - Office of Immigration and Nationality). (See: opening hours for customers: http://www.bmbah.hu/)

The inviting party may be any Hungarian citizen or any foreigner with a valid immigration, settlement or residence permit, who may file the application for an invitation letter personally, on a form determined for this purpose at his domicile or place of residence or, if the inviting party is a legal person, then by the way of its representative, at the alien control authority competent at its seat.

The letter of invitation issued by the Office of Immigration and Nationality certifies both the purpose of the visit and the existence of the financial coverage.

The authority issues the letter of invitation to the inviting party, who shall then take care of transferring it to the invited party.

What may be used to certify the purpose of the entry?

When applying for a transit visa:

• a valid ticket certifying the purpose of the visit;
• or the certification of a vehicle of transport used and appropriately insured by the foreigner,
• a visa to the target country, if necessary.

When applying for a visa for a short term stay:

• In case of a tourist visit: the certificate of the travel agency; or in case of an inidual visit: the prepaid reservation of accommodation.
• In case of a study tour or a visit with a scientific or training purpose: the certificate of the receiving institution, the certificate of the expected place of accommodation in Hungary.
• In case of a visit: the 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.
• In case of the cultivation of family relations: the documents related to the entry with a visiting purpose or the certificate given by the applicant on the existence of the family relations, and his declaration presenting the purpose of the entry and stay, signed in full awareness of his criminal liability. The declaration shall extend to cover the degree of the family relation, giving the name, address and phone number of the family member.
• In case of an entry with a business purpose: in case of the existence of a business partner in Hungary: a letter of invitation from the business partner, the certification 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 expected place of 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 the address of the expected place of accommodation in Hungary.
• In case of carriers: the certification or request of the carrier firm.
• In case of a visit to the grave of a relative in the territory of the Republic of Hungary: a document certifying the existence of the grave and the degree of relationship.

When applying for a visa for a long-term stay:

In case of a visa for employment:

• 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.)

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).

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 visiting:

• 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 gainful purposes:

• 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 medical treatment:

• the name and address of the health institution,
• 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, if the person is not staying in a hospital,
• 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.

Shall I annex original documents or photocopies to the visa application?

Documents shall be annexed to the applications being filed in original, if possible. If the client needs the original document later on, then a photocopy shall also be annexed besides presenting the original document.

Important! The consul may request further certificates besides the above listed documents. The consulate reserves the right to examine the authenticity of the communicated data and the filed documents. The communication of false data in itself will lead to the rejection of the visa application.

When may I file my visa application?

The consulate may receive visa applications at the earliest 3 months before the beginning of the visit.

Is it necessary to purchase and present my ticket when filing my visa application or is it sufficient to have a reservation?

Basically, it is sufficient to have a reservation when filing the application, however, the consul may ask for the presentation of the ticket when issuing the visa.

How much time must lapse before I may file a new application?

The legal regulations do not provide for this. In case the visa was utilised normally, a new application may be filed at any time, without further ado. In case the previous visa application was rejected, it may be expedient to file a new application if the condition, which was the reason of the rejection, has changed.

Where may I find the address and other contact information of other foreign representations?

The information is accessible on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

What kind of legal remedy do I have if my visa application has been rejected?

There is no legal remedy against the rejection of an application for an A, B or C visa. In case of rejection, a new application may be filed, accompanied by the repeated payment of the visa fee. In case of the rejection of an application for a D visa, the written resolution on the rejection will contain the necessary information on the possibilities of legal remedy. If the person intends to complain against the work of the consulate, he/she may file his/her complaint to the head of the consular department, the head of the foreign representation or to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.