IMPORTANT NOTICE - New regulation from 15.02.2010 for Nigerian passport holders
Please note that from 15 February 2010 by modification of Government Decree 328/2007 (regarding passports and other travel documents not recognized by the Republic of Hungary) the following Nigerian passports are no longer accepted for entering the territory of the Republic of Hungary:
A-series: the letter “A” followed by seven digits.
A-series: the letter “A” followed by seven digits and closed by the letter “A”.
The above documents are not accepted and therefore cannot be endorsed with a visa.
Please note that previously issued Schengen visas will not give exemption from this rule. If you are holding a passport as described above, please apply for a new passport at your nearest Nigerian High Commission/Embassy or Consulate.
V I S A A P P L I C A T I O N S
The foreigners intending to stay more than 3 months in Hungary may apply for resident permit at the Consulate. The information on the resident permits as well as the EU Blue Card may be found on the following website: www.bmbah.hu
Appointment: Appointment maybe asked on the following e-mail address: consulate.lon@mfa.gov.hu or from Monday till Thursday between 2 pm and 5 pm by phone. 020 7235 5218
Where to apply for a Schengen visa for Hungary
A fast track visa service is provided at the Hungary Visa Application Centre by VFS Global Services Ltd., which assists applicants with the procedure and forwards the application to the Embassy for an additional fee; or applications may be submitted directly to the Embassy.
Please note that if you are not resident in the U.K. you should normally apply at the Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
If you want to visit one Schengen country, apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of that country.
If you want to visit several Schengen countries, apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the country in which you intend to stay for the longest period of time.
If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination, you should apply at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country of your first port of entry.
How to apply at the Hungary Visa Application Centre
Applicants are advised to book an appointment to submit an application. Drop-in applications could be accepted at the discretion of VFS.
Appointments can be booked by phone on 0871 376 0023 between 08.30 and 17.30 Monday to Friday, or online at http://hu.vfsglobal.co.uk. E-mail: info.huuk@vfshelpline.com .
HUNGARY VISA APPLICATION CENTRE
1-8 Bateman's Building
South Soho Square
London W1D 3EN
This is a fast track service as the Centre’s facilities allow for high numbers of applicants and VFS offers support to applicants throughout the procedure. The fast track procedure not only avoids queuing and waiting lists but also focuses on delivering the visa within a very short time. The service incurs a non refundable fee of £24, in addition to the visa fee.
For more information, please visit the website http://hu.vfsglobal.co.uk
How to apply at the Embassy
Applicants must book an appointment to submit their application. It has to be made in writing to: Embassy of Hungary, Visa Section, 35B Eaton Place, London SW1X 8BY. Please enclose a copy of your passport, your UK residence permit, intended dates of your journey, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for confirmation of your appointment.
Waiting time for an appointment at the Embassy varies between 10 and 30 days. The processing time after appointment is approx. 10-20 working days.
In case of an emergency, such as a relative’s death or critical illness, the Embassy can give an earlier appointment or advance the date of an appointment. In these cases a letter of support from the hospital or a funeral director is required. For emergency appointments only please contact the Embassy’s Consular Section by e-mail (consulate.lon@mfa.gov.hu), a scanned copy of the supporting letter is needed.
Family members of EEA and Hungarian nationals and holders of diplomatic passports may submit their application without prior appointment on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00 to 12.00.
Visa fees
From 1 March 2011 the fee of applying for a visa is £51.
However, there are a number of exceptions:
Visas are issued free of charge for the following applicants:
- children under the age of 6 travelling with their own passports,
- family members of EEA citizens either travelling together with their EEA national family members or travelling in order to meet their EEA national family members (both cases have to be proven by joint flight tickets or a letter from the spouse, respectively - see below for details),
- researchers having a valid contract with a research institution in Hungary,
- pupils, students and their teachers travelling for study reasons,
- representatives of non-profit organizations under the age of 25 participating and attending seminars, conferences, sport, cultural or educational events organised and held by NGOs.
A reduced fee of £30 applies to the following applicants:
- nationals of countries having a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union: Russia, the Ukraine, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and Moldova.
- children between the age of 6 and 12.
The visa fee has to be paid when the application is submitted. The fee should be paid in cash or by debit card.
Please note that in case the application for a visa is refused, the fee will NOT be reimbursed.
Documents needed to apply for a short stay Schengen visa
General requirements when applying for a short stay visa (C):
- passport issued within 10 years before the submission of the visa application,
- passport has to contain at least 2 blank pages,
- the passport and the residence permit/long term visa for the UK should be valid for at least three months longer than the expiry date of the requested visa (e.g.: if you are to make a single entry to the Schengen Area, and are due to return to the UK on the 1st of January, your passport and residence permit have to be valid at least until the 1st of April.),
- a wholly and legibly completed and signed visa application form ,
- a passport-size colour photo (not older than 6 months),
- the original and a copy of a travel health insurance covering at least € 30,000 (financing urgent health services and homeward transportation due to medical reasons), which is valid for the entire period of stay and the whole territory of the Schengen area (such travel health insurances are available at all post offices),
- evidence of the purpose of the journey,
- evidence of the financial coverage of the expenses (recent bank statements, pay slips etc. - with a copy of them), and
- valid tickets (e.g. flight, bus or train tickets to all your destinations).
Specific requirements (photocopies are also needed):
The specific requirements depend on the main purpose of travel, the length of intended stay and the personal circumstances of the applicant. Fore more information please visit the website of the Visa Application Centre (http://hu.vfsglobal.co.uk), the website of the Office of Immigration and Nationality (www.bmbah.hu) or the website of the European Commission.
Please bear in mind that the consul may ask additional documents in any time during the visa procedure as well as the applicants may be invited for personal interview to the Consulate.
Documents required from family members of EEA citizens1, Holder of a 'Residence Card of a Family Member of an EEA National'
- a wholly and legibly completed and signed visa application form,
- the applicant’s passport and residence permit/long term visa for the UK, the latter of which should be valid for at least three months longer than the expiry date of the visa,
- the EEA national family member's passport with their residence permit for the UK (and photocopy of these),
- their marriage certificate registered in Hungary or the EEA national’s country, and
- joint flight tickets or the EEA national’s letter + a single return flight ticket for the applicant.3, Family members not accompanied by the EEA national or not travelling to Hungary to join the EEA national: visa required, regular Schengen visa procedures apply.
VISA REFUSAL
In case of refusal the applicant receives a refusal letter. The Consulate cannot give further information on the decision except written on the refusal form.
If your visa application has been refused you may appeal strictly personally at the Consulate within 8 days after you got the refusal letter. The fee of appeal is £26. Please submit also your additional supporting documents.
The decision on the appeal is taken within 15 days by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Getting your passport back by post
If you would like us to send your documents back to you by post, do not forget to take a self-addressed, stamped (£5.05) Special Delivery envelope with you.
Information on visa waiver agreements
Please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.hu).