Source: European Union/Re-open EU
06.05.2021
From an EU Member State or Schengen Associated Country, may I enter this country without being subject to extraordinary restrictions?
No
Hungary adopts its own national classification of risk areas, hence travel restrictions for Hungary are not based on the common "EU Traffic Lights" map.
Hungary has closed its border to all foreign nationals for an indefinite period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only Hungarian nationals, non-Hungarian nationals who are permanently resident in Hungary or non-Hungarian nationals who have permission to remain longer than 90 days, are allowed entry into the country.
Foreign nationals can enter Hungary only for the following reasons:
- taking part in a Hungarian court procedure;
- carrying out business or other activity justified by a letter of invitation issued by a central government body, an individual regulatory body, or an autonomous state body;
- receiving health care service, certified by a document issued by the health care institution;
- carrying out study or exam duty required by an educational institution, certified by a document issued by the educational institution;
- taking part in cargo-related passenger traffic if the aim of the travel is either to get to the cargo transport’s point of departure, or to get home after carrying out such cargo transport duty, if certified by a document issued by the employer;
- participation in family events (wedding, funeral, christening);
- taking care of a relative;
- taking part in an international sports-, cultural or religious event of a special significance.
Upon entry, individuals must agree to undergo a medical examination (temperature check). In case a suspicion of COVID-19 infection arises during the health examination, the individual will be refused entry.
Citizens of neighbouring states and Hungarian citizens living there may enter the territory within a distance of 30 kilometres from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours, but they may not leave this lane. Hungarians living in this 30-kilometre lane can also enter if they have stayed in the 30-kilometre lane from the border of the neighbouring state for less than 24 hours.
Those who can prove with either a Hungarian or English language document that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months (e.g.: PCR test results, verification by a health service provider or authority) can enter Hungary without restrictions.
Is a quarantine required?
All travellers must complete a 10-day mandatory quarantine.
If the person has no place of residency in Hungary, they must enter a government-designated place of quarantine.
Hungarian citizens returning from abroad are required to quarantine unless they undergo a double testing procedure.
Is a coronavirus test required?
The quarantine period may be shortened by taking a PCR test no less than 5 days after arrival, followed by a second PCR test no less than 48 hours after the first one. If the result of these tests is negative, the period of quarantine can end.
Mandatory Travel Documentation
Foreign nationals wishing to enter Hungary for the reasons listed above must apply for an exemption at https://ugyintezes.police.hu/en/home.
The form, which should be completed in advance of travelling, is available in English or Hungarian.
Find out more:
Consular Services (Hungarian)
Information from Budapest Airport
What are the rules to enter this country from outside an EU Member State or Schengen Associated country?
Entry from third countries is generally not allowed without a special reason.
Flights to and from the UK have been resumed, provided that travellers undergo a mandatory quarantine.
May I transit this country?
Yes
As a general rule, passengers in transit in the EU+ area are exempted from temporary travel restriction.
EU citizens entering the EU from a third country, as well as their family members, irrespective of their nationality, are exempted from the travel restrictions regardless of whether or not they are returning to their country of nationality or residence.
Passengers travelling from a non-EU country to another non-EU country may transit through the international transit area of airports located in the Schengen area. Rules regarding airport transit visa requirements continue to apply.
Additionally, for Hungary, the following rules apply:
Non-Hungarian citizens arriving from abroad in passenger traffic may enter Hungary for the purpose of transiting if they subject themselves to medical examination on entry, and the medical examination does not establish the suspicion of COVID-19 infection.
As additional pre-requisites for entry, non-Hungarian citizens arriving from other countries shall fulfil the conditions of entry prescribed in the Schengen Borders Code, credibly prove the purpose of their travel and ensure that they are allowed to enter the destination country (and, to that end, the next country en route to the destination country from Hungary).
Citizens of neighbouring countries and Hungarian citizens living there could enter the territory of Hungary within a distance of 30 kilometres from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours.
The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary remains open.
Find out more:
Budapest Airport
Humanitarian corridor
Safety measures
General measures
A curfew is in place from 22:00 to 5:00 and only movements for essential reasons are allowed (work, health, taking the dog for a walk within 500 metres from the place of residence). In order to go out, it is always required to bring a specific certificate.
Find out more:
Current measures (in Hungarian)
Use of facemasks
People visiting public places (shops, shopping malls, health and social care institutions, reception offices) as well as people using public transport and taxis, are required to wear a facemask or otherwise cover their faces with mask-like substitutes (scarves, shawls, etc.).
As of 11.11.2020, facemask wearing is mandatory also in some public areas of municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants. It is not mandatory to wear a facemask during sports activities as well as in parks and green areas.
Physical Distancing
The interpersonal distance of 1.5 metres is recommended everywhere, especially in shops. Employers have to implement measures to ensure the interpersonal distancing. Individual sports activities outdoors are allowed.
Source: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/HUN/7001
31.03.2021
From an EU Member State or Schengen Associated Country, may I enter this country without being subject to extraordinary restrictions?
NO
Hungary adopts its own national classification of risk areas, hence travel restrictions for Hungary are not based on the common "EU Traffic Lights" map.
Hungary has closed its border to all foreign nationals for an indefinite period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only Hungarian nationals, non-Hungarian nationals who are permanently resident in Hungary or non-Hungarian nationals who have permission to remain longer than 90 days, are allowed entry into the country.
Foreign nationals can enter Hungary only for the following reasons:
- taking part in a Hungarian court procedure;
- carrying out business or other activity justified by a letter of invitation issued by a central government body, an individual regulatory body, or an autonomous state body;
- receiving health care service, certified by a document issued by the health care institution;
- carrying out study or exam duty required by an educational institution, certified by a document issued by the educational institution;
- taking part in cargo-related passenger traffic if the aim of the travel is either to get to the cargo transport’s point of departure, or to get home after carrying out such cargo transport duty, if certified by a document issued by the employer;
- participation in family events (wedding, funeral, christening);
- taking care of a relative;
- taking part in an international sports-, cultural or religious event of a special significance.
Upon entry, individuals must agree to undergo a medical examination (temperature check). In case a suspicion of COVID-19 infection arises during the health examination, the individual will be refused entry.
Citizens of neighbouring states and Hungarian citizens living there may enter the territory within a distance of 30 kilometres from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours, but they may not leave this lane. Hungarians living in this 30-kilometre lane can also enter if they have stayed in the 30-kilometre lane from the border of the neighbouring state for less than 24 hours.
Those who can prove with either a Hungarian or English language document that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months (e.g.: PCR test results, verification by a health service provider or authority) can enter Hungary without restrictions.
Is a quarantine required?
All travellers must complete a 10-day mandatory quarantine.
If the person has no place of residency in Hungary, they must enter a government-designated place of quarantine.
Hungarian citizens returning from abroad are required to quarantine unless they undergo a double testing procedure.
Is a coronavirus test required?
The quarantine period may be shortened by taking a PCR test no less than 5 days after arrival, followed by a second PCR test no less than 48 hours after the first one. If the result of these tests is negative, the period of quarantine can end.
Mandatory Travel Documentation
Foreign nationals wishing to enter Hungary for the reasons listed above must apply for an exemption at https://ugyintezes.police.hu/en/home.
The form, which should be completed in advance of travelling, is available in English or Hungarian.
Find out more:
Consular Services (Hungarian)
Information from Budapest Airport
Documents you need to travel in Europe
What are the rules to enter this country from outside an EU Member State or Schengen Associated country?
Entry from third countries is generally not allowed without a special reason.
Flights to and from the UK have been resumed, provided that travellers undergo a mandatory quarantine.
May I transit this country?
YES
As a general rule, passengers in transit in the EU+ area are exempted from temporary travel restriction.
EU citizens entering the EU from a third country, as well as their family members, irrespective of their nationality, are exempted from the travel restrictions regardless of whether or not they are returning to their country of nationality or residence.
Passengers travelling from a non-EU country to another non-EU country may transit through the international transit area of airports located in the Schengen area. Rules regarding airport transit visa requirements continue to apply.
Additionally, for Hungary, the following rules apply:
Non-Hungarian citizens arriving from abroad in passenger traffic may enter Hungary for the purpose of transiting if they subject themselves to medical examination on entry, and the medical examination does not establish the suspicion of COVID-19 infection.
As additional pre-requisites for entry, non-Hungarian citizens arriving from other countries shall fulfil the conditions of entry prescribed in the Schengen Borders Code, credibly prove the purpose of their travel and ensure that they are allowed to enter the destination country (and, to that end, the next country en route to the destination country from Hungary).
Citizens of neighbouring countries and Hungarian citizens living there could enter the territory of Hungary within a distance of 30 kilometres from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours.
The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary remains open.
Find out more:
Budapest Airport
Humanitarian corridor
Safety measures
General measures
As of 11.11.2020, a curfew is in place from 20:00 to 5:00 and only movements for essential reasons are allowed (work, health, taking the dog for a walk within 500 metres from the place of residence). In order to go out, it is always required to bring a specific certificate.
Find out more:
Current measures (in Hungarian)
Health cover for temporary stays
Use of facemasks
People visiting public places (shops, shopping malls, health and social care institutions, reception offices) as well as people using public transport and taxis, are required to wear a facemask or otherwise cover their faces with mask-like substitutes (scarves, shawls, etc.).
As of 11.11.2020, facemask wearing is mandatory also in some public areas of municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants. It is not mandatory to wear a facemask during sports activities as well as in parks and green areas.
Physical Distancing
The interpersonal distance of 1.5 metres is recommended everywhere, especially in shops. Employers have to implement measures to ensure the interpersonal distancing. Individual sports activities outdoors are allowed.
Source: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/HUN/7001
25.01.2021
From an EU Member State or Schengen Associated Country, may I enter this country without being subject to extraordinary restrictions?
Partially
Note: Hungary adopts its own national classification of risk areas, hence travel restrictions for Hungary are not based on the common "EU Traffic Lights" map.
Entry from EU Member States and Schengen Associated countries is generally not allowed in lack of a special reason (such as business purposes).
Military convoys and business or diplomatic trips can be exempted from the regulations. Furthermore, an exemption may be granted by the police if entry also is for court, administrative, family, health, education or other legitimate reasons and if health screening is negative; however, also exempted people have to self-quarantine for 10 days. The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary remains open.
Hungarian citizens returning from abroad will have to quarantine, unless they undergo a double testing procedure, providing the negative results of 2 PCR tests not older than five days and taken with a time difference of 48 hours. It is possible to perform the 2 PCR tests upon arrival in Hungary as well. The first test can be also performed in a Schengen country, the United States or Canada.
The same procedure (quarantine/double PCR testing) applies to foreign students and foreign citizens with reasonable grounds to enter.
Those who can prove with either a Hungarian or English language document that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months (e.g.: PCR test results, verification by a health service provider or authority) can enter Hungary without restrictions.
Citizens of neighbouring states and Hungarian citizens living there may enter the territory within a distance of 30 kilometres from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours, but they may not leave this lane. Hungarians living in this 30-kilometre lane can also enter if they have stayed in the 30-kilometre lane from the border of the neighbouring state for less than 24 hours.
Find out more:
Consular Services (Hungarian)
Information from Budapest Airport
Documents you need to travel in Europe
What are the rules to enter this country from outside an EU Member State or Schengen Associated country?
Entry from third countries is generally not allowed without a special reason.
Flights to and from the UK have been resumed, provided that travellers undergo a mandatory quarantine.
May I transit this country?
Partially
Travellers can transit Hungary provided that they undergo a medical check-up upon entry. Furthermore, satisfactory proof of the objective and destination of their travel has to be provided, confirming that their entry to the destination country and neighbouring country in their route is allowed. Citizens of neighbouring states and Hungarian citizens living there could enter the territory of Hungary within a distance of 30 kilometres from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours. The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary remains open.
Find out more:
General measures
As of 11.11.2020, a curfew is in place from 20:00 to 5:00 and only movements for essential reasons are allowed (work, health, taking the dog for a walk within 500 metres from the place of residence). In order to go out, it is always required to bring a specific certificate.
Find out more:
Current measures (in Hungarian)
Health cover for temporary stays
Use of facemasks
People visiting public places (shops, shopping malls, health and social care institutions, reception offices) as well as people using public transport and taxis, are required to wear a facemask or otherwise cover their faces with mask-like substitutes (scarves, shawls, etc.).
As of 11.11.2020, facemask wearing is mandatory also in some public areas of municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants. It is not mandatory to wear a facemask during sports activities as well as in parks and green areas.
Physical Distancing
The interpersonal distance of 1.5 metres is recommended everywhere, especially in shops. Employers have to implement measures to ensure the interpersonal distancing. Individual sports activities outdoors are allowed.
14.12.2020
From an EU Member State or Schengen Associated Country, may I enter this country without being subject to extraordinary restrictions?
Partially
Entry Restrictions
Entry from EU Member States + Schengen Associated countries is generally not allowed without a special reason.
Rules and Exceptions
Military convoys and business or diplomatic trips can be exempted from the regulations. Furthermore, exemption may be granted by the police if entry also is for court, administrative, family, health, education or other legitimate reasons and if health screening is negative; however, also exempted people have to self-quarantine for 10 days. The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary remains open.
Hungarian citizens returning from high-risk countries will have to quarantine, unless they undergo a double testing procedure, providing the negative results of 2 PCR tests not older than five days and taken with a time difference of 48 hours. It is possible to perform the 2 PCR tests upon arrival in Hungary as well. The first test can be also performed in a Schengen country, the United States or Canada.
The same procedure (quarantine/double testing) applies to foreign students and foreign citizens with reasonable grounds to enter.
Hungarian citizens may return home from abroad without restrictions if the reason for the trip was a business or economic activity.
Those who can prove with either a Hungarian or English language document that they have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 6 months (e.g.: PCR test results, verification by a health service provider or authority) can enter Hungary without restrictions.
Citizens of neighboring states and Hungarian citizens living there may enter the territory within a distance of 30 kilometers from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours. Hungarians living in this 30-kilometer lane can also enter if they have stayed in the 30-kilometer lane from the border of the neighboring state for less than 24 hours.
What are the rules to enter this country from outside an EU Member State or Schengen Associated country?
Entry from third countries is generally not allowed without a special reason.
May I transit this country?
Partially
Travellers can transit Hungary provided that they undergo a medical check-up upon entry. Furthermore, satisfactory proof of the objective and destination of their travel has to be provided, confirming that their entry to the destination country and neighbouring country in their route is allowed. Citizens of neighboring states and Hungarian citizens living there could enter the territory of Hungary within a distance of 30 kilometers from the state border for a maximum of 24 hours. The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary remains open.
Find out more:
Consular Services (Hungarian)
Information from Budapest Airport
Documents you need to travel in Europe
15.09.2020
Travelling to Hungary
As of 1 September, foreign citizens will not be allowed to enter Hungary without a special reason. Citizens of Visegrad Group Countries are allowed to enter Hungary if they can show negative coronavirus test not older than five days.
Transit
A non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad may enter the territory of Hungary for the purpose of transit. Additional conditions for entry:
a) the non-Hungarian citizen coming from abroad has provided the entry conditions in the SBC;
b) the non-Hungarian citizen coming from abroad satisfactorily proves the purpose of the journey and the country of destination of the journey;
c) the entry into the country of destination and entry into a neighbouring state on the route of the planned journey is ensured.
Travelling from Hungary or returning to Hungary
Hungarian citizens returning from abroad will have to self-quarantine for 14 days, or until they produce two negative tests taken two days apart.
The Hungarian Consular Service provides Travel advice per Country (in Hungarian).
Rules and Exceptions
Military convoys and business or diplomatic trips can be exempted from the regulations. Furthermore, exemption may be granted by the police if entry also is for court, administrative, family, health, education or other legitimate reasons and if health screening is negative; however, also exempted people have to self-quarantine. Czech, Slovak or Polish citizens may enter if they reserved accommodation for a date no later than 30/09/2020 and have a negative COVID test. The humanitarian corridor for commuters transiting Hungary would remain open. Citizens of Visegrad Group Countries are allowed to enter Hungary if they can show negative coronavirus test not older than five days.
Foreign students will have to produce negative tests to be allowed to study in Hungary.
28.08.2020
Travelling to Hungary
Travelling from EU and EEA countries is, in general, allowed.
Depending on their epidemiological situation, Hungary divides countries in three categories (green, yellow and red). For each category, a different set of rules of entry applies. Travellers can enter Hungary without any restrictions from countries belonging to the green category.
Travelling from Hungary or returning to Hungary
Hungarian citizens entering Hungary from countries in the green category are allowed to enter Hungary without restrictions.
Hungarian citiziens arriving from yellow or red labelled countries are subject to obligatory health checks. If coronavirus infection is detected, they have to go into quarantine for 14 days as prescribed by the epidemiological authority.
No quarantine is needed for Hungarian citizens crossing the border who can prove, with a certificate written in Hungarian or English, the negative results of two SARS-CoV-2 tests (molecular examination in compliance with professional medical practice) performed at different times with at least 48 hours between them in the course of the preceding 5 days.
The Hungarian Consular Service provides Travel advice per Country (in Hungarian).
Rules and Exceptions
the following persons are allowed to enter Hungary without restrictions:
- Hungarian nationals,
- EU nationals and nationals of EEA member states and Switzerland (see countries are classified as "green", "yellow" or "red" for restrictions),
-third country family members of the above mentioned persons,
- Those foreign nationals who do not fall under the above categories, and are entitled to stay in Hungary for more than 90 days, are allowed to enter Hungary, provided they present upon entry a valid official permit issued by the Hungarian immigration authority, proving their entitlement to long-term stay. Also, they are obliged to spend 14 days in self-isolation or in official quarantine, depending on the result of the mandatory medical examination at the border. Requirements for exemption of the quarantine regulation: 2 negative SARS-CoV-2 molecular test results (medical certificate issued either in English or in Hungarian) conducted within five day prior to entering Hungary.
Mandatory Travel Documentation
No special documentation is required.
Links to national sources
Consular Services (Hungarian)
Information from Budapest Airport
Documents you need to travel in Europe
Entry restriction to non-Hungarian citizens (16.03.2020)
Pursuant to the decision of the Government, Hungarian authorities will close the borders of Hungary from passenger traffic, so from 00:00 on 17 March 2020, only Hungarian citizens will be allowed to enter the country. The restriction relates to all road, railway, water and air borders.
Start date: 17.03.2020
End date: not available
Further information: http://www.police.hu/hu/hirek-es-informaciok/legfrissebb-hireink/hatarre...
Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles (20.03.2020)
Hungary has notified a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforecement of driving and rest times for the drivers involved in domestic and international transport under Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Start date: 21.03.2020
End date: 19.04.2020
Further information: https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/temporary-relaxatio...