Border crossing is only possible at designated border crossing points. The designated border crossing points can be found on the website of the police (www.police.hu) under the border information menu item.

The following categories can enter Hungary without being subject to restrictions:

• those crossing the border in freight traffic,

• persons holding diplomatic or a diplomatic service passport or a service passport for seamen,

• persons reporting to entry holding a private passport or other travel document for the purpose of official visit (the purpose of official visit shall be proved with documents),

• those providing satisfactory proof while entering Hungary that they have undergone COVID-19 infection within 6 months prior to reporting to entry;

• those providing their protection against the COVID-19 while entering Hungary with valid immunity certificate (issued according to the 60/2021 Government Decree) with the travel document indicated on the immunity certificate, and a person under his/her supervision who enters Hungary with him/her and has not reached the age of eighteen;

• those providing their protection against the COVID-19 while entering Hungary with valid immunity certificate issued by a State specified by decree of the Minister responsible for foreign policy and a person under the age of 18 years under his/her supervision who enters Hungary along with him/her;

• who, by presenting an immunity card issued by a country listed in MFAT Decree No. 17/2021 (V. 22.) on the unilateral recognition of immunity certificates, certifies his/her COVID immunity and a person under the age of 18 years under his/her supervision who enters Hungary along with him/her.

• who enters Hungary from the territory of the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Austria, Romania, the Republic of Serbia, the Slovak Republic or the Republic of Slovenia, except in the case of entry by civil aircraft.

Verifying the COVID immunity with a certifying application corresponding the requirements laid down in Government Decree No. 60/2021 (II. 12.) on certifying COVID immunity is equivalent to presenting an immunity card.

When certifying immunity with an application, the person concerned may be called upon to present an official document certifying his/her personal identity.

The organization or person verifying the content of the certifying app is entitled to learn the data on the identity document and in the application of the person concerned but – unless an Act or, under Article 53 (2) of the Fundamental Law, a Government Decree in a state of emergency provides otherwise – cannot record it in any way.

Border crossing regulations for Hungarian citizens

Hungarian citizens and their family members not bearing Hungarian citizenship (hereinafter referred to as Hungarian citizens) arriving in passenger traffic may undergo – unless otherwise specified by law or government decree – medical check to which he/she is required to submit.

In case of a Hungarian citizen, should a medical check reveal the suspicion of infection, the person concerned would be accommodated in a quarantine designated by the epidemiological authority or – should it not pose an epidemiological risk – in mandatory home quarantine?

In case of a Hungarian citizen, should a medical check not reveal the suspicion of infection and

• the Hungarian citizen has a home address or residence in Hungary, she/he will be placed into mandatory home quarantine for 10 days;

• the Hungarian citizen not living abroad and in the absence of home address or residence in Hungary, she/he will be placed into in a quarantine designated by the competent epidemiological authority for 10 days;

• the Hungarian citizen living abroad without home address or residence in Hungary, she/he will be placed into a quarantine or official home quarantine designated by the competent epidemiological authority for 10 days.

Upon request by the quarantined person, the competent epidemiological authority responsible for issuing the quarantine order may allow for him/her to undergo a molecular biology examination in compliance with professional medical practice – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – performed at two different times with at least 48 hours between them in the course of the preceding 5 days in order to be exempted from quarantine rules.

The first test (molecular biological test in accordance with health professional rules - the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test) made in a Schengen member state, in the Republic of Croatia, in the United States of America or in Canada must be taken also into account. The result of the test must be certified in Hungarian or English.

If the molecular biology examination – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – performed at two different times proves that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not detected in his/her body at the time of the tests, the epidemiological authority responsible for issuing the quarantine order shall grant an exemption from the quarantine order.

Persons entitled to the same rights as Hungarian citizens are:

• family members of a Hungarian citizen;

• persons entitled to permanent residence in Hungary and their family members (such a right must be certified by a document);

• persons holding a valid residence permit issued by the aliens policing authority allowing for the residence in Hungary for a duration exceeding 90 days and presents this document upon entry (“D” type visa is equivalent);

• competitors or sports professionals of a Hungarian sports organization in accordance with the Sports Act, if he/she enters the territory of Hungary after participating in an international sports event held abroad;

• persons participating in an international sports event held abroad and holding a nominative invitation letter issued by a Hungarian sports organization or delegated persons, if he/she enters the territory of Hungary after participating in an international sports event held abroad;

• an employee of a Hungarian cultural institution, if she/he enters the territory of Hungary after participating in a cultural event abroad as an artist/performer or the member of the technical staff.
   

Border crossing of non-Hungarian citizens

Foreign citizens arriving from abroad in passenger traffic – unless otherwise specified by law or government decree – shall not enter Hungary.

The competent local police body located at the place of the planned entry into the territory of Hungary - in case of crossing the border at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport the BRFK XVIII District Police Headquarters – may grant an exemption upon request.

The police authority may allow entry if the applicant proves that the purpose of entry is

1. participation in a Hungarian court or public authority proceedings and the participation is certified by a document of a Hungarian court or an authority,

2. -

3. receiving health care service, certified by a document issued by the health care institution or by other appropriate document,

4. meeting study or exam obligations under student status certified by a document which is issued by the educational institution,

5. 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 which is issued by the employer,

6. participation in family events (wedding, funeral, christening),

7. taking care of a relative pursuant to the Act V of 2013 on Civil Code,

8. taking part in an international religious event of a special significance;

9. other justifiable reasons outside that covered by point (a)-(h).

The request may be submitted

(a) only electronically in Hungarian or English,
(b) by a legal representative or through an agent with a certification of an authorisation granted in a private document with full probative value.

If the entry takes place at the same time and the reason for entry is the same, an authorized representative may submit an application on behalf of several persons if the receipt of the authorization of the persons concerned is attached.

In the case of crossing the border for the same reason and time, it is sufficient to submit an application for close relatives living in the same household as the applicant.

The application shall indicate the purpose of the entry, the identity document to be used for crossing the border, the identification number of the document and the application shall be accompanied by the following:

(a) a copy of the document – where possible due to the reason of the request – certifying the purpose of entry,
(b) the authorization letter if acting through an agent.

The request can be submitted only

a) using the electronic administration portal sending the necessary electronic form via client gateway or company official gateway,
b) in the absence of the possibility to use a company official gateway or client gateway: it can be submitted by filling in and submitting an intelligent e-form which available on the police website.

The competent police authorities will reject the application if

a) any doubt exists in relation to purpose of entry

1. the entry poses

(ba) epidemiological risk,

(bb) risk to public order or security

bc) risk to national security.

An appeal against the decision of the competent police authority shall be reassessed and adjudicated by the county police headquarters, which has right of adequate oversight.

The original copy of the document submitted in order to prove evidence for the justification of the application (hereinafter referred to as: the document certifying the justification) shall be presented by the person exempted from the entry ban (hereinafter referred to as: licensee) upon entry into the territory of Hungary at the request of the police officer.

The entry shall be refused if the licensee does not present the original copy of the document proving the validity, or if its authenticity is in doubt at the time of entry.

Upon entering Hungary, the person may undergo a medical examination to which he/she is obliged to submit,

a) a person who is suspected of being infected by a health inspection or test cannot enter into territory of Hungary,

b) who is not suspected of being infected during the health inspection shall be placed in quarantine or official home quarantine designated by the competent epidemiological authority for 10 days.

At the request of the quarantined person, the epidemiological authority competent to issue the quarantine decision may allow the quarantined person to undergo, within 5 days, at least 48 hours difference, twice a molecular biology examination in compliance with professional medical practice - SARS-CoV-2 PCR test - attend in order to grant the waiver.

The first test (molecular biological test in accordance with health professional rules - the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test) made in a Schengen member state, in the Republic of Croatia, in the United States of America or in Canada must be taken also into account.

The result of the test must be certified in Hungarian or English.

If the two molecular biological tests, the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, attest or confirm that person in the quarantine SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not detectable at the time of the test, the competent epidemiological authority shall issue a decision on the quarantine order to  grant an exemption.

Restricted lane border crossing (commuters)

Citizens of a neighbouring state defined by the Minister responsible for foreign policy and Hungarian citizens living there, no more than 30 km from the Hungarian border are allowed entry into the country for periods of no more than 24 hours.

A person residing in the territory of Hungary is obliged to stay within 30 kilometres of the state border of the territory of Hungary and is obliged to leave the territory of Hungary within 24 hours after his or her entry.

Hungarian citizens those living within a zone of 30 kilometres counted from the state border for a duration up to 24 hours of Hungary's territory adjacent to a country designated by the Minister responsible for foreign policy may enter the territory of the neighbouring country without restriction if their duration of stay abroad did not exceed 24 hours and were not left the zone of 30 kilometres counted from the state border.

Measures on travel for economic or business purpose or travel for the purpose of getting COVID-19 vaccination recognized

Since 1 March 2021, according to the Article 9/A. of Government Decree No. 408 of 2020 (VIII. 30.) on travel restrictions during the state of disease control preparedness states that if the Hungarian citizen is leaving the country

a) to a Member State of the European Union,

b) to a county that belongs to the European Economic Area, other than (a),

c) to States which are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area by virtue of an agreement between the European Community and its Member States and a State that is not a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area with respect to the right of free movement and residence,

d) to a candidate country for membership of the European Union,

e) to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or

f) in addition to points (a) to (e), to a State specified by decree of the Minister responsible for foreign policy, with the consent of the Minister responsible for border control

for doing economic or business activity and this fact is certified by the Hungarian citizen when returning to Hungary, the Hungarian citizen may enter to the territory of Hungary without any restrictions.

According to Article 9/B. of the above mentioned Decree, a non-Hungarian citizen may also enter to the territory of Hungary without any restriction if the purpose of his/her entry into Hungary is an economic or business activity and this fact is certified upon entry if he/she is a citizen of a state listed in Article 9/A. or a person entitled to stay for more than 90 days in one of the countries listed in Article 9/A.

Such trips are considered of business or economic purpose that are in connection with the entrepreneurial activity of a commercial enterprise or other entity and is pursued in the interest of or is in connection with obtaining material benefit or income.

Let us emphasise that those wishing to enter shall provide satisfactory proof of the objective of their trip.

Trips of business or economic nature can take several forms (business negotiations, taking part in an exhibition, purchasing raw materials, etc.), therefore the commercial enterprise or other entity, in the interest of which the entry is to take place, shall certify in a private document representing conclusive evidence (signed on behalf of the company) that the entry is to take place for a business or economic purposes, also indicating the specific reason for the entry.

In order to assist the issuing of the above document, please use the sample certificate on our homepage, which, if duly completed and presented in original upon entry, contributes to turning the checking of business or economic purpose of the trip smoother.

However, it shall be emphasised that in the absence of restrictive provisions of the Government Decree, certifying business or economic purpose with other appropriate documents cannot be excluded in general either.

According to Article 9/B. of the above mentioned Decree, a non-Hungarian citizen may also enter to the territory of Hungary without any restriction if the purpose of his/her entry into Hungary is an economic or business activity and this fact is certified upon entry if he/she is a citizen of a state listed in Article 9/A. or a person entitled to stay for more than 90 days in one of the countries listed in Article 9/A.

Under Article 9/D, by derogation from provisions of Articles 9/A and 9/B, the entry of the Hungarian or foreign staff (both the flying personnel and flight attendants) of a flight arriving to Hungary from abroad shall always be considered of business purpose, and the above personnel can enter Hungary without restrictions.

Under Article 9/C., Hungarian citizens can enter the territory of Hungary without restrictions if

a) they, upon entering Hungary, certify to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine used to vaccinate the population and recognized in the European Union or in Hungary that was administered in a country listed in Article 3 (2a) of Government Decree No. 60 of 2021 (II. 12.) on certifying immunity to coronavirus,

b) the purpose of their entry is to personally lodge a request for issuing an immunity card under Article 3 (2a) of Government Decree No. 60 of 2021 (II. 12.) in a Hungarian government client service centre and

c) they lodge their request under point b) in the government client service centre no later than on the second working day following their entry.

Upon entry, Hungarian citizens entering to receive their immunity card shall fill in a declaration that remains with the authority.

Hungarian citizens can also enter the territory of Hungary without restriction – under the above rules and procedures – if they, corresponding the rules of Act on Electronic Administration and Trust Services, have lodged the request for issuing an immunity card electronically and they certify this.

Provisions applicable to participate sport and cultural events

If, after participation in an international sporting event abroad

a) a competitor or sports professional of a Hungarian sports organization in accordance with the Sports Act, or

b) a person participating in an international sports event to be held abroad by an invitation or delegation issued by a Hungarian sports organization - issued to individual name - enters the territory of Hungary, the provisions of the title “Crossing the border of a Hungarian citizen” shall apply with the following exceptions:

- In the case of a person residing or staying in Hungary, the area of ​​the property used by the sports organization for the performance of sports activities must also be designated as the place of official home quarantine.

- In the case of a person who does not have a place of residence or stay in Hungary, instead of a designated quarantine, the area of ​​the property used by the sports organization to carry out sports activities must be designated as an official home quarantine.

- A person may travel between his or her place of residence or stay and the property used by the sports organization to carry out sports activities during the official home quarantine in the mode of travel provided by the sports organization.

- The person can take part in training organized by the sports organization.

- the interval between two health-relevant molecular biological tests – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – must be 24 hours.

Non-Hungarian citizens who

1. are participants of an international sports event held in Hungary – not including spectators,

2. hold a nominative invitation letter issued by the official organizer of sports event to be held in Hungary,

3. arrives upon the invitation of the Hungarian sports organization or national sports association

ca) a competitor with a competition license,

cb) experts in the field of sport, as well as,

cc) a person involved in the organization of a sport event

d) are participants of a cultural event in Hungary as

            da)artist/performer,

            db) member of the technical staff.

can enter Hungary, if the person proves with a document issued in English or Hungarian that (s)he has undergone a molecular biological tests (SARS-CoV-2 tests) within 5 days prior to reporting to entry that meets healthcare professional criteria and was conducted on two occasions in an interval exceeding 48 hours, and such tests did not reveal SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in his/her body.

Notwithstanding, persons can enter Hungary if, within 3 days prior to the sporting event, sporting program or cultural event a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (a molecular biological test in accordance with health professional rules) is made.

And the result of the test certifies that SARS -CoV-2 coronavirus was not detected in the body at the time of the study.

Spectators of an international sporting event or cultural event held in Hungary may enter the territory of Hungary if, during their entry into Hungary:

(a) may undergo a medical examination and he/she is required to tolerate,

(b) present a ticket ( proof for participation) of an international sporting event or cultural event, and

c) certifies in a Hungarian or English language document that a SARS-CoV-2 PCR test (a molecular biological test in accordance with health professional rules) is made 3 days prior to the entry and the result of the test shows that SARS -CoV-2 coronavirus was not detected in the body at the time of the study.

A person – with the exception of spectators coming to the UEFA EURO 2020 European Football Championship, the U21 UEFA European Championship and the Hungarian adult football national team matches – residing in the territory of Hungary is obliged to leave the territory of Hungary within 72 hours after entry.

The spectator may not enter the territory of Hungary if

(a) the health examination reveals a suspicion of infection,

(b) does not present the ticket of participation, or

(c) there is doubt according to the authenticity of the ticket.

Rules for persons transiting Hungary

A non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad may enter the territory of Hungary for the purpose of transit, if he/she is subjected to a medical examination at the time of entry and the medical examination does not establish the suspicion of infection.

An additional condition for entry is that the non-Hungarian citizen coming from abroad

a) have the entry conditions provided for in the Schengen Borders Code,

b) satisfactorily proves the purpose of the journey and the country of destination of the journey; and

c) the entry into the country of destination and, to this end, entry into a state neighbouring Hungary on the route of the planned journey is ensured.

A non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad may travel on the specified route only during the transit through the territory of Hungary, and may stop at the specified resting places only for reasons strictly necessary for the transit, such as health or technical reasons, and at the specified time - but not exceeding 24 hours - is obliged to leave the territory of Hungary.

An admitted non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad may interrupt and stop his/her travel on the specified route in addition to stopping at a specified resting place in a technical or medical emergency situation requiring immediate intervention.

Special rules on transiting to or from an airport

Transporting of the transiting person to or from an airport can take place under general rules for transiting.

Such transporting may take place on the one hand within the sphere of business or economic activity of the road passenger transport operator, in which case the driver employed by such an operator is subject to Article 9/A and 9/B of Government Decree No. 408 of 2020 on travel restrictions during the period of disease control preparedness (hereafter: Government Decree).

In pursuance of these Articles, the driver can enter Hungary without restrictions, and regulations appearing in Article 14 of the Government Decree apply to persons entering for transit purposes.

On the other hand, general rules on transiting shall apply to such persons too that use their own vehicle when travelling to or from an airport.

During travelling to or from an airport, transiting persons and the passenger transport operators transporting them are obliged to use the shortest route between the airport and the designated transit route.

Entry or transporting in any other case than those listed above can only take place under the general rules on entry (Articles 2-7 of the Government Decree).

Information on entry restrictions

You can inquire about the restrictions in relation with the purpose of the epidemiological control, the rules of entry into Hungary, and the legal conditions for crossing the border every day between 08.00 a.m. and 16.00 p.m. on the telephone numbers listed in the table below.

It is advisable to call the police organisation at the border section for which you need to know the information. For questions related to entry and exit in air traffic, the telephone number of the Airport Police Directorate (Air traffic border section) should be called.

For general questions, information can be requested from any number.


Photo courtesy: police.hu