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Last updated: December 17, 2020

The Department of State’s current Travel Advisory for Hungary is Level 3: Reconsider Travel.  If you are in the U.S. and plan to visit Hungary, please refer to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html.  

International commercial flight options currently exist in Hungary. U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The U.S. government has no plans to arrange repatriation flights in Hungary at this time.

Please enroll in STEP and provide your name and contact information to our email address: HungaryUSCitizen@state.gov so we can contact you as soon as we have any updates.

Quick Links:

Country-Specific information:

  • Hungary has 291,549 cases of COVID-19 within its borders. Number of deceased: 7,538.
  • For official up-to-date information about COVID-19 related restrictions and regulations, please visit: https://koronavirus.gov.hu/.  English language information is available at http://abouthungary.hu/news-in-brief/coronavirus-heres-the-latest/
  • As of November 4, a state of emergency went into effect.
  • As of November 5, a partial curfew is in effect. As of November 11, the curfew is extended. From 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. everybody is required to stay indoors, whether at home, at a temporary home, or an accommodation.  The only exceptions are for commuting to and from work, and in case of health needs or health emergencies.
  • General rule is that physical distancing of one and a half meters is to be kept, and face masks – only medical and textile masks that cover the nose and mouth are accepted – are mandatory when shopping, on public transport, in taxis, at public transport stations, waiting rooms and stops, in hospitals, social institutions, doctors’ offices, in shopping malls, and also in public spaces in municipalities with over 10,000 inhabitants. In the latter case, the government has authorized mayors to determine in which public spaces it is mandatory to wear a mask. The regulation applies to everybody, with the exception of children under six. Those who breach the rule will be fined or excluded from travel. In cases of resistance, police can be summoned.
  • Public areas, parks, shops, shopping malls, and markets are open. Shops, hairdressers, and private industry service providers must close at 7 p.m.
  • Restaurants, cafés, bars, and clubs are closed. Only take-out and delivery service is permitted. Factory canteens may be open. 
  • Hotels can only receive guests travelling for business purposes, not for tourism. 
  • Leisure facilities will be closed, including museums, theatres, gyms, swimming pools, cinemas and zoos.
  • Higher education will go online, dorms and residences will also have to close. All teaching above the eighth grade will be online.  Nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools will remain open to those under 14.
  • Visits to health care and social care institutions are banned.
  • From October, schools and kindergartens can only be entered after the body temperature has been measured. The feverish child must be separated, and the parent or guardian must be notified immediately.
  • Hospital workers, teachers, kindergarten staff and nursery workers will be tested on a weekly, targeted basis, even if such quick tests are only 50-60% accurate.
  • All gatherings are prohibited.
  • All events are banned. Sports matches may only take place in empty stadiums. Outdoor amateur team sports are prohibited. Individual sports activities are permitted.
  • No more than 10 people can attend a family gathering or private event. Funerals can be attended by up to 50 people at a time. At weddings only the witnesses, parents and siblings may attend the ceremony and receptions are banned.
  • Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc airport is open.
    Covid-19 information for passengers is available at https://www.bud.hu/en/covid_19.
    For departing passengers with cancelled flights, travelers should check carrier schedules for the latest updates and work directly with the carrier or travel agent to arrange or reschedule travel.
  • The U.S. Embassy in Budapest offers appointments for some American Citizens services, to include passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.  Please refer to our  U.S. Citizen Services page (https://hu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/) for an appointment. In case you need to travel to the U.S. in the next seven days please come to the Embassy to submit an application for an emergency passport. Official hours for emergency passport applications: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 9:30 am.  No appointment is necessary.  Visa applicants with interview appointments scheduled in the next 30 days should refer to the following website for more information: http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/hu/.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes, under certain circumstances.
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.

As of July 15, 2020, the Government of Hungary introduces entry restrictions.  Countries are classified into “red”, “yellow” and “green” categories, based on the severity of the COVID situation in each.

  • Hungarian citizens and their relatives can enter Hungary from a “green” country without a health check. A Hungarian citizen coming from a “yellow” or “red” country will be subjected to health checks at the border and must be quarantined for 10 days. An exception to this is if they can credibly show two negative coronavirus tests 48 hours apart in the previous 5 days. A Hungarian citizen coming from a “yellow” country may be released from quarantine after the first negative coronavirus test, but if coming from a “red” country, two negative tests are required.
  • In the case of non-Hungarian citizens, those coming from a “yellow” country can enter under the same conditions as Hungarian citizens, but it is not possible to enter Hungary from a “red” country.
  • Categories and countries (as of August 31, 2020):
  • “Red” Countries: All foreign countries are red.
  • “Yellow” Countries: Currently, no countries are yellow.
  • “Green” Countries: Hungary is the only green country.
  • Hungarians returning from abroad – or those family members who live abroad – may be subject to mandatory health examinations, and if it is proven that they are infected, they must go into quarantine at home or in the hospital. Hungarians returning to Hungary will have to enter a 10-day quarantine, no matter which country they are coming from. Hungarians can leave quarantine only after two negative COVID-19 test results. Separate rules apply to those who cross the border for work on a daily basis. Exemptions will be granted to Hungarians and citizens of neighboring states, defined by the foreign minister, who live within 30 kilometers of the state border. Such persons living on either side of the border may enter or leave Hungarian territory for up to 24 hours but may not leave the 30-kilometer strip.
  • Foreigners without a residence permit will be banned from entering Hungary, effective September 1. Travel for business purposes and military convoys are possible, and there will be a humanitarian corridor.
  • Others allowed into Hungary are:

– athletes or sports professionals with work in Hungary,

– those on official visits,

– freight forwarders,

– those who can verify that they have had the coronavirus in the past six months,

– those whose presence is necessary for official proceedings ongoing in Hungary,

– those who are pursuing business activities, students in Hungary,

– those who are invited to a family event, such as weddings, funerals or baptisms,

– those taking part in sports, cultural or church events,

– those who must care for a relative at home.

Those who have other reasons for entering Hungary must submit a request in English or via a lawyer.

Movement Restrictions:

  • Is a curfew in place? Yes. From 8:00 pm to 5:00 am.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.

Quarantine Information:

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes.

A 10-day quarantine is currently required for all international arrivals from “red” or “yellow” countries. Please see “Entering Hungary” above for additional information.

COVID-19 Testing:

The following providers can be contacted regarding COVID-19 tests (official regulated price of one test is 19,500 HUF):

  • First Med Center: Prices and detailed descriptions in this link: https://firstmedcenters.com/cov19test/. Address: 1015 Budapest, Hattyú utca 14, 5th floor, Hattyúház. Phone: +36-1-224-9090
  • Rozsakert Medical Center: Phone: +36 1 392 0505; Email: info@rmc.hu; Address: 1026 Budapest, Gábor Áron street 74-78.
  • SYNLAB:

– Budapest, Centrum-Lab (SYNLAB-csoport tagja) Mammut Bevásárlóközpont 4. emelet., Mammut Shopping mall, 4th floor; Sample taking every day (Mon-Fri, from 12:00), Appointments by phone +36 1 5 888 500.

– Budapest 2. kerület, Budagyöngye Magánvérvételi Hely; Sampling: Monday, Tuesday, Wed 11.00 – 12.00; Appointment must be requested by phone: +36 70 285 4542.

-Budapest 13. kerület, Váci Corner Magánvérvételi Hely; Hours: Mon-Fri 12.00 – 14.00. Appointment by phone +36 1 5 888 500; Sampling in the order of arrival, in the lab container located in the parking lot.

– O street Budapest 6th district, Address: 1066 Budapest, Ó utca 44; Hours: Mon-Fri 12.00 – 15.00. Appointment by phone +36 1 5 888 500.

  • Affidea Magyarorszag KFT.: Váci Greens Egészségközpont, 1138 Budapest, Föveny u. 4-6; Hours: 8:00-10:00; Appointment by phone: +36-1 8036464

Transportation Options:

  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
  • Is public transportation operating? Yes.

o Masks are required on all public transport.

U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States should work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available. In case commercial transportation options cease to be available, we are compiling a list of persons seeking to leave Hungary. Please enroll in STEP at https://step.state.gov/ and provide your name and contact information to our email address: HungaryUSCitizen@state.gov so we can contact you as soon as we have any updates.

Your email message should include the following information:

  • Your full name as spelled in your passport.
  • Information we can use to contact you now – a current phone number and email address.
  • Your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
  • Your passport number, and its date of issuance and expiration. If it is not a U.S. passport, please note the country that issued it. Please also note any non-U.S. citizen immediate family members traveling with you.
  • Please note your current location (city and country) and any special needs you may have, such as medical issues.

For the latest information regarding flights departing Budapest, please visit the airport’s website which is updated continuously.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

Hungarian authorities can impose civil violation fines for non-compliance with current rules regarding quarantines and mask-wearing requirements, such as on public transportation.

Consular Operations:

  • As of November 16, 2020, only emergency American Citizen Services are available at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest.  All previously scheduled appointments are cancelled.  In case you need to travel to the U.S. in the next two weeks, please contact the Consular Section for an appointment, at +36-1-475-4164, or email ACS.budapest@state.gov.
  • As of November 16, 2020 the United States Embassy in Budapest is cancelling routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. We will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time. The MRV fee is valid and may be used for a visa application in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please contact the Visa Services call center at +36(0)17012000, or email to support-hungary@ustraveldocs.com.

Entering the United States:

Travel restrictions barring entry to the U.S. from the Schengen Zone do not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and some family members of U.S. citizens, including any prospective adoptee who is seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications. For further information about the exceptions and the most current information regarding COVID-19, the March 11 and March 14 Presidential Proclamations, and its impact on travel to the United States, please visit www.coronavirus.gov, www.dhs.gov/coronavirus and www.whitehouse.gov/.

As of July 15, the United States Embassy in Budapest is resuming certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services, including: IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2 immigrant categories, as well as F (student) and certain categories of J Exchange Visitor non-immigrant visas.  While the U.S. Embassy in Budapest aims to process cases as soon as practicable, there is likely to be increased wait times for completing such services due to substantial backlogs. The MRV fee is valid and may be used to schedule an interview appointment in the country where it was purchased within one year of the date of payment. If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ustraveldocs.com/hu/hu-niv-expeditedappointment.asp to request an emergency appointment.

Applicants for H1B, H2B, H4, L and certain J categories covered by Presidential Proclamation 10052 should request an appointment only if you have reason to believe you may qualify for one of the exceptions listed in the Proclamation here:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/.

Entry of non-Legal Permanent Resident foreign nationals who were present in the People’s Republic of China, not including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland or the 26 countries that comprise the Schengen Zone within 14 days prior to their arrival at the port of entry in the United States is suspended, per Presidential Proclamation.  The full text of the Presidential Proclamation can be found here:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-2019-novel-coronavirus/.

Local Resources:

The Hungarian government has created a public hotline for individuals to talk to infectious disease specialists about COVID-19: 06-80-277-455 and 06-80-277-456. Please note that this hotline is offered in Hungarian only.

Other links:

By | 17 December, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Consular Affairs, Europe & Eurasia, Health Issues, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News, U.S. & Hungary, U.S. Citizen Services

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