Passport and Visa

Visa Requirements for Hungary

• EU/Schengen membership: Hungary is an EU member (joined 2004) and part of the Schengen Area (since 2007). This means that there are no internal border controls with other Schengen countries, and Hungary adheres to the common Schengen visa code.
• Visa-free entry: Citizens of the EU/EEA/Switzerland (and most other Schengen countries) may enter Hungary visa-free. Additionally, nationals of many non-EU countries (e.g., USA, Canada, UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Russia’s visa-exempt co-travelers) can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. For example, the U.S. Department of State notes that U.S. citizens “may enter Hungary for up to 90 days without a visa”.
• Visa-required travelers: Citizens of countries not on the visa-exempt list must obtain a Schengen (short-stay) visa before travel. Visa applications are handled by Hungarian embassies/ consulates (or accredited Schengen missions) in the traveler’s country. The Hungarian MFA consular website provides detailed guidance: holders of passports not listed among the visa-waiver countries “must apply for a visa… at a Hungarian foreign mission” in their country of residence. All visa applicants must meet Schengen entry conditions (valid passport, funds, insurance, etc.).

Resources: Official information is available on the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (e.g. the Konzuli Szolgálat portal for Visa-free travel to Hungary ) and on EU Schengen visa information pages. These include full lists of visa-exempt countries and application procedures. (Note: from 2024, nationals of currently visa-exempt countries – including the US, Canada, UK, etc. – will need an ETIAS travel authorization for short visits to the Schengen Area .)