Summary of Hungary Entry Regulations
Government Decree No. 341/2020 (VII.12.) (“Government Decree”) on entry restrictions into Hungary during the pandemic preparedness phase has been published. The Government Decree will enter into force on July 15, 2020.
Country Classification Measures
The Government Decree provides three (3) categories of classification for countries based on their respective COVID-19 statistics, which include their current infection rate, infection levels, hospitalizations, and death toll (cumulatively referred to as “risk factors”). The three categories are: green, yellow, and red.
Countries marked in the green category are countries with low risk factors; countries marked in the yellow category are countries with some risk factors, and countries marked in the red category are countries with high risk factors. The Chief Medical Officer published a list of countries in the yellow1 and red2 categories. Countries which do not appear in either the red or yellow categories are considered green category countries.
Entry of Foreign Nationals to Hungary
Foreign nationals may enter Hungary without any restrictions from countries in the green category. If a person enters Hungary from a green category country and begins to exhibit symptoms of a potential COVID-19 infection within fourteen (14) days of their entry, the individual in question may not leave their place of residence or temporary place of accommodation, and must immediately notify the epidemiological authority.
Foreign nationals from countries in the yellow category are subject to a medical examination upon entry into the territory of Hungary. If there is a suspicion of an infection, the individual(s) in question will not be permitted to enter Hungary. However, if there is no suspicion of infection, the individual(s) in question will be subject to a mandatory fourteen (14) day quarantine at their place of residence or temporary accommodation. Individuals entering Hungary from yellow category countries are not subject to observation by the epidemiological authority if they can certify that they had two unique severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) tests performed which were returned with “NEGATIVE” results. The tests must be performed at least forty-eight (48) hours apart within five (5) days prior to their entry into Hungary (note that the SARS-CoV-2 test is the test for the virus itself, and the disease is referred to as COVID-19).
The epidemiological authority may grant an exemption from quarantine if the individual(s) entering the territory of Hungary from a yellow category country can show one “NEGATIVE” SARS-CoV-2 test. However, the individual(s) in question must complete a second SARS-CoV-2 test in Hungary following their entry.
A foreign national from a country marked in the red category may not enter Hungary.
Entry of Hungarian Citizens to Hungary
Hungarian citizens arriving from abroad or their family members - who do not have Hungarian citizenship - may enter Hungary without any restrictions when arriving from a country listed under the green category.
A Hungarian citizen arriving from a country in either the yellow or red marked category, must undergo a medical examination. If there is a suspicion of infection by the medical examiner, the individual will be placed in quarantine for fourteen (14) days. If the individual(s) in question does not have a place of residence or temporary accommodations in Hungary, they will be placed into a fourteen (14) day quarantine at a location designed by the epidemiological authority. Hungarian citizens entering Hungary from yellow category countries are not subject to observation by the epidemiological authority if they can certify that they had two unique SARS-CoV-2 tests performed which returned “NEGATIVE” results. The tests must be performed at least 48 (forty-eight) hours apart within five (5) days prior to their entry into Hungary.
The epidemiological authority may grant an exemption from quarantine if the individual(s) entering the territory of Hungary from a yellow category country can show one “NEGATIVE” SARS-CoV-2 test. However, the individual(s) in question must complete a second SARS-CoV-2 test in Hungary following their entry.
A Hungarian citizen entering Hungary from a red category country may only be exempt from the mandatory fourteen (14) day quarantine if they are able to show two “NEGATIVE” SARS-CoV-2 tests performed at least forty-eight (48) hours apart within five (5) days prior to their entry into Hungary. Note that this special treatment for individuals entering Hungary from red category countries only applies to Hungarian citizens.
Special Exemptions
The Government Decree lists certain special situations that can vary from the above described rules, which include individuals participating in a judicial or other official act in Hungary. In these situations, the local police authority may grant an exemption to the foreign national upon request.
Travel Between Parent and Subsidiary Organizations
Individuals travelling to Hungary may enter the country without restriction from countries specified by the minister responsible for public security if the individual in question is an executive officer or employee of a company registered in one of the countries specified by the same minister or the company is related to or affiliated to a locally registered company as it is set forth in Act LXXXI on corporate and dividend tax in at least one of the countries specified by the minister.
The concerned individual may enter Hungary without restriction if they indicate their primary purpose for their travel is business.
1 Yellow category countries: Bulgaria; United Kingdom; Norway; Russian Federation; Portugal; Romania; Republic of Serbia; The Kingdom of Sweden; Japan; China and the United States of America.
2 Red category countries: Republic of Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Republic of North Macedonia; Republic of Belarus; Republic of Kosovo; Moldova; Montenegro; Ukraine; all countries in the continent of Asia except China and Japan; all African countries; the entire territory of Australia and Oceania; and all the countries of the American continent except the United States of America.
