Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens
Encyclopedia
Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens have been considerably relaxed since the end of communism
and the removal of Hungary
's border fence
with Austria
in May 1989.
During the communist era
, travelling to the West
was a long process for Hungarian citizens. The first step was to obtain an invitation, preferably from a relative in the country to be visited, and a promise of full financial support. With such an invitation, and assuming he could get a passport
, a Hungarian could travel westwards once a year. However, in the absence of such an invitation, he could travel to the West only once every three years, since the hard currency
required for the trip had to be provided by the Hungarian state. Nonetheless, Hungarian citizens were somewhat privileged compared to their communist neighbours since they were the only Eastern Europeans who were allowed to retain their passport after returning from abroad; all other East European passports had to be returned to the local passport office after each trip, which meant that a person had to apply to regain possession of his passport each time he wanted to travel abroad. The Communist-era visa restrictions had a detrimental impact on Hungarian artists and musicians since it hindered their ability to travel abroad. As a result, many chose to leave Hungary and settle in the West, such as famed cellist János Starker
, who emigrated to the United States in 1948 because it was impossible for him to tour abroad with a Hungarian passport.
Domestic events in Hungary have had an impact on the visa requirements imposed on Hungarian citizens by Western countries. The Revolution of 1956 and the ensuing repression resulted in the United States deciding to expedite all Hungarian visa requests. The end of communism in 1989 led to a rapid relaxation of visa restrictions. Visa-free travel for Hungarians was introduced by several countries, including Germany
(1990), Israel
(1993), Canada
(1994), Mexico
(1997), Japan
(1997), and Hong Kong
(2002). The Hungarian government's decade-long efforts to have U.S. visa requirements abolished for Hungarian citizens finally came to fruition on 17 November 2008 when the United States
decided to include Hungary in its Visa Waiver Program
. The inclusion of Hungary in the Visa Waiver Program was considered a major event there. Kinga Göncz
, the country's then foreign minister, even went as far as to describe it as "a landmark in our relations [with the United States], since the visa waiver was essentially the single unresolved issue." However, Hungarian President László Sólyom
, who had promised upon his election in 2005 never to visit the United States as long as fingerprint requirements were part of U.S. visa procedures, refused to sign the agreement on the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, fearing it would give the United States too much access to Hungary's criminal registry. His refusal did not impact Hungary's inclusion in the program.
Since Hungary's 2004 accession
to the European Union
(EU), visa restrictions for Hungarian citizens were further relaxed. Hungarians can now not only travel visa-free to any member state
of the EU, but also have a right to settle there. A valid passport
or identity card
is sufficient for any stay shorter than three months. For periods longer than three months, a residence permit is needed. Hungarians are allowed to settle in any EU country for more than three months if they work or study there, or if they are financially self-sufficient. By virtue of the agreement on the European Economic Area
(EEA), those rights also apply to Hungarians in Iceland
, Norway
and Liechtenstein
. The same rights also extend to Hungarians in Switzerland
as a result of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.
Despite the tremendous increase in the number of visa waiver agreements, there have also been setbacks in recent years. In June 2001, the visa-free travel agreement between Hungary and Russia
came to an end, and both countries now require visas of one another's citizens. In December 2001, Canada
decided to end its seven-year-old policy
of allowing Hungarian citizens to enter its territory visa-free due to the soaring number of refugee applications from Hungary's Roma community. Visa requirements were lifted for Hungarians in March 2008 after it became an EU member. Nevertheless, recent reports indicate that Canada is considering reinstating visas for Hungarians because Hungary has become one of the top three sources of refugee claimants there. Canada already reimposed visa restrictions on Czech
citizens in 2009 due to similar reasons.
A Hungarian ordinary passport, with visa-free access to all of the world's developed countries
, is a very convenient travel document by international standards. However, it is not as handy as a Hungarian diplomatic passport, which has even less visa restrictions attached to it. Several countries offer visa-free access to holders of a Hungarian diplomatic passport, but not to ordinary passport holders. This is notably the case with China
(since 1992), Russia
(since 2001). and India
(since 2003). As of July 2009, Hungarian diplomats can enter all G8+5
countries without a visa. The Hungarian diplomatic passport holds the distinction of being the only travel document in the world granting such visa-free entry to all G8+5 member states.
European Union Freedom of movement (conditions apply) [also with a valid National ID card
]
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In addition, holders of Hungarian diplomatic passports may travel visa free to the following countries:
End of Communism in Hungary (1989)
The Communist rule in the People's Republic of Hungary came to the end in 1989. The events were part of the Revolutions of 1989.-Pressure:Young liberals formed the Federation of Young Democrats ; a core from the so-called Democratic Opposition formed the Alliance of Free Democrats , and the...
and the removal of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
's border fence
Removal of Hungary's border fence
The removal of Hungary's border fence with Austria in May 1989 was a historic event during the Cold War, directly prior to the revolutionary wave known as the "Autumn of Nations".-History:...
with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in May 1989.
During the communist era
People's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
, travelling to the West
Western Bloc
The Western Bloc or Capitalist Bloc during the Cold War refers to the powers allied with the United States and NATO against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact...
was a long process for Hungarian citizens. The first step was to obtain an invitation, preferably from a relative in the country to be visited, and a promise of full financial support. With such an invitation, and assuming he could get a passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
, a Hungarian could travel westwards once a year. However, in the absence of such an invitation, he could travel to the West only once every three years, since the hard currency
Hard currency
Hard currency , in economics, refers to a globally traded currency that is expected to serve as a reliable and stable store of value...
required for the trip had to be provided by the Hungarian state. Nonetheless, Hungarian citizens were somewhat privileged compared to their communist neighbours since they were the only Eastern Europeans who were allowed to retain their passport after returning from abroad; all other East European passports had to be returned to the local passport office after each trip, which meant that a person had to apply to regain possession of his passport each time he wanted to travel abroad. The Communist-era visa restrictions had a detrimental impact on Hungarian artists and musicians since it hindered their ability to travel abroad. As a result, many chose to leave Hungary and settle in the West, such as famed cellist János Starker
János Starker
János Starker |Kingdom of Hungary]]) is a Hungarian-American cellist. Since 1958 he has taught at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he holds the title of Distinguished Professor.- Child prodigy :...
, who emigrated to the United States in 1948 because it was impossible for him to tour abroad with a Hungarian passport.
Domestic events in Hungary have had an impact on the visa requirements imposed on Hungarian citizens by Western countries. The Revolution of 1956 and the ensuing repression resulted in the United States deciding to expedite all Hungarian visa requests. The end of communism in 1989 led to a rapid relaxation of visa restrictions. Visa-free travel for Hungarians was introduced by several countries, including Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1990), Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(1993), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(1994), Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1997), Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(1997), and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
(2002). The Hungarian government's decade-long efforts to have U.S. visa requirements abolished for Hungarian citizens finally came to fruition on 17 November 2008 when the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
decided to include Hungary in its Visa Waiver Program
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program is a program of the United States Government which allows citizens of specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to obtain a visa. The program applies to the 50 U.S. states as well as the U.S...
. The inclusion of Hungary in the Visa Waiver Program was considered a major event there. Kinga Göncz
Kinga Göncz
Kinga Göncz is a former foreign minister of Hungary. She is the daughter of Árpád Göncz, former President of Hungary. She is fluent in English and German, is married being the mother of two adult children and the grandmother of two young boys...
, the country's then foreign minister, even went as far as to describe it as "a landmark in our relations [with the United States], since the visa waiver was essentially the single unresolved issue." However, Hungarian President László Sólyom
László Sólyom
László Sólyom is a Hungarian political figure, lawyer, and librarian who was President of Hungary from 2005 to 2010. Previously he was President of the Constitutional Court of Hungary from 1990 to 1998....
, who had promised upon his election in 2005 never to visit the United States as long as fingerprint requirements were part of U.S. visa procedures, refused to sign the agreement on the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, fearing it would give the United States too much access to Hungary's criminal registry. His refusal did not impact Hungary's inclusion in the program.
Since Hungary's 2004 accession
2004 enlargement of the European Union
The 2004 enlargement of the European Union was the largest single expansion of the European Union , both in terms of territory, number of states and population, however not in terms of gross domestic product...
to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU), visa restrictions for Hungarian citizens were further relaxed. Hungarians can now not only travel visa-free to any member state
Member State of the European Union
A member state of the European Union is a state that is party to treaties of the European Union and has thereby undertaken the privileges and obligations that EU membership entails. Unlike membership of an international organisation, being an EU member state places a country under binding laws in...
of the EU, but also have a right to settle there. A valid passport
Hungarian passport
Hungarian passports are issued to Hungarian citizens for international travel by The Central Data Processing, Registration and Election Office of the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior.-Types:...
or identity card
Hungarian identity card
Hungarian identity cards are compulsory for Hungarian citizens from 14 years of age, although they may be obtained by anyone after birth. Since 1 January 2006, it is possible for citizens to travel anywhere within the Schengen Area, the European Union and certain other European countries using...
is sufficient for any stay shorter than three months. For periods longer than three months, a residence permit is needed. Hungarians are allowed to settle in any EU country for more than three months if they work or study there, or if they are financially self-sufficient. By virtue of the agreement on the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(EEA), those rights also apply to Hungarians in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
. The same rights also extend to Hungarians in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
as a result of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons.
Despite the tremendous increase in the number of visa waiver agreements, there have also been setbacks in recent years. In June 2001, the visa-free travel agreement between Hungary and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
came to an end, and both countries now require visas of one another's citizens. In December 2001, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
decided to end its seven-year-old policy
Visa policy of Canada
Canada's visa policy is mostly governed by the relationship these countries have with Canada. Many Commonwealth nations' citizens are exempted from the need for visas when visiting or in transit to Canada. Those countries requiring visas to enter Canada often have immigration or diplomatic issues...
of allowing Hungarian citizens to enter its territory visa-free due to the soaring number of refugee applications from Hungary's Roma community. Visa requirements were lifted for Hungarians in March 2008 after it became an EU member. Nevertheless, recent reports indicate that Canada is considering reinstating visas for Hungarians because Hungary has become one of the top three sources of refugee claimants there. Canada already reimposed visa restrictions on Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
citizens in 2009 due to similar reasons.
A Hungarian ordinary passport, with visa-free access to all of the world's developed countries
Developed country
A developed country is a country that has a high level of development according to some criteria. Which criteria, and which countries are classified as being developed, is a contentious issue...
, is a very convenient travel document by international standards. However, it is not as handy as a Hungarian diplomatic passport, which has even less visa restrictions attached to it. Several countries offer visa-free access to holders of a Hungarian diplomatic passport, but not to ordinary passport holders. This is notably the case with China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(since 1992), Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(since 2001). and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(since 2003). As of July 2009, Hungarian diplomats can enter all G8+5
G8+5
The G8+5 group of leaders consists of the heads of government from the G8 nations , plus the heads of government of the five leading emerging economies .-February 2007 Declaration:On February 16, 2007, The Global Legislators Organisation The G8+5 group of leaders consists of the heads of government...
countries without a visa. The Hungarian diplomatic passport holds the distinction of being the only travel document in the world granting such visa-free entry to all G8+5 member states.
Visa-free Travel
Europe
European Union Freedom of movement (conditions apply) [also with a valid National ID cardHungarian identity card
Hungarian identity cards are compulsory for Hungarian citizens from 14 years of age, although they may be obtained by anyone after birth. Since 1 January 2006, it is possible for citizens to travel anywhere within the Schengen Area, the European Union and certain other European countries using...
]
| (Visa on arrival) |
Africa
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Americas
| (Visa on arrival) (Visa on arrival) | (ESTA Electronic System for Travel Authorization The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a United States government requirement for participating travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries arriving by air or sea to complete online the I-94W form in... ) (ESTA Electronic System for Travel Authorization The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a United States government requirement for participating travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries arriving by air or sea to complete online the I-94W form in... ) |
Asia
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|valign=top| (Visa on arrival) (Visa on arrival) Visa not required since August 11th 2011 (Visa on arrival)
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Oceania
| (eVisitor) http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/evisitor/eligibility.htm (ESTA Electronic System for Travel Authorization The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a United States government requirement for participating travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries arriving by air or sea to complete online the I-94W form in... ) |
(Visa on arrival) |
Visa-free for Official and Diplomatic passport holders
In addition, holders of Hungarian official passports may travel visa free to the following countries:In addition, holders of Hungarian diplomatic passports may travel visa free to the following countries:
| (Visa on arrival) |