General Information for Entering Hungary
Hungary joined the Scengen Area on 21 December, 2007. From that time visas are issued by one of the Schengen Member States are valid also for Hungary, and visas/residence permits are issued by Hungarian authorities are - as a general rule - also valid for the entire Schengen Area.
The Schengen Area consists of 29 countries, including four which are not members of the European Union – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. 25 states of the 27 members of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden) as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein.
The Schengen regulations are only applicable for a stay not exceeding 90 days. Rules for a stay longer than 90 days are laid down by the national law of the member states concerned.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
On 29 April 2024, the European Council adopted a decision on the application of restrictive measures under Article 25a of the Visa Code for Ethiopian citizens. In view of this, the following provisions of the Visa Code will be suspended for Ethiopian citizens in the Schengen visa application procedure from 1 June 2024:
- the possibility of waiving certain supporting documents;
- the 15-day processing time limit;
- the issuance of multiple-entry visas;
- the optional exemption from fees for diplomatic and service passports.
Accordingly, the rules for submitting a visa application for Ethiopian citizens are as follows:
- in all cases, regardless of visa history, a full set of supporting documents is required;
- the general processing time is 45 days;
- single-entry visas valid for the intended period of travel may be issued;
- the general visa fee is also applicable to holders of diplomatic and service passport holders.
The restrictions do not apply to the following applicants:
- EU citizens with the right of free movement and residence and family members of UK citizens under the Withdrawal Agreement;
- those travelling at the invitation of international intergovernmental organisations or to an international conference organised by a Member State.
