UPDATED: 7 AUGUST, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic has picked up recently in many countries of the world, Hungary introduces travel restrictions in international traffic. The chief medical officer grouped each country into three categories: green, yellow and red, based on the local status of the pandemic. People from a green country may unrestrictedly enter Hungary. People from a yellow country and Hungarian citizens from a red country will be subject to a medical examination. Foreigners from a red country may enter Hungary only based on a special permit.
New travel restrictions apply from 15th July, 2020 in Hungary. The scope of these restrictions does not include heavy traffic and the new rules do not apply to people with service passport and those who can prove that they have recovered from the COVID-19 disease in the preceding 6 months. The regulation differenciates between Hungarian citizens and foreigners, however, people with a residence permit or any permit allowing a stay exceeding 90 days in Hungary and their family members shall be treated as Hungarian citizens.
Entry rules for Hungarian citizens
Hungarian citizens and their family members may enter Hungary from a green country without any restrictions. In case of travelling from a yellow or red country, they must, however, undergo a medical examination and shall spend 14 days in quarantine, irrespective of the result of the said examination. If an infection is not suspected, the person may spend the quarantine at home, whereas if there is a suspicion of an infection, home quarantine may only be permitted if this does not imply any epidemiological risk.
A person may be exempted from quarantine if they present two negative COVID-19 tests in either English or Hungarian language from the preceding 5 days with a minimum interval of 48 hours. The authority may allow testing subsequently for those in home quarantine. Those who came from a yellow country, may leave the quarantine following the first negative test but those coming from a red country shall await the results of the second test.
Entry rules for foreigners
Foreigners coming from a green country may also enter Hungary without any restrictions, however, if they observe any symptoms of the COVID-19 disease within 14 days upon entrance, they may not leave their place of stay and shall immediately notify the authorities. Foreigners coming from a yellow country shall also undergo a medical examination, however, if an infection is suspected, they may not enter the country. As a general rule, foreigners travelling from a red country may not enter Hungary.
Foreigners from a yellow country who do not show any symptoms of the disease will be subject to an official quarantine but home quarantine may be permitted for them provided they can arrange it and it does not imply an epidemiological risk. Foreigners may be exempted from quarantine according to the same rules as Hungarian citizens, even by subsequent testing.
Foreigners travelling from a red country may exceptionally enter Hungary based on a special permit of the local police department under the principles of equity. A reason for such permit may be a medical treatment; studying; attending a family event, an international sport, cultural or religious event; or caring a family member. Those who obtained such permit, shall undergo a medical examination as well and they may not enter Hungary if this detects a suspicion of the disease. If there is no suspicion detected, the person shall be quarantined for 14 days but may be released from it based on two subsequent negative tests.
Business trip to Hungary
Foreigners from a yellow country may enter Hungary without any restriction if they are managers or employees of a company which is registered either in Hungary or in a yellow country and has an affiliated company in a yellow country. At the border, the foreign citizen shall render the business purpose of their travel likely.
Other special rules
Citizens from neighboring countries may enter Hungary for a maximum of 24 hours provided they stay in a zone within 30 kilometers from the border.
Special rules apply to agricultural workers from neighboring countries: they may enter Hungary in groups, at the border station designated by the local police provided their employer submits a prior notification in electronic form and they undergo a medical examination. Such workers may move within the country only in groups and only between their place of work and accomodation.
Further special rules apply to people entering Hungary for the purpose of transit as well as to international sports events, sportsmen and sports professionals.
Classification of countries
The chief medical officer may classify and revise classification of countries from time to time. Most of the EU Member States as well as South Korea and French Guyana fall within the green category.
Currently, the following countries are classified as yellow countries: Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Norway, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Japan, China, the United States and Canada.
In Europe, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belarussia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukrain are recognized as red countries – as well as most of the countries in Asia, America and Australia. You can access the full list (in Hungarian) here.