Hungary visa and entry requirements

The Schengen basics

• 90 days in any rolling 180 days, counted across the whole Schengen area rather than Hungary alone.
• Hungary has been in Schengen since 2007 and there are no routine checks arriving from Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia or Croatia.
• The borders with Serbia and Ukraine are external Schengen borders. Full checks, and in summer the Röszke crossing from Serbia can take hours.
• Coming in from Serbia by bus or train, budget serious time. Everyone is processed and the bus waits for the slowest passenger.

No stamps since April 2026

• The Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.
• Your face and fingerprints are recorded at the external border instead of a stamp. Children under 12 give no fingerprints.
• The first registration adds a few minutes, which is another reason the Serbian crossing is slow this year.
• Keep your own record of entry and exit dates. Nothing goes in your passport now.

ETIAS is not running

• The official EU site says ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are being collected.
• The Q4 2026 target was withdrawn in July 2026.
• It will cost EUR 20 when it eventually starts, for visa-free visitors aged 18 to 70.
• Any site selling you one today is a scam.

Where your nationality lands

• The Schengen visa fee rose to EUR 90 on 11 June 2026.
• Russian applicants inside Russia now get single-entry visas as a rule, following the Commission's decision of 7 November 2025.
• Travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 is a visa condition.
• Passport valid 3 months beyond departure and issued within the last 10 years.

Carrying ID

• Hungarian law expects you to be able to identify yourself. Police can and do ask.
• A photocopy or a phone photo is usually accepted for casual checks, but carry the real passport if you are near a border.
• Your accommodation registers you and will take your passport at check-in. That is normal and required.