Hungary ETIAS
Situated in Central/Eastern Europe and surrounded by three major mountain chains like Alps, Balkans and Carpathians, Hungary, was until early 1900’s homeland of a vast empire whose power originated from neighboring Austria and whose hegemony reached territories that are currently part of Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and more.
ETIAS to Hungary: basic facts
Hungary set to participate in ETIAS System starting from 2025
ETIAS will be necessary to enter Hungary for visitors from 60 Visa Waiver Countries
ETIAS allows for a stay in Hungary and EU/Schengen Area globally not to pass the limit of 90 days in 6 months and only for tourism, business, transit or medical care
Passport must have 3 months of remaining validity the entire duration of stay in ETIAS Area.
Hungary and European institutions
Unlike Austria, the spark that ignited a new political and diplomatic era for Hungary came much later than in the aftermath of World War II since the heavy influence the country had to withstand from Soviet Union until the early nineties.
Once rid of those bonds Hungary started taking part more and more in the European Political scene until it became a member of the Union in 2004, almost 50 years after its establishment. Despite such a forced delay, Hungary quickly became strongly involved in European institutions also deserving a role as major player in decision making process and gaining therefore a growing diplomatic and trading standing.
As a matter of fact, Hungary’s representative in the EU’s parliament and high commission too were among the sponsors for the creation of a Visa Waiver System that is expected to enhance the safety of European Borders while at the same time protecting the commercial partnership that make travel movements between EU/Schengen Area and Visa Waiver Countries so important.Hungary ETIAS
Such Visa Waiver now became reality, and it is called ETIAS which stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. According to the protocol validated by the European Union in 2016 and successively in 2018 the ETIAS Visa Waiver requirement, will come to a start in early 2025.
Visa Waiver Nationals from 60 Countries around the world intending to come to Hungary and 33 more countries in Europe for short term journeys will indeed, from 2025, be required to electronically submit their application for European Union’s Visa Waiver named ETIAS.
The ETIAS to Hungary application process is easy to fill out and poses a short set of standard questions always to be answered in truthful and complete way.
Such sets of questions include:- personal information like full name and surname, birthplace, birth country, birth date
- scheduled travel to EU related information
- contact details
- eligibility and background questions
For a detailed description of all categories of travels that are or are not authorized by ETIAS protocol users are invited to click here.
Once the application has been submitted and paid for, candidates will receive the outcome, positive in most cases, within 72 hours on their personal e-mail.
Once received the positive outcome, ETIAS Visa Waiver to Hungary is valid for 3 years and allows for multiple journeys towards not only Hungary itself but towards all the 34 Countries that are part of the Schengen Area (future and de facto members included).ETIAS validity criteria and standards of use
Visa Waiver voyagers whose passports expire in less than 3 years from the ETIAS issue date must remember that their ETIAS will cease its validity together with the passport and also that it is required for the passport to have at least three months of remaining validity from the day of their scheduled departure from the ETIAS Area.
Even though its possession is compulsory for short term trips falling under the categories cited in the Basic Facts, holding a ETIAS Visa Waiver itself does not ensure that the Nationals of Visa Waiver Country will be allowed inside Hungary or the EU since the final decision on this aspect is only made by Border Control Officers.Upon arrival
Visitors coming to EU / Schengen Area are therefore to remind that they could be asked to provide additional documents to assess the genuine purpose of their trip and to ensure they do not plan to overstay in the ETIAS Area. Such additional documents may include:
- return ticket to country of residence
- proof of sufficient funds to support themselves during the whole stay
A health insurance is not a compulsory credential to enter Hungary, or any other ETIAS Country, while travelling on a Visa Waiver but it is strongly recommended for each traveler to get one before their planned departure towards Europe.
On Hungary’s bordering Nations
While an ETIAS will be required for most non-EU citizen to come to Hungary from 2024, it is important to highlight that the nearby countries of Ukraine and Serbia are not part of either the European Union or the Schengen Area and therefore entry into such nations is subject to local immigration rules that might imply the need to obtain a valid Consular Visa.
Also, voyagers willing to explore more of Europe’s touristic beauties and business opportunities must keep in mind that ETIAS is only necessary and valid for journeys to those European Countries that are to some extent connected to the Schengen Area. Albeit being Member of the European Union, the Republic of Ireland (EIRE) does not adhere to Schengen Acquis and is therefore not part of ETIAS zone.