As of 21 September 2020, the most important entry rules in passenger traffic are:
1. New piece of legislation is Gov.Decree no. 408/2020. (VIII. 30.). The regulations are based on citizenship, the classification by countries (green-yellow-red) terminates.
Further amendments were enacted by Gov.Decree no. 432/2020. (IX. 18.) which we highlighted in red.
2. Rules applicable to Hungarian citizens:
2.1 She/he is treated in the same way as a Hungarian citizen[1]
– who is entitled to permanent residence in Hungary and a member of his family, if he proves this right by a document, or
– who has a valid residence permit issued by the immigration authority for a period exceeding 90 days, entitling her to stay in the territory of Hungary, and presents the relevant document upon entry.
2.2 The Regulation does not apply to a person who,
– enters in freight traffic, or
– is a diplomat, or
– upon entry into Hungary, provides credible proof that he/she has contracted COVID-19 within 6 months prior to the date of crossing the border.
2.3 A Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad or a family member of a Hungarian citizen who does not have Hungarian citizenship shall undergo a medical examination during his/her entry into Hungary – with the exception specified by law or government decree – , which he/she must tolerate.
If, in the case of a Hungarian citizen, the medical examination reveals a suspicion of infection, it shall be placed in quarantine designated by the competent epidemiological authority or, if it does not pose an epidemiological risk, in official home quarantine.
If the medical examination does not reveal the suspicion of infection, the person concerned shall be placed in official home quarantine for 10 days if he/she has a Hungarian residence or temporary place to stay. If he/she has no such, he/she is placed into designated quarantine.
At the request of the quarantined person, the epidemiological authority competent to issue the quarantine decision may allow the quarantined person to undergo, within 5 days, at least 48 hours apart, twice a molecular biological test in accordance with health professional rules – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – participate in order to grant an exemption.
The first molecular biological test, i.e. SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, which complies with the professional health rules, shall be taken into account as well, if it was made in one of the countries belonging to the Schengen Area, in the United States or Canada and its results were verified by the person concerned by a document in Hungarian or English
If the two molecular biological tests, the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, show that the quarantine virus was not detectable in SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus at the time of the test, the epidemiological authority competent to issue the quarantine decision shall grant an exemption from the quarantine.
It is not possible to use 2nd test result which was issued not in Hungary!
3. Rules applicable to foreigners (i.e. who, according to 2.1, are not subject to the same treatment as Hungarian citizens):
3.1 A non-Hungarian citizen – with the exception specified by law or government decree – cannot enter the territory of Hungary in passenger traffic.
3.2 Exception from general rule: Leniency Request
Foreigners may enter within the framework of a leniency request issued by the competent police authority. The conditions and method (see electronic form – Ügyfélkapu, Cégkapu, via the police website) of the leniency request are the same as the previous regulations[2].
A non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad shall undergo a medical examination when entering, which he/ she is obliged to tolerate.
In case of COVID-19 infection, he/she cannot enter, otherwise he/she will be quarantined for 10 days at a designated quarantine or in official home.
At the request of the quarantined person, the epidemiological authority competent to issue the quarantine decision may allow the quarantined person to undergo, within 5 days, at least 48 hours apart, twice a molecular biological test in accordance with health professional rules – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – participate in order to grant an exemption.
The first molecular biological test, i.e. SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, which complies with the professional health rules, shall be taken into account as well, if it was made in one of the countries belonging to the Schengen Area, in the United States or Canada and its results were verified by the person concerned by a document in Hungarian or English.
If the two molecular biological tests, the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, show that the quarantine virus was not detectable in SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus at the time of the test, the epidemiological authority competent to issue the quarantine decision shall grant an exemption from the quarantine.
It is not possible to use 2nd test result which was issued not in Hungary!
4. Exceptions from general rule:
4.1 Managing Directors and employees of affiliated companies
A person coming from abroad may enter the territory of Hungary without restriction from the territory of the states determined by the Minister of Public Security[3] if he/she is a Managing Director or employee of a domestic or such a company, which registered in one of the foreign states specified by the Minister of Public Security, which is also a registered company in at least one of the states designated by the Minister responsible for public security and in an affiliated business relationship pursuant to Section 4, Clause 23 of the Act LXXXI of 1996 on Corporation Tax and Dividend Tax.
Unrestricted entry may be granted if the person concerned makes the fact of the business trip probable.
4.2 Provisions for travels related to business or economic purposes
If the purpose of the departure from Hungary is an activity related to business or economic purposes, the fact of which is proved by the Hungarian citizen at the return to Hungary, the Hungarian citizen may enter the territory of Hungary without restriction after the departure.
If, during the entry of a Hungarian citizen into Hungary, there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the proof of the reason referred to above upon entry, the procedure shall be conducted in accordance with Section 2.3 of this memo.
If the entry into Hungary is a business or economic activity, the fact of which is proved by the non-Hungarian citizen upon entering the territory of Hungary, he/she may enter the territory of Hungary without restriction.
If, during the entry of the non-Hungarian citizen into Hungary, there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the proof of the reason referred to above upon entry, the procedure shall be conducted in accordance with Section 3.2 of this memo.
5. FYI There are additional rules for military convoys, transit, neighbouring countries (for 24 hours term and within 30 kms from the border), sportsmen and sports professionals, cultural and sport events.
[1] FYI There are 2 more categories related to athletes and sport professionals, employees of cultural institutions (which we don’t detail herein the lack of relevance).
[2] Should you need summary of the detailed rules, please let us know.
[3] 33/2020. (VIII. 30.) of the Ministry of the Interior on the states belonging to the scope of business travel between affiliated companies currently states that the 408/2020. (VIII. 30.) within the framework of a business trip pursuant to Section 9 (1) of the Government Decree, a person arriving from the territory of any state may enter the territory of Hungary. THE SCOPE OF THE COUNTRIES CAN BE CHANGED TIME TO TIME.