As of July 15th, 2020, decree 341/2020 (VII.12.) established new rules about entering Hungary for returning Hungarian citizens and foreign citizens.
The Hungarian Consular Service’s official information can be found on the following link:
https://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/
Rules of entry of Hungarian citizens
A Hungarian citizen can always return back home, this right is non-deniable. The Government of Hungary has established a new rule regarding entering Hungary in efforts of protection against the pandemic, starting on July 15th, 2020 at 00:00 hours. The Hungarian government applied a three-fold categorization of countries (green, yellow, red) depending on the severity of the coronavirus situation and the level of danger the persons travelling from those countries would pose on those living in Hungary. Starting on July 15th, medical examinations at the border, and quarantine obligations will depend on the category of the country the traveller is coming from.
What category is Canada in?
Canada is in category yellow, starting on July 18th, 2020, but the categories will be revised weekly, according to the development of the pandemic.
What does the category mean?
Hungarian citizens travelling from Canada will have a mandatory quarantine of 14 days.
Hungarian citizens are able to return back home without any additional permissions (with a quarantine obligation as of July 15th). Foreign citizens travelling from a category Yellow country will not need to apply for a permit of exception to allow entry to Hungary. Therefore Canadian and other citizens arriving from Canada will not need a permit of exception to allow entry to Hungary.
Attention! Non-Hungarian citizens arriving from Canada may still need to be in possession of other entry requirements (visa, residence permit). Every traveller is obligated to be in possession of all required documents, and to be informed prior to travelling of any other regulations of any requirements according to his/her citizenship, and obtaining such permits, if applicable.
Please be advised, a Canadian citizen may enter Hungary without a visa.
We would also like to inform you that, in case you are not entering Hungary directly (or transiting through another Member State part of the Schengen area), to contact the authority of the relevant country prior to travelling in order to receive information about requirements entering that country.
Hungarian and foreign citizens will undergo a medical examination upon entering Hungary.
Upon suspicion of infection with coronavirus, a Hungarian citizen will be able to enter, but will have to be in mandatory quarantine. Foreign citizens – travelling from category Yellow countries – will be denied entry upon suspicion of infection.
How can I avoid the mandatory quarantine upon entry?
- if the traveller crossing the border proves with a Hungarian or English document, including the results of two SARS-CoV-2 tests (molecular biology examination in compliance with professional medical practice) performed at two different times with at least 48 hours between them in the course of the preceding 5 days, that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not detected in his/her body at the time of the tests
- a molecular biology examination in compliance with professional medical practice – SARS-CoV-2 tests – performed at two different times, proving that the designated home quarantined person was not detected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus at the time of the test, then the competent epidemiological authority designating the mandatory home quarantine will be able to lift the obligation of quarantine
- the main difference between arriving from a category Yellow country as opposed to a category Red country, is that the competent epidemiological authority will be able to lift the mandatory quarantine after the 1st negative test. The 2nd test still has to be performed, and if the result is positive, then the quarantine has to be resumed.
What can I expect upon entry to Hungary?
- The traveller will have to undergo medical examination, that he/she is obligated to endure.
- regarding decree 341/2020 (VII.12.) 5. § the SARS-CoV-2 test is not bound by age limit, therefore persons under the age of 18 are not acquitted
- For persons in designated home quarantines, the competent epidemiological authority responsible for the location of the quarantine (the Public Health agency, which can be found in the https://jarasinfo.gov.hu/ district search tool, under the name of the settlement) will permit the attendance for tests, and in the case of the appropriate result, will discharge of the quarantine
- we kindly ask that with regard to proving test results that were performed in Canada, (see Decree 3.§ (5) paragraph) contact the competent epidemiological authority, as they will provide answers to acceptable electronic test results.
Upon entry to Hungary, the category of the original country will serve as the base, not the country which you directly arrive from.
Please read through the Decree prior to travelling:
Magyar Közlöny:
https://magyarkozlony.hu/dokumentumok/3ded363d88858fa8cb693217c955d93eced831f3/megtekintes
The categories of countries listed as of July 18th:
https://magyarkozlony.hu/dokumentumok/5df4adca4f1bdc6f902a20dbecad02279f2fca08/megtekintes
Detailed information regarding regulations of entry can be given by the National Police Headquarters (Országos Rendőr-főkapitányság, ORFK), as implementation of these regulations will be executed by the ORFK’s Border Control services. Contact information for the ORFK can be found in the following link:
http://www.police.hu/hu/info/elerhetosegek
