202009.09
8

Government decree no. 408/2020 (VIII.30.) on the travel restrictions during pandemic times

General provisions

  • This decree shall apply to border crossing for non-official purposes with private passport or other travel documents.
  • The same provisions in the decree as those specified for the Hungarian citizens shall apply for a person:

a) who is entitled to reside in Hungary permanently and his/her family member and who presents the respective document upon entry, orb)

b) who acquired a valid residence permit for a period exceeding 90-day period and presents the respective document upon entry;

c) who is a competitor or sport expert of a Hungarian sport organization, if the competitor or sport expert enters Hungary after the participation of an international sport event organized abroad;

d) who participates in an international sporting event invited or delegated by a Hungarian sport organization, if this person enters Hungary after the participation in an international sport event organized abroad,

e) who is employed by a Hungarian cultural institution if he/she enters Hungary after the participation in a cultural event as a presenter or technical crew member organized abroad.


  • This decree shall not apply to

a) border crossing in freight traffic;

b) border crossing with official passport and

c) person who certifies upon the entry that he/she have had COVID-19 infection within 6 months before the date of apply for crossing the border.


Provisions on entering Hungary by Hungarian citizens

  •  In passenger traffic a Hungarian citizen and the family member of a Hungarian citizen who does not have Hungarian citizenship arriving from abroad shall be obliged to be medically examined upon his/her entry to Hungary.
  • In case of Hungarian citizen, the medical examination confirms the suspicion of the infection, the person shall be placed in quarantine designated by the epidemological authority or in official home quarantine for 14 days.
  • In case of Hungarian citizen, the medical examination does not confirm the suspicion of the infection, the person shall be placed in quarantine designated by the epidemological authority or in official home quarantine for 14 days.
  • Upon the request of the person placed in quarantine whose medical examination did not confirm the suspicion of the infection, the epidemiological authority may allow the person placed quarantine to undergo SARS-CoV-2 medical examination twice, with 48 hours time difference.
  • As first SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, medical examination shall be taken into account which was carried out in one of the Schengen countries, USA or Canada and the person entering Hungary certifies the result of the test with a document in Hungarian or English.
  • If the SARS-CoV-2 test confirms that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus cannot be detected in the body of a person being placed in quarantine at the time of the test, the competent epidemiological authority shall grant an exemption from the quarantine obligation.

Provisions on entry to Hungary as non- Hungarian citizens

  • In passenger traffic a non-Hungarian citizen shall not enter to the territory of Hungary.
  • The competent local police department at the place of entry may grant an exemption from the entrance restriction. In case of crossing the border at Budapest Liszt Ferenc Airport, The XVIII. District Police Department is the competent authority.
  • In the application the purpose of the entry, the personal document and its number used for the border crossing shall be indicated. If it is possible, a copy of the document certifying the purpose of entry and – in case the applicant acts through a proxy – the power of proxy shall be enclosed to the application.
  • The person allowed to enter Hungary shall undergo a medical examination the the course of the entry. If medical examination confirms the suspicion of infection, such person shall not enter the territory of Hungary. If the medical examination does not confirm the suspicion of infection, the person shall be placed in quarantine for 14 days designated by the epidemological authority or in official home quarantine.
  • Upon the request of the person placed in quarantine, the epidemiological authority may allow the person placed in quarantine to undergo SARS-CoV-2 medical examination two times, with 48 hours time difference if upon his/her entry to Hungary the medical examination did not confirm the suspicion of infection.
  • As first SARS-CoV-2 PCR test, medical examination shall be taken into account which was carried out in one of the Schengen countries, USA or Canada and the person entering Hungary certifies the result of the test with a document in Hungarian or English.
  • If the SARS-CoV-2 test confirms that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus cannot be detected in the body of a person under quarantine at the time of the test, the competent epidemiological authority shall grant an exemption from the quarantine obligation.
  • Citizens of neighbouring states determined by the minister of foreign affairs may enter to the territory of Hungary within 30 kilometer from the Hungarian state border for a maximum of 24-hour period.

Provisions concerning travelling for business or economic purposes

  • If the purpose of the travelling is a business or economic activity which is confirmed by the Hungarian citizen upon his/her re-entry Hungary, the Hungarian citizen may enter Hungary without any restriction after his/her departure from Hungary.
  • If doubts are raised as to the authencity of the certification of business or economic activity upon the entry of a Hungarian citizen, the general provisions on entering Hungary by Hungarian citizens shall be applied.
  • If the purpose of travelling is a business or economic activity which is confirmed by a non-Hungarian citizen upon his/her entry, the non-Hungarian citizen are allowed to enter Hungary without any restriction.
  • If doubts are raised as to the authencity of the certification of business or economic activity upon the entry of a non-Hungarian citizen, the general provisions on entering Hungary by a non-Hungarian citizens shall be applied.

Participation on sport or cultural events

  • A non-Hungarian citizen

a.) who is a participant of an international sporting event held in Hungary – excluding spectator -,

b.) who holds an invitation letter of a sporting event issued by an official organiser,

c.) who is a competitor, sport professional or a person involved in the organization of a sporting event and arrives upon the invitation of a Hungarian sports organization, national sports federation

is allowed to enter Hungary if the person certifies that SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is not present in his/her body at the time of the medical examination by a document prepared in Hungarian or English language containing the result SARS-CoV-2 test which has been performed within 5 days prior to entering Hungary, two times with 48 hour time difference.


  • Spectators of an international sporting event and cultural event held in Hungary are allowed to enter Hungary.
  • The spectator upon his/her entry Hungary

a.) may undergo a medical examination,

b.) are obliged to present the ticket of the international sporting event or cultural event and

c.) certifies that coronavirus is not present in his/her body at the time of the medical examination by a document prepared in Hungarian or English language containing the result SARS-CoV-2 test which has been performed within 3 days prior to entering Hungary, two times with 48 hour time difference.


Provisions concerning transit passage

  • A non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad may enter Hungary for the purpose of transit, if he/she undergo medical examination upon entry and the medical examination does not confirm the suspicious of coronavirus infection.
  • A non-Hungarian citizen arriving from abroad shall travel on specified routes and may stop only at determined resting places for absolutely necessary reasons– such as health or technical reasons – for the transit and shall leave the territory of Hungary within 24 hours.