Hungary: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
On December 21, 2007, the Schengen Agreement came into force in Hungary. Together with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Malta, you can also enter these countries from this point on without regular border controls. For example, a Spaniard can get to Estonia without any controls and a Finn via Estonia to Portugal. As of December 21, 2007, a total of 24 states belong to the Schengen area.
In the Moselle town of Schengen in Luxembourg, it was decided in 1985 to gradually abolish border controls in the participating countries, but to increase controls at the external borders.
Issuing visas in Germany
In cases where a visa is still required, you can obtain it from the Hungarian embassy. All further questions about immigration, residence or working and study conditions are answered here.
Visa department of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Unter den Linden 76
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 203 10 – 0
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Admission until 11:30 a.m.)
closed on: August 20th, October 3rd, October 23rd, November 1st, December 24th to January 2nd
Bonn Branch of
the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary – Consular
Department Turmstr. 30
53175 Bonn
Tel: 0049 – (0) 228 – 39 16 80
Email: [email protected] Berlin
Responsibility: North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:30 am – 11:30 a.m., Monday 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Closed on: August 20, October 3, October 23, November 1, December 24 to January 2
Munich
Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Vollmannstraße 2
81927 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 91 10 32
Email: [email protected]
Responsibility: Bavaria
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.,
closed on: August 20th, October 3rd, October 23rd, November 1st, December 25th and 26th
Stuttgart
Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Haußmannstraße 22
70188 Stuttgart
0049 – (0)
711/238 93 – 0 [email protected] Berlin
Responsibility: Baden-Württemberg
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Wednesday 2.00pm – 3.30pm
: August 20th, October 3rd, October 23rd, November 1st, December 24th to 31st
Issuing of visas in Austria and Switzerland
See under Representations of Hungary in Austria and Representations of Hungary in Switzerland.
Import and export of foreign currency
- Local currency and foreign currency can be imported and exported without restriction.
- However, national and foreign currencies with an equivalent value of over 1 million forints must be declared for import and export.
- Receipts with a registered passport number for the exchange of foreign currencies must be kept and presented to customs on request when leaving the country.
Departure fee
There is no special fee to be paid for leaving Hungary.
Import and export of goods
The listed restrictions on import quantities are requirements for entry from non-EU countries:
- Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco
- Alcohol: 5 liters of beer, 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of wine.
- Gifts up to a total value of 29,500 FT.
- Food: 1 kg of coffee or tea, cocoa and spices (except paprika and spice mixes)
Entry with pets
The EU regulation on the import and export of pets of October 1, 2004 applies to the entry of pets into Hungary:
According to this EU regulation, only pets that either have an implanted electronic chip or are tattooed may be imported into Hungary (from 2011 an electronic chip is mandatory for all pets) and can therefore be clearly identified. In addition, an EU pet passport must be issued for every pet brought with you. This card can be issued by any resident veterinarian.
Every pet that is imported into Hungary must be vaccinated against rabies. It should be noted that the rabies vaccination must have been given at least 21 days before entry and must not be more than twelve months ago. Pets must be at least three months old when they are first vaccinated. Pets that are younger than three months old and have not been vaccinated against rabies can still bring them into Latvia. These pets must be chipped or tattooed, an EU pet passport must be issued and it must be ensured that these animals have been kept in the same place since birth and that they have not come into contact with wild animals.
In Hungary, dogs must be kept on a leash in all public places. A muzzle must be worn on public transport.
Special dog breeds are excluded from entry. These include the Bandog, Fila Brasiliero, Argentine Mastiff, Bordeaux Mastiff, Bullmastif, Tosa-Inu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Bull Terrier. However, these dogs can be introduced once they have been neutered
Transporting animals by plane with an accompanying person (owner)
In this case, the following procedure must be followed: The animal is locked in a transport box at the airport that has been provided by the owner beforehand. It must be ensured that the container is large enough for the animal to stand in it and turn around, and that no liquids can run out (urine). This is done using suitable absorbent material, in the simplest case using a sufficient amount of newspaper.
There should also be a water bowl and, depending on the length of the flight, enough food. The transport container is handed over to the staff at the check-in counter. The transport fee depends on the weight of the animal. It is essential to ensure that there is space for the animal on the flight booked, as the number of animals that can be transported is limited.
The animal is located in the machine in an air-conditioned area between the passenger deck and the cargo area. As a rule, no member of the crew takes care of the animal during the flight, not even to give water or food.
However, experience has shown that the stress of checking in and the take-off phase is so stressful for most animals that they sleep for most of the flight. The administration of sedatives before check-in is not only not recommended, as their effects cannot be foreseen under these conditions, but is even prohibited for reasons of security (smuggling). Many airlines also exclude a number of dogs (attack dogs) from transport.
Animal transport without an accompanying person
In this case, a specialist company must be commissioned with the transport, which then takes care of everything else. However, it should be ensured that the animal is picked up at the arrival airport by someone who is familiar to the dog. And of course all import regulations for pets for the country have to be explored beforehand and strictly adhered to.
Note
It has proven to be very helpful if you have accustomed the animal to such a transport container at home a few weeks before the intended flight.
Arrival and transport
How do you get to Hungary?
Flights
Direct flights to Hungary, there are many cities in Germany. The Hungarian airline is called Malev, but Hungary is also served by many other airlines. Since the country is not that big and Budapest is centrally located, you will land mainly in Budapest at Ferihegy Airport from abroad.
Rail
Hungary is ideally connected by rail from neighboring European countries.
Be careful: Budapest has three major train stations – Keleti pu. (Ostbahnhof), Nyugati pu. (Westbahnhof) and the Déli pu. (Südbahnhof). “pu.” This is the short form of “Pályaudvar” and means station. However, all three train stations are easily accessible by metro.
Connections (selection)
- From/to Kiev (24 h) in Ukraine via Lvov (15 h)
- to Slovakia, especially to Bratislava (2½ hours) and Košice
- There are of course also many trains going to the Czech Republic, especially with the terminus in Prague (just under 7 hours)
- to Dresden (10 h) and Berlin (a good 12 h) via Prague.If you travel by train from Germany, you should try the SparNight tariff. A return trip in a comfortable couchette including all supplements costs around 98 euros. Disadvantage: booking in advance and precise planning for outward and return journeys
- to Slovenia, especially to Ljubljana (a good 8 hours)
- also further to Trieste and Venice
- to Bucharest and Brasov in Romania – that takes about 12 hours to Brasov, 15½ hours to Bucharest
- also through coaches to Varna in Bulgaria
- to Serbia, there especially to Novi Sad (6 hours) and Belgrade (7½ hours)
- recently back to Sarajevo (about 12 hours)
- to Zagreb in Croatia (5 hours)
- There are direct trains to Warsaw (approx. 11 hours)
- numerous train connections to Vienna
Car
Coming from Germany by car is quite tedious, which also applies to many places in Switzerland. On the other hand, the route is manageable and easily manageable from numerous areas of Austria.
Bus
Hungary can also be reached by coach. Several lines run several times a week between Germany and Hungary. From almost all major cities in Germany you can at least get to Budapest or Lake Balaton (Siófok). The regular service is offered by the “Deutsche Touring/Eurolines” and several small bus companies.
Ship
It is possible to travel from Vienna via Bratislava to Budapest with a hydrofoil. The journey takes about 6 hours and is relatively expensive.
Traveling in the country, emergency calls
Hungary is a well-connected country in terms of transport where all means of transport are available.
For the connection from Budapest to the following cities, the specified time must be taken into account:
city | train | Bus/car |
Sopron | 2.30 a.m. | 3.30 a.m. |
Miskolc | 2.00 h | 2.30 a.m. |
Pécs | 2.45 h | 3.00 h |
Szeged | 2.25 h | 2.30 a.m. |
Szentendre | 0.40 h | 0.30 h |
Balaton | 2.20 h | 2.00 h |
Railway
The route network (ticket office in Budapest, Tel/Fax: (01) 322 84 05) covers 8,500 km. Timetable information is available at (01) 461 55 00 (international timetables) and (01) 461 54 00 (regional timetables).
Within Hungary there are scheduled express trains between Budapest and the larger cities of the country; Depending on the destination, they either depart from the Westbahnhof (Nyugati pu.), Ostbahnhof (Keleti pu.) or Südbahnhof (Déli pu.).
In northern Hungary, small forest railways also operate on the Gyöngyös – Mátrafüred and Gyöngyös – Lajosháza routes, as well as Szilvásvárad – Szalajka Valley and Miskolc – Lillafüred – Garadna. A special attraction in the forests on the Buda Mountains is the pioneer railway that runs between Széchenyi-hegy and Huvösvölgy. Every day (except Monday) between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., the passengers are looked after by children, only the train driver is an adult!
The information service of the Hungarian State Railways M ? V has an information office in Budapest. Hungarian State Railways M ? V Andrássy út 73-75 HU – Budapest VI. Tel. +36 – (0) 1 – 461 54 00
Bus
Within Hungary you can take the intercity bus to more remote areas, because even the tiniest village still has a bus stop. The bus station at Erzsébet tér in Budapest provides information on national and international bus connections (Tel. +36 – (0) 1 – 317 25 62).
Roads
The Hungarian road network covers more than 30,000 km, all villages can be reached via paved roads. Motorways are marked with the letter M, the international roads with an E. Of the 8 main roads, 7 start in Budapest and are numbered clockwise from west to south. The main road 8 starts in Székesfehérvár. Subordinate streets are marked with two or more digit numbers.
Motorways, motorway tolls:
- M1: Budapest – Hegyeshalom
- M15: Hegyeshalom – Rajka
- M3: Budapest – Füzesabony
- M5: Budapest – Kiskunfélegyháza
- M7: Budapest – Siófok
- M0: City ring/expressway around Budapest (free of charge). This connection serves to reach the destinations in the capital more efficiently and faster.
A motorway vignette is required to use the motorways. Vignettes are available at motorway tollbooths, at some border stations, such as in Hegyeshalom and at motorway service stations. The annual vignette is valid for one calendar year, the other vignettes are valid from the date of purchase. A new category (D4) has been introduced for vehicles over 12 t. Some of the 450 km long motorway network is still being expanded
Rental cars
All major rental car providers are represented in Hungary. There are also regional providers.
Rental cars at Ferihegy Airport, IBUSZ, Volán, the Budapest Tourist Office and the larger hotels. Flight connections
Domestic flights
There are almost no domestic flights, but recently, former military airfields are to be activated again.
Alcohol limit In Hungary there is an absolute ban on alcohol (0.0 per mille) when driving vehicles. Violations can be very expensive and accidents can even result in jail.
Emergency
In case of an accident or other problems with the car or motorbike to reach information and assistance at the following numbers:
Tel.: 061 345 17 17
Mobile: 0036 – 1 – 345 17 17
The ADAC reach 24 hours in Munich at the following Number:
0049 – (0) 89 – 22 22 22
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Hungary is:
HU |
Hungary: Tourist Offices
Hungarian Tourism Offices
Regional Directorate Berlin & Germany East
Wilhelmstr. 61
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 24 31 460
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 24 31 4613
E-Mail: [email protected]
Regional Directorate Germany Central, North & West
Lyoner Str. 44- 48
60528 Frankfurt/Main
Tel: 0049 – (0) 69/92 88 460
Fax: 0049 – (0) 69/92 88 4613
E-Mail: [email protected]
Regional Directorate Germany South
Stefan-George-Ring 29
81929 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89/309 040 310
Fax: 0049 – (0)
89/309 040 510 free info hotline in Hungary: 00800 36 00 00 00
E-Mail:[email protected]
Hungarian Tourism Office in Austria
Opernring 1, Stiege R, 7th floor
1010 Vienna
Tel: 00800 – 36 00 00 00
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 585 20 1221
E-Mail: [email protected]
Hungary: travel medicine, risks
Infectious Diseases
In Hungary, the following infectious diseases are to be expected, which are not or less common in Germany or Central and Northern Europe:
- Borreliosisis transmitted by a tick bite
- Rabies,but only for people who come into contact with vector animals
Vaccination recommendations
The following vaccinations are recommended when traveling to Hungary:
- Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist in your home country
- Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is transmitted by ticks
- Hepatitis A and B, a vaccination against hepatitis should always exist in the home country
- Polio, should also exist in the home country
- Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus should always exist in the home country
- Rabies, but only in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals
Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination requirements when entering or staying in the country.
Hazards/current warning notices
Foreign Office (AA) of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
Current warning notices from the AA:
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Hungary: currency, shopping and exchange rate
The national currency of Hungary is the forint (1 FT) = 100 fillers.
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 200
- 500
- 1,000
- 2,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 20,000 HUF
Conversion rate
You can find a currency converter here:
www.forium.de
Bank opening times
- Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday: occasionally in larger cities
Shop
Shop opening times
Business center Budapest:
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Large department stores also on Sundays
Super Market:
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Sunday: 6 a.m. – 1 p.m. (milk, baked goods)
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
- Kalocsa and Matyóland embroidery, embroidered blouses, hand-woven fabrics, blue-print textiles
- Branded porcelain (from Zsolnay and Herend), black ceramics, lead crystal, wood carvings, glazed dishes, “Miska” (beer) mugs
- Antiques
- Salami (pick, heart), foie gras, Tokay sweet wine, white and red wines, bitter Zwack-Unicum, fruit brandy Pálinka
Hungary: embassies and consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Hungary embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of Hungary in Germany
The “Embassy of the Republic of Hungary” is located on the corner of Unter den Linden and Wilhelmstraße near the Brandenburg Gate. In 1953, the previous Hungarian mission became an embassy. From 1966 she resided in a prefabricated building in the street “Unter den Linden” 74-76/corner of Otto-Grotewohl-Straße. The People’s Republic of Hungary only had one consulate in West Berlin. After reunification, the embassy stayed where it was – but in a new building constructed between 1999-2001 based on a design by the Hungarian architect Ádám Sylvester. The old building was demolished shortly before construction began.
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
Unter den Linden 76
10117 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 203 10 – 0
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 229 13 14
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mfa.gov. hu/emb/berlin
Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary in Munich
Vollmannstrasse 2
81927 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89/91 10 32
Fax: 0049 – (0) 228/910 18 53
Email: [email protected]
Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Am Luneort 15 (in the airport)
27572 Bremerhaven
Tel: 0049 – (0) 4744 – 92 58 13
Fax: 0049 – (0) 4744 – 92 58 10
Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Alsterufer 45
20354 Hamburg
Tel: 0049 – (0) 40 – 45 29 56
Fax: 0049 – (0) 40 – 45 00 572
You can find further honorary consulates in: Dresden, Erfurt, Essen, Nuremberg, Schwerin and Stuttgart.
German representations in Hungary
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Budapest
Úri utca 64-66
1014 Budapest
Tel: 0036 – 1 – 48 83 500
Fax: 0036 – 1 – 48 83 505
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.budapest.diplo.de
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany
Megye u. 21
7621 Pécs
Tel: 0036 – 72 – 21 27 00
Fax: 0036 – 72 – 21 27 77
Email: [email protected]
Austrian representations in Hungary
Austrian Embassy in Budapest
Benczúr utca 16
1068 Budapest
Tel: 0036 – 1 – 479 70-10
Fax: 0036 – 1 – 352 87 95
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.austrian-embassy.hu
Consulates
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Megye u. 21, 1st floor
7621 Pécs
Tel: 0036 – 72 – 511 834
Fax: 0036 – 72 – 511 834
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Kossuth tér 1
4400 Nyiregyháza
Tel: 0036 – 42 – 524 524
Fax: 0036 – 42 – 524 533
E-Mail: [email protected]
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Szérüskert u. 2-10
9024 Györ
Tel: 0036 – 96 – 51 02 12
Fax: 0036 – 96 – 44 04 40
E-Mail: [email protected]
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Honvéd tér 2
9721 Szombathely
Tel: 0036 – 94 – 312 356
Fax: 0036 – 94 – 316 936
E-Mail: [email protected]
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Petöfi S. Str. 5
8000 Székesfehérvár
Tel: 0036 – 22 – 312 911
Fax: 0036 – 22 – 505 312
E-Mail: [email protected]
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Vadász u. 4/A
6721 Szeged
Tel: 0036 – 62 – 423 647
Fax: 0036 – 62 – 423 647
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.konsul-at-szeged.hu
Austrian Honorary Consulate
Megyeház tér 1
8200 Veszprém
Tel: 0036 – 88 – 545 027
Fax: 0036 – 88 – 545 012
Email: [email protected]
Representations of Hungary in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Vienna
Bankgasse 4-6
1010 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 537 80 – 300
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 535 99 40
Email: [email protected]
Consulates
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Hallerstraße 15
6020 Innsbruck
Tel: 0043 – (0) 512 – 266 944 16
Fax: 0043 – (0) 512 – 266 944 17
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Gewerbestrasse 7
5301 Eugendorf bei Salzburg
Tel: 0043 – (0) 6225 – 82 06-100
Fax: 0043 – (0) 6225 – 82 06-5100
E-Mail: [email protected]
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Belruptstrasse 20
6900 Bregenz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 5574 – 42 94 30
Fax: 0043 – (0) 5574 – 435 49
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Theaterplatz 5
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: 0043 – (0) 463 – 50 41 41
Fax: 0043 – (0) 463 – 51 42 60
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Goethestrasse 7 c/o PricewaterhouseCoopers
4020 Linz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 732 – 611 750 30
Fax: 0043 – (0) 732 – 611 750 10
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Robert Graf-Platz 1/4/Zimmer 406
7000 Eisenstadt
Tel: 0043 – (0) 590 – 907 4114
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Johann-Steinböck-Straße 1
2344 Maria Enzersdorf
Tel: 0043 – (0) 2236 – 21 818
Fax: 0043 – (0) 2236 – 22 929
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary
Conrad von Hötzendorfstrasse 160
8010 Graz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 316 – 47 22 12 13
Fax: 0043 – (0) 316 – 47 22 12 51
E-Mail: [email protected]
Swiss representations in Hungary
Swiss Embassy in Budapest
Stefánia ùt. 107
1143 Budapest
Tel: 0036 – 1 – 460 70 40
Fax: 0036 – 1 – 384 94 92
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/budapest
Representations of Hungary in Switzerland
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Bern
Muristrasse 31
3000 Bern 15
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 352 85 72/-73
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 351 20 01
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mfa.gov.hu / emb/bern
Consulates
Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Rue Toepffer 17
1206 Geneva
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22/789 12 10
Fax: 0041 – (0) 22/789 12 03
Email: [email protected]
Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Baarerstrasse 22
6300 Zoug
Tel: 0041 – (0) 41/725 20 20
Fax: 0041 – (0) 41/725 20 27
Email: [email protected]
Consulate General of the Republic of Hungary
Bleicherweg 20
8002 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – (0) 44 – 205 14 22
Fax: 0041 – (0) 44 – 205 17 80
Email: [email protected]