Hungary: Hungary will close its borders from 1 September

The Hungarian Government adopted the Government Decree 408/2020 (VIII.30.) ("Government Decree") on 30 August 2020. In the Government Decree it was announced that Hungary will close its borders to foreign citizens as of 1 September. 

With regard to border control, Hungary will return to the rules of the first wave of the outbreak: foreign nationals will not be allowed to enter Hungary without a special reason, and Hungarians returning from abroad will be placed in 14-day quarantine or will have to be tested negative twice.

I. Rules for Hungarian nationals

For the purposes of the Government Decree, the following persons shall be treated in the same way as Hungarian nationals:

• those foreign nationals who have the right of permanent residence in Hungary and their family members, if their right of permanent residence is evidenced by documents;
• those foreign nationals who are entitled to stay in Hungary for more than 90 days, provided they present upon entry a valid official permit issued by the Hungarian immigration authority, proving their entitlement to long-term stay;
• a competitor or sports professional of a Hungarian sports organization, if he/she enters the territory of Hungary after participating in an international sports event held abroad; and
• a person participating in an international sports event held abroad by an invitation or delegation issued by name by a Hungarian sports organization, if he/she enters the territory of Hungary after participating in an international sports event held abroad (hereinafter collectively as "Hungarian nationals").

Hungarian nationals may undergo medical examination by entering Hungary from countries abroad. In case the medical examination establishes the suspicion of infection with Covid-19, the person shall be placed in quarantine designated by the epidemiological authority or, if it does not pose an epidemiological risk, in official home quarantine for 14 days.

At the request of the quarantined person, the epidemiological authority may allow to the quarantined person to participate at the SARS-CoV-2 PCR molecular biologic test.

If 2 negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR molecular biologic test results taken in Hungary within five days with at least 48 hours’ time difference proves that the person was not infected with Covid-19, the epidemiological authority will issue a declaration on the release from quarantine.

II. Rules for non-Hungarian nationals arriving from abroad

As a general rule, non-Hungarian nationals are not allowed to enter Hungary, but the responsible police authorities may grant exemption for foreign nationals in the cases stipulated in Government Decree. Applications are to be submitted electronically and will be assessed by the responsible police authorities.

Foreign nationals granted with entry permission may undergo medical examination by entering Hungary. In case the medical examination establishes the suspicion of infection with Covid-19, the person is not allowed to enter Hungary. If no suspicion of infection of Covid-19 arises, the person shall be placed in quarantine designated by the epidemiological authority or, if it does not pose an epidemiological risk, in official home quarantine for 14 days.

At the request of the quarantined person, the epidemiological authority may allow to the quarantined person to participate at the SARS-CoV-2 PCR molecular biologic test.

If 2 negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR molecular biologic test results taken in Hungary within five days with at least 48 hours’ time difference proves that the person was not infected with Covid-19, the epidemiological authority will issue a declaration on the release from quarantine.

III. Exception from the travel restriction

Affiliated companies

One of the relevant exemptions from entry restriction is that any employee or leading representative (managing directors) of entities having an affiliated company in Hungary can enter Hungary without any further restriction by establishing the fact of the business purposes of their travel.

Business and trade activity

Non-Hungarian nationals arriving to Hungary for business and trade related purposes may enter the country without any restriction (no Covid-19 test or quarantine measures). Upon entry, the person needs to show proof of an essential business requirement for entering Hungary, e.g. an official letter from the company that includes contact details for verification purposes, or an invitation to a business event.