Before you can travel to Hungary for work or study purposes, you will need to have all your visas and documentation in place to enter the country. The information on this page will help you better understand what your options are as far as short stay visas for Hungary are concerned and what supporting documents you might need to apply for one of these visas.
Understanding the various short stay visas for Hungary
There are six different short stay visas for Hungary, and depending on your intended purpose of travel, you might need to apply for either a visitor, business, tourist, medical, national, or transit visa. Let us take a look at what each of these short-stay visas for Hungary entails.
Visitor Visa
Hungarian Visitor Visas are valid for a period of up to one year. To apply for a Visitor Visa, you will need an official Invitation Letter from a Hungarian citizen or a foreigner in possession of a residence permit in Hungary, which has to be obtained from the Hungarian Immigration Office. In the Invitation Letter, the Hungarian citizen or permanent resident that made the invitation will prove that he or she will cover the costs of your visit and that they will take full responsibility of you while you are visiting Hungary. After the Invitation Letter is issued, you can apply for the Visitor Visa at the Hungarian consulate or the Hungarian embassy in your home country. These short-stay visas for Hungary are generally issued for family and friends of Hungarian citizens.
Medical Visa
If you plan to travel to Hungary to obtain medical treatment, you can apply for Medical Visas, which is also one of the various short-stay visas for Hungary. Before you can apply for this visa, you will be required to present a certificate issued by the medical centre where you will be receiving your treatment. You will also need to prove that you have sufficient funds in your bank account to fund your accommodation and travel back home after your procedure.
National Visa
You can only apply for a National Visa if you are a Serbian, Croatian, or Ukrainian citizen. National Visas are issued to help preserve the Hungarian language and the identity of the country, which is why authorities grant these visas for studying purposes or family reunifications.
Business Visa
Business Visas are only valid for three months, and before you can apply for this visa, you will need an official Invitation Letter from a functionary or legal entity in Hungary. The company that wishes to invite you has to apply for the Invitation Letter at the Hungarian Immigration Office. On the application, the company has to prove that you will be travelling to Hungary for business and that the company will cover all of your costs during the visit. After the Invitation Letter has been issued, you may apply for the Business Visa at the Hungarian consulate or embassy.
Tourist Visa
The Tourist Visa permits stay in Hungary for a short period. You can apply for a Tourist Visa at the Hungarian consulate. The authorities will issue the visa once you can show proof of your return flight tickets, accommodation, and your bank account that has sufficient funds to cover your expenses while you are visiting Hungary.
Transit Visa
If you are an EU citizen or a foreign national that has a valid residence permit for Switzerland or Lichtenstein and you do not intend to be in transit in Hungary for more than five days, you do not need a Transit Visa. However, if you do not qualify for immunity, you will need to apply for a Transit Visa if you plan on being in transit in Hungary for a short period.
We are here to help. If you need any help with understanding which visas to apply for to enter Hungary, be sure to get in touch with our team of experts today!













