How to apply for a visa to Hungary and not be refused

Hungary is part of the Schengen zone, which means you can visit this country in 2021 with a uniform visa. A visa to Hungary can be obtained independently or through intermediaries. Submission of documents is carried out by the Hungarian Consulate in St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg, the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow or a department of the Pony Express company, which accepts applications from individuals.

Visa center in Novgorod

To visit any country participating in the Schengen agreement you need a visa.

2021 did not bring major changes to the visa procedure. You can do this yourself without resorting to intermediaries.

Do I need a visa

If you are planning a trip to the Schengen zone for the first time, then you should know: a visa to Hungary is required for Russians.

Even those for whom Hungary is only a means to get to their final destination, and not the purpose of the trip, will have to apply for a visa.

If the traveler already has a valid Schengen multiple visa issued in another country, it can be used to enter Hungary.

Ukrainians who want to travel to Hungary in 2021 for tourism purposes for 90 days do not need a visa. They have a visa-free regime with all EU countries.

Do you need a visa to Budapest?

Russians wishing to travel to Budapest in 2021 must go through the procedure for obtaining a Schengen visa. The fact is that Hungary is a member of the Schengen zone, so it is impossible to come to its capital without such a visa.


Russians are allowed to enter Hungary with a Schengen visa. If you already have a visa from another European country that is part of the Schengen agreement (for example, France or Germany), then you can easily enter Budapest using it.

Types of visas

In 2021, consulates continue to issue several types of visas:

  • visa A – one day;
  • visa C – up to 3 months every six months;

    Hungarian visa

    Sample visa to Hungary

  • visa D – more than 3 months.

Despite such a meager assortment, the purposes of the trip can be completely different. And each of them will have its own visa:

  • Transit short-term visa;
  • Business visa;
  • Tourist;
  • Visa by invitation;
  • Working;
  • Student.

It is these parameters that will determine which package of documents to provide to the embassy. But, despite the official list of required papers, consular department employees may request additional documents.

Cost of obtaining different types of visas

To obtain a visa you need to pay a consular fee. It is 35 euros. To get a visa faster, you can pay for its urgent production. In this case the price increases to 70 euros. The fee is paid in rubles, its cost is calculated at the current exchange rate. It is better to bring the exact amount without change to the embassy.

When submitting an application at visa centers, an additional service fee is paid. In Moscow it is 20 euros, and in other cities - 30. A visa to Hungary for Belarusians and other foreigners living in Russia is also issued at the embassy. But in this case, its cost increases to 60 euros.

Children under 6 years of age, disabled people and participants in youth sports events are exempt from paying the consular fee. You will not need it if you are going to study or to visit close relatives living in Hungary. Moreover, they must be citizens of the Russian Federation. Members of government delegations and parliamentarians are not subject to the fee.

Tourist Schengen visa category C

The most popular type of visa, which is most often issued independently. A category C tourist visa is issued for a period of up to 3 months, which can be spent in the Schengen zone continuously every 6 months.

If the Hungarian consulate has approved the receipt of a multiple visa, then you can cross the border any number of times during the validity period of the document.

List of required documents

To apply for a tourist visa yourself, you need to collect the same documents, plus attach the following papers:

  • An application form filled out in accordance with your current requirements, in particular, with a request to issue not a transit, but a short-term visa (sample for filling out the application form);
  • Confirmed hotel reservation for the entire stay in Hungary. Instead, you can present a tourist voucher or an apartment rental agreement;
  • Documents confirming your vacation plan: planned excursions, leisure activities organized by a travel agency, or just a return air ticket;
  • A certificate from work indicating your position and salary level. .

    certificate from work

Filling out the form

Filling rules:

  • The first 3 points are filled out in full accordance with the foreign passport.
  • The application form contains fields marked with “*”, which may not be filled in by residents of the European Union.
  • The application form must be filled out in Russian or English.
  • A child has the right to put his own signature only after reaching the age of fourteen.
  • The marks in the squares are marked with a cross.
  • The application form is filled out using a pen with blue or black ink.
  • The applicant fills out only the right side of the application. The left one is intended to be filled in by employees of the diplomatic mission.

Step-by-step instructions for filling out the application form:

  1. Initially, the surname is entered.
  2. Then the previous surname is indicated. This item is filled in only by those persons who, in any case, changed their surname.
  3. First and middle names are indicated.
  4. Then enter the date of birth in the format: year-month-day.
  5. Indicate your civil passport number.
  6. Enter your country of birth.
  7. Indication of nationality at the time of filing the application.
  8. Indicate citizenship by birth.
  9. The gender is marked.
  10. Marital status is selected.
  11. The father's initials are included.
  12. The mother's initials are included.
  13. Select the type of travel document.
  14. Its number is indicated.
  15. The authority issuing the travel document is indicated.
  16. Enter the date when it was issued.
  17. The date until which the travel document is valid is indicated.
  18. The presence of permission to stay in the Russian Federation is indicated. This column is filled in by non-residents of Russia.
  19. The position held or social status fits in.
  20. The name and address of the workplace or educational institution are indicated.
  21. The state of primary destination is recorded, that is, the country where the traveler is heading.
  22. The type of permission requested to enter Hungary is indicated.
  23. The type of visa you choose is individual or group.
  24. The number of entries into the territory of Hungary is selected.
  25. The estimated period of stay in this country is indicated.
  26. It is required to enter all Schengen visas issued over the last 3 years.
  27. Indicate the presence or absence of a visa to the destination country. This item must be completed only if a transit entry permit is requested.
  28. Indicate past visits to the Republic of Hungary.
  29. Select the purpose of visiting the state.
  30. Then enter the date of entry.
  31. Indicate the estimated date of departure from Hungary.
  32. Enter the first country of entry. This column is filled in if a transit permit is opened.
  33. The type of transport is indicated.
  34. Enter information about the inviting party.
  35. Specify your travel sponsor.
  36. Select a source of funds.
  37. Enter the current surname of the husband/wife.
  38. Enter the last name of your husband/wife.
  39. Indicate the name and patronymic of the husband/wife.
  40. Indicate the husband/wife's date of birth.
  41. Enter the place of birth of your husband/wife.
  42. Enter the initials of all children.
  43. Indicate whether you are an EU citizen.
  44. Read the agreement.
  45. Enter your actual residential address.
  46. Provide a valid mobile or home phone number.
  47. Indicate the place and date of filling out the application form.
  48. Put a signature.

Photo requirements

Requirements for photographs presented by the diplomatic mission:

  • Background – plain, white.
  • The photo was taken from the front.
  • The distance from the top of the head to the chin should not exceed 36 millimeters and be less than 32 millimeters.
  • The face takes up 70 to 80% of the entire frame space.
  • Size 35 by 45 millimeters.
  • No glasses or hats.

Visitor visa by invitation

If the purpose of the trip is not tourism, but a friendly visit or visiting relatives, then the following documents will be required:

  • An official letter of invitation from the host party, which must contain a personal signature, duly certified. This invitation is issued by the Office of Immigration and Citizenship of the Republic of Hungary.
  • Confirmation of your legal presence in Hungary. This can be a passport of a citizen of the country, permanent residence or a residence permit in Hungary.
  • Documents that confirm the presence of family ties between the person issuing the invitation and the invited persons.
  • Sponsorship letter. This document is provided only if the sponsor is the receiving party.
  • Documents that will confirm your intention to return to Russia: a certificate from work, confirmation of ownership of movable and immovable property in Russia.

    house certificate

You can apply for a work or business visa yourself, however, in some cases, without involving higher authorities, obtaining such a document can become difficult:

  • Receipt will require an official letter from the receiving or sending party. Often such requests are issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, heads of local administrations if the trip takes place as part of events between two sister cities, as well as any documents confirming the purpose of the trip;
  • Confirmation of work availability in Russia, if this was not clearly stated in the cover letter.

If a visa is opened by a pensioner, then he must add to the above documents the original certificate of the amount of pension for the last 180 days. The amount must be indicated by month.

Examples and sample documents

Here you can download ready-made samples of various necessary documents for obtaining a visa:

  • Sponsorship letter – .
  • Permission for a child to travel with one of the parents – .
  • Permission for a child to travel without parents - .

List of required documents

To obtain permission to enter Hungary, you need to submit a pre-prepared package of documents . If you go on a trip by purchasing a ticket from a travel agency, then it can take care of the registration. But it is more profitable to collect the papers yourself.

List of documents for a Schengen visa:

  1. A questionnaire that also serves as an application for permission. You can print it out yourself and fill it out in Latin letters. You need to put your signature below. If the form is filled out for a minor child, then his parent or legal representative signs for him.
  2. International passport. It is important to pay attention to its validity period. If it runs out, the visa may be refused. The passport must be valid for another 3 months after the end of your visit to Hungary. Make sure that the document has a blank page where the embassy staff will paste the visa.
  3. Photocopies of passport. The embassy needs to provide information from the pages with the citizen’s personal data and registration.
  4. Health insurance policy. The minimum coverage amount for a Schengen visa is 30,000 euros.
  5. Typical photographs.
  6. Tickets for train, plane or bus. Papers confirming their reservation will also be suitable. It is advisable to attach return tickets immediately. This will increase your chances of getting a visa.
  7. Receipts confirming payment for a hotel room or rented apartment for the entire duration of your stay in the country. Only reservations can be sent to the embassy.
  8. Documents that indicate your financial solvency. Its guarantor can be a certificate from work indicating your monthly income, or bank account statements. They must be certified by the employer or bank employee.

Statement
Application for a Schengen visa to Hungary.

If you have previously applied for a Schengen visa, then you need to take copies of it for the last 3 years to the embassy. For a national long-term permit, the list of documents is identical.

Photo requirements

There are also special requirements for photographs submitted along with the application form. They must be new. They should be done no earlier than six months before submitting your visa application. Photos are taken on a white or light background, on which there are no patterns or other designs.

The person’s face should not be overexposed, photographed in close-up, and his features should be clearly distinguishable. The image must not contain any foreign objects, including frames, cut-off stamps or dates. You can't smile widely.

It is prohibited to appear wearing hats, glasses with dark lenses and other items that hide one’s appearance. Hair should not cover the face. Headscarves are allowed to be worn only for religious reasons by women who do not appear on the street with their heads uncovered.

Applying for a visa for minors

To travel to Hungary, children must also obtain a permit. To do this, additionally attach photographs of the child and a photocopy of his birth certificate. If a minor is traveling without one or both parents, then you need to prepare their permission to leave the country in advance. It must be certified by a notary.

Children under 6 years of age do not need to obtain their own passport. Their details and visa are pasted into the parent’s document. All minors over 14 years of age must obtain their own passport before receiving permission. It must be prepared at any age if the child is traveling to Hungary without parents.

Additional documents

The set of papers for the embassy depends on the purpose of the trip. People traveling to Hungary on holiday will need to prepare a travel voucher confirming that you have booked a hotel room for the duration of your stay in the country. Those who come for work present an invitation from their employer. It is necessary to bring to the embassy the contact details of the company: its address, telephone or fax.

Students are required to sign an agreement with the educational institution. In this case, the document must indicate the student’s place of residence and the amount of his scholarship. If you want to visit relatives, you must request an invitation from them. Hungarian citizens should first have it certified by a notary and the department responsible for immigration issues.

A visa to Hungary by invitation is also issued for attending cultural or sporting events. The organizers send him out. If you plan to undergo treatment in Hungary, you need to submit to the embassy an agreement concluded with a medical institution. It indicates the length of your stay and the cost of services provided.

To obtain a visa, you must provide your biometric data. Fingerprints are taken during the interview at the embassy. Only children under 12 years of age and people who, due to physical conditions, cannot undergo it, can skip the procedure. Data must be updated every 5 years.

Filling out the form

You must print out the application form yourself and fill it out before visiting the embassy. All information must be written in Latin letters. They should be large and clearly visible. All data should be transferred to the form in the same way as they are written in the documents. Errors when filling it out are one of the common reasons for refusal to issue a visa. The applicant's signature must be placed at the bottom. The completed application form must be brought to the embassy along with other documents.

Visa for children

In March 2015, the last issued foreign documents in which minor children were included expired. And the holders of such passports really could not apply for a separate visa for the child, but indicate information about him in their application.

In this case, the visa issued for the parent contained the clarification “+1” and extended the effect to the child.

visa for a child

However, today it is impossible to obtain Schengen with such a document, since the validity of the passport must be 3 months or more at the end of the trip.

Therefore, in 2021, a minor child must have his own foreign passport to travel abroad. A Schengen visa to Hungary is issued for each young tourist according to the same rules.

Schengen visa

The main advantage of a Schengen visa is that it can be obtained at the consulates and embassies of any of the Schengen countries. In this case, for example, having received Schengen at the Hungarian consulate, you will first need to enter the territory of Hungary, and then you can visit any other European country. The Schengen visa works in the same way with other countries. Having received a visa at the German Embassy, ​​you will need to visit Germany and from there you can travel to Hungary by bus.

There is a special clause in the rules for obtaining a Schengen visa. If you are going to visit several countries, then you need to apply for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the country in which you will spend the most time.

Thus, the most convenient option for us would be to apply for and receive a Schengen visa at the Hungarian embassy or consulate.

This is what a Schengen Visa looks like in your passport
This is what a Schengen Visa looks like in your passport

Transit visa category C

A transit visa to Hungary is documents of category A and C. Which one to choose depends on the length of stay in the country and the method of travel.

visa application

Sample of filling out the application form for obtaining a Hungarian visa

Category A is an airport visa. If you are planning to make a transfer in Budapest for your next flight and want to take a walk around the city, then it is worth getting a short-term transit Schengen visa C.

You will be able to stay in Hungary with such a document for as long as necessary. True, the period for which you are asking for a visa must be indicated in advance in the application form and documented.

If you are flying to a non-Schengen country via Hungary, you can obtain a transit visa C for 48 hours. And not only get to your final destination without problems, but also have time to take a short excursion around one of the famous European cities - Budapest.

If the trip is planned not by air, but by land, then you can apply for a double-entry transit visa for 10 days: 5 days travel one way, 5 days back when returning home. When documents are prepared independently, you can calculate how many days are needed for transit based on the distance you plan to cover: 500 kilometers per day.

transit visa

Example of a transit visa

Documents for a transit visa

Applying for a transit visa C will require travelers to collect the following package of documents:

  • Tourist questionnaire, which will serve as a visa application;
  • A passport with two blank pages and a validity period of 3 months or more;
  • Standard visa photographs, which can be ordered at any photo studio, but not earlier than 6 months ago ();
  • Copies of pages of the national passport;
  • Medical insurance for travelers going abroad, valid throughout their stay in the Schengen area;
  • A certificate from work indicating your position, salary and income for the last designated period (sample in Russian, in English);
  • Round-trip air tickets for all scheduled flights;
  • If the final destination has visa relations with the Russian Federation, then a document permitting border crossing.
  • Confirmation of hotel reservations for the entire duration of your stay in Hungary. If the visa is issued for 2 days, it is enough to show a hotel reservation for 1 night.
  • A detailed description of the route you have planned.

A short-term transit visa to Hungary will allow you not only to achieve the final destination of the route, but also to see the country without completing additional paperwork. The processing time for this type of visa is standard and is 7-10 days from the moment you fill out the application form and submit the package of documents to the consulate.

Documents for obtaining a Hungarian Schengen visa

Standard list of documents for obtaining a visa to Hungary

  1. questionnaire;
  2. a copy of all pages of the civil passport with marks;
  3. a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 3 months from the end date of the trip + copies of pages with marks; if you have an old passport, then a copy of the spread and copies of pages with marks are required;
  4. 2 photos 35mm x 45mm (requirements)
  5. certificate from the place of employment indicating the salary (valid for 1 month from the date of receipt);
  6. a certificate from the bank about the account status (not less than RUB 50,000) (valid for 1 month from the date of receipt);
  7. Paid air tickets;
  8. medical insurance

For individual entrepreneurs:

  1. questionnaire;
  2. a copy of all pages of the civil passport;
  3. a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 3 months from the end date of the trip + copies of pages with marks; if you have an old passport, then a copy of the spread and copies of pages with marks are required;
  4. 2 photos 35mm x 45mm (requirements);
  5. A photocopy of the certificate of registration of private entrepreneurship;
  6. A photocopy of the tax registration certificate;
  7. A certificate of income from the tax authorities or a copy of the tax return for the last quarter;
  8. If you have your own seal - a certificate from your place of work (the certificate must be issued no earlier than a month before the date of submission to the consulate);
  9. Paid air tickets;
  10. medical insurance

For pensioners and non-workers:

  1. questionnaire;
  2. a copy of all pages of the civil passport;
  3. An international passport with a validity period of at least 3 months from the end date of the trip + copies of pages with marks; if you have an old passport, then a copy of the spread and copies of pages with marks are required;
  4. 2 photos 35mm x 45mm (requirements);
  5. Photocopy of pension certificate;
  6. A certificate from the bank about the account balance (at least 50,000 rubles) or a sponsorship letter in any handwritten form from close relatives with a copy of a document confirming the relationship, a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work.
  7. Paid air tickets;
  8. medical insurance

For children under 18 years of age:

  1. questionnaire;
  2. a copy of the birth certificate;
  3. An international passport with a validity period of at least 3 months from the end date of the trip + copies of pages with marks; if you have an old passport, then a copy of the spread and copies of pages with marks are required;
  4. 2 photos 35mm x 45mm (requirements);
  5. original certificate from the place of study;
  6. If you are going on a trip with two parents who already have visas, then we attach copies of double-page spreads of the parents’ foreign passports plus copies of pages with active visas;
  7. If you go on a trip with an accompanying person, then a copy of the consent to travel from both parents. Consent to travel unaccompanied is only valid for children over 12 years of age;
  8. Photocopies of the photo spread and the registration page of the parents’ civil passports;
  9. A certificate from the bank about the account status (at least 50,000 rubles) or a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work and a sponsorship letter in any handwritten form from close relatives with a copy of a document confirming the relationship attached;
  10. medical insurance
  11. Paid air tickets;
  12. Additional information: In case of death or absence of one or both parents, appropriate confirmation must be provided. Children who have reached the age of 6 are entered into their parents’ passport by pasting a photograph. Citizens over 14 years of age must have their own civil passport.

National visa category D

Its registration is possible only by personal application to the consular section of the Hungarian Embassy. Visa centers and travel agencies do not provide this service. Those foreigners for whom permanent long-term residence in the country is the only option can apply for a national visa. First of all, these are students and people who come here to work.

students in Hungary

Students at medical school

A national visa is most often issued for a period of one year with the possibility of extension after completion. The basis for issuance is a letter from the university, which states that a foreign student is enrolled in studies at the institution in such and such a department. The training period will be so long.

Such a letter can be obtained not only by foreigners wishing to obtain higher education in Hungary.

But also those who want to learn the national language. There are no age restrictions for this category of visitors.

If a foreigner comes to Hungary not to study, but to work, he will also need a national visa. It can be requested at the consulate only if there are certain agreements with the employer, as well as an official invitation to work in Hungary on his part.

On the basis of a national visa, already in Hungary, students or foreigners who come here to work receive a residence permit, which after a certain period of time can be extended and re-registered as permanent residence.

Work Visa

A work visa is one of the types of national visas. It provides the right to long-term stay in Hungary and work. As a rule, to obtain this type of permit, a foreign national who wants to work in Hungary must find an employer, because he is the one who handles most of the paperwork required to obtain a work visa.

It will not be possible to open this type of permit without an employer, because an invitation letter must be sent from the company or employer, which serves as the basis for issuing a work visa.

Initially, the employer is obliged to go to the employment service and obtain a certificate from this organization that there are no Hungarian citizens willing to work for the position provided to the foreigner. This rule is mandatory, because according to the laws, residents of Hungary and the European Union are initially hired, and then only foreigners.

If at least one resident of Hungary or the EU is suitable or agrees to be employed for a given vacancy, then the employer is obliged to give preference to him and not to the foreign resident.

Flag of Hungary

After receiving a certificate from the employment service, the employer goes and submits an application to the Ministry of Employment in order to obtain permission to carry out work activities.

After this, the completed permit and invitation letter are sent to the foreigner. These documents must be submitted to the Hungarian diplomatic mission. In addition to these papers, a standard package of documents is also submitted:

  1. A completed application form.
  2. A valid foreign passport.
  3. 2 color photographs.
  4. Certificate of employment or any other employment contract with the employer.
  5. Health insurance policy.
  6. Rental agreements for housing or a hotel for the period of employment of a foreign resident in Hungary.
  7. A document confirming financial reliability (bank statements).

After submitting a package of papers, a foreign resident will have to undergo a fingerprinting procedure, that is, taking fingerprints.

Schengen visa example

Typically, documents for a work visa are processed within 3 months. The minimum review period is 21 days .

This visa is issued for a year with the right to further extension. To open a permit you will have to pay 60 euros.

student visa

A student visa is issued for the purpose of studying at higher educational institutions in Hungary and private schools. It is issued for the entire period of study specified in the contract.

To obtain this visa, you must submit a package of papers:

  1. Invitation letter from the educational institution.
  2. Foreign passport and its photocopies.
  3. Photographs in the amount of 4 pieces.
  4. Certificate confirming payment of 2,500 euros for training. If a visa is refused, the funds will be returned.
  5. A document confirming the enrollment of a foreign student at a Hungarian university.
  6. A document confirming financial reliability.

University of Debrecen

University of Debrecen in Hungary

Documents for obtaining a visa to Hungary - work, study and other purposes

If you intend to go to the Hungarian state not for tourism, then you need to attach documentation confirming your purpose.

Are you going to work?

Attach a work contract from your employer (it is completed remotely).

Do you want to study?

A certificate of enrollment in a specific educational institution will be required.

In case of transit, please provide proof of further movements. You can find out more on the consulate website or by contacting our visa center staff.

If we are talking about applying for a child visa , then prepare the original and a copy of the birth certificate, a certificate from the place of study. If one/both parents are absent on the trip, you must have permission to cross the border from each of them.

Review period

Once the application form has been filled out, all the paperwork has been collected, the visa and, if necessary, service fee has been paid, and your documents have been accepted for consideration, it should take 7 to 10 business days before you receive a final decision. Consular officials recommend submitting an application no later than 2 weeks before departure, and preferably earlier.

departure from Hungary

If the documents are processed not through the Hungarian visa center, but through intermediaries, a travel agency or any other organization, then it is better to leave enough time to obtain a visa in case of force majeure.

Applications for national visas are accepted only at the consular department by appointment. The period for reviewing a package of documents may be extended.

Validity

Visa typePermitted period of stay in the countryValid term of a visa
Short term
Type C 1From 1 to 30 days30 days
Type C 2Up to 90 days180 days
Type C 3Up to 90 daysUp to 360 days
Type C 4Up to 90 daysUp to 5 years
National
Type DUp to one yearUp to one year

Collection of documentation

After you have made an appointment and received confirmation that the date and time are assigned to you, you need to collect a package of documents to obtain the visa to Budapest. If you are traveling for tourist purposes on your own, then you will have to deal with this issue personally. If you have chosen a travel company to prepare your trip, then your operator will take care of this. Here is a list of documents required when applying for a visa to Hungary for Russian citizens in 2021:

  • An application form containing a request for a visa for Russians. The corresponding form can be downloaded from the embassy website, printed and filled out in Latin letters. If minor children are traveling with you, then their parents or official guardians must sign the form for them;
  • International passport. Here it is also necessary to comply with some requirements: the passport must have a validity period not exceeding 10 years; after the visa expires, the passport must be valid for at least another 3 months;
  • Copies of pages of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
  • If you have been granted Schengen visas to other countries in the last three years, you must also provide copies of them;
  • 2 standard size color photos;
  • Medical insurance issued in a form that is valid throughout the Schengen area. Insurance must cover treatment costs from 30,000 euros.

This is the main list of documents that are required from citizens of the Russian Federation. But there are also additional documents:

  • Documents that confirm solvency. If a Russian is officially employed, then a certificate of employment in Form 2-NDFL will be required. Such a certificate from work will confirm the presence of a permanent source of income, and a bank statement will confirm the financial viability of a person going to visit Budapest. If persons of retirement age go on a trip, then the work certificate must be replaced with a certificate of pension amount;
  • For minor children, a photocopy of the birth certificate is required. To travel to Budapest, a visa for children is also required as for adults. A photocopy of the birth certificate plays the role of a passport of the Russian Federation, if the child does not yet have one. If a child is traveling with one parent or guardian, or traveling alone, then the trip will require not only a copy of the birth certificate, but the official permission of one or both parents;
  • Confirmation of hotel reservations for accommodation and round-trip travel documents.

The consular fee is paid directly at the embassy. You can find out the amount on the website or by phone.

Applying for a visa through Pony Express

You can apply for a visa to Hungary through the familiar company Pony Express.

The procedure for submitting papers is no different from submitting documents at a visa center or consular section. The only difference is the service fee. So people who want to apply for a visa through this company will have to pay 35 euros of consular fees and 30 euros of service fees.

It is also worth noting that in Moscow, at the Pony Express branch, the service fee is 20 euros. Payments must be made only in rubles.

Pony Express logo

The main feature of submitting papers through this organization is that there is no need for a prior appointment . Applicants can also submit biometric data directly at the Pony Express building. There is no separate fee for completing the procedure.

Only short-term visas are issued at the Pony Express Visa Application Center. It is also worth remembering that you cannot get an urgent visa through this company.

After submitting the papers, the applicant is given a unique number by which he can track the readiness of the visa on the official Pony Express website.

Refusal to obtain a visa stamp

The main reasons for refusal to obtain a Hungarian visa are:

  1. Unspecified purpose of trip to Hungary.
  2. Incomplete package of papers.
  3. Violations of the migration regime in the past.
  4. Lack of sufficient material support.
  5. Suspicions arise among diplomatic mission employees regarding their intention to enter the country for the purpose of illegal employment.

The consulate usually does not give the reason for the refusal. It is encrypted in written form in the form of alphabetic symbols, where the letter indicates the type of visa requested, and the number indicates the reason for refusal.

The most common reasons:

  • 1 – C: this wording means that the refusal is temporary and is valid for only 3 months. If after this period, when re-submitting the papers, the applicant is refused, then he will be banned from entering the EU countries for 10 years.
  • 2 – C: this wording means a call for an additional interview.
  • 3-C: this wording means problems with documents.

Do Ukrainians need a visa to Hungary?

Residents of Ukraine can visit Hungary in 2021 without a visa, like all other EU countries. You can stay in the country for tourism purposes for no more than 90 days.

Hungarian borders

borders of Hungary with border areas

To obtain a national visa category D, which allows you to study and work in the country, you will need to fill out an application and submit a standard package of documents.

Types of visas issued

The permit is issued based on the purpose of the trip. The type of visa, the procedure for obtaining it, its validity period and cost will depend on it.

The following documents can be obtained from the Hungarian Embassy:

  • category A visa required to stay at the country's airports;
  • transit type B for travel through the territory of Hungary;
  • short-term Schengen visa C, allowing you to stay in the country for no more than 90 days;
  • long-term national D.

The registration of each type is handled by the Hungarian Embassy, ​​which is located in Moscow. You can submit documents to visa centers or consulates general.

Category A for staying at the airport

This type will be needed for people flying to another country with a layover in Hungary. The document is required to stay at the airport, but not more than 24 hours. During this time, you are allowed to be in the transit zone, but you cannot go beyond it. To obtain such a visa, you will need plane tickets.

It is worth checking with the embassy in advance whether you need a visa to Budapest if you are flying through the city in transit.

A permit is issued only if you are traveling to another state that is part of the Schengen zone. If you are flying to a country where there is a visa-free regime for Russian citizens, then you do not need to obtain one.

Type B transit

This type will be needed for a short stay in the country. Having issued it, you can stay in Hungary for no more than 5 days. This visa is required if you are traveling by car or train.

It also needs to be issued for a flight if the waiting period for a connecting flight is more than 24 hours. To obtain permission, you need to provide the embassy with documents confirming transit: plane or train tickets, hotel reservations in a third country.

Motorists driving across the Hungarian border in their own car must prepare a written plan of their intended route. They will also be required to provide documents and insurance for the vehicle. The number of possible border crossings is discussed in advance. Permission can be obtained for single, double or multiple entry. In exceptional cases, the period of stay may be extended by another 7 days if the flight is canceled or delayed.

Short-term visas type C


Categories of visas to Hungary.

This is the main permit required to visit Hungary. A multiple visa allows you to stay in the country for no more than 90 days within six months.

At the same time, you can make an unlimited number of trips using it, if their duration fits within the designated period.

This visa must be issued for a tourist trip. The document will be needed if you plan to come to Hungary for treatment, short-term training courses, a business meeting or to visit relatives and friends. Its validity period varies from six months to 5 years.

The visa allows you to visit other countries in the Schengen area. You can submit documents to receive it either independently or with the help of a tour operator. The package of required papers will depend on the purpose of your trip. In addition to the standard set of documents, the embassy may request confirmation of hotel reservations or air tickets if you are visiting the country as a tourist.

If you come for treatment, you need to provide documents from the medical center or hospital where the treatment will take place. The same rule applies to educational institutions and legal entities. People planning to visit friends or relatives should receive an invitation from them in advance.

National visa category D

A long-term multiple visa to Hungary will be needed if you plan to stay in the country for longer than 90 days.

It is more difficult to arrange than a short-term one. Russian citizens will have to personally visit the embassy and undergo an interview.

This type of visa is issued:

  • students who plan to study in Hungary throughout the year;
  • people who want to learn Hungarian;
  • foreigners who got a job in the country.

Student visas are issued only after enrollment in an educational institution in the country. Foreigners coming to work must send an invitation from their employer to the embassy. It is necessary to take care in advance to confirm your own financial solvency. This could include bank statements or scholarship documents.

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