Hungary Business Visa for Indians - Everything You Need To Know - (Indian Passport Holders)

If you are an individual looking to take part in business-related activities in Hungary, you will need to possess a Hungary Schengen business visa. However, if you are a national of the Schengen countries or of one of the visa-exempt nations for Hungary, you do not need a permit to enter. In this case, you are able to enter and stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days without any visa. However, for those who do not come under this category and need a permit, it is valid for a duration of 90 days in a 180-day period and is issued as single-entry, double-entry, or even a multiple-entry. 

The Hungarian entry permit application is done using an offline application form. There is no online method for this as of yet. Before starting the application, you must ensure that you qualify to apply for the business category. If you do not, you must apply for the one that is apt for you. After this, you may start the application process as follows- 

1. To start the process, you must obtain all the documents that are required for the business visit. You can check this in the list mentioned further in this guide.
2. Visit the website of the VAC (Visa Application Centre), or the Hungarian embassy, and download the Hungary business visa application form. The form is the same for all the short-term Schengen category for Hungary. However, in the option asking about the purpose, you must mention this as “business”. 
3. Fill in the application form and print it. Sign the respective places. 
4. Proceed to book an appointment for the submission of the documents, biometrics, as well as paying the fees. You can choose the centre to be one of the VACs, or the embassy/consulate.
5. With the documents and the application form, visit the respective appointment centre. You may have to give an interview at the centre.

Please note that if you have already submitted your biometrics as a part of any Schengen application in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. In this specific case, you do not have to visit the appointment in person. Instead, you can use any third party to submit them on your behalf, provided that they are equipped with a letter of authorization from you.

While choosing the VAC, ensure that you select the one that has jurisdiction of your state of residence.  In case you wish to apply directly to the Hungarian mission, if you are residents of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, you must submit at the Consulate-general of Hungary in Mumbai. All the other states can apply at the Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi.

It is important to ensure that you submit only genuine documents. Submission of fake or forged documents and false information are grounds for automatic Schengen visa rejection. A refused permit can hamper your future travel plans. 

To be able to travel to Hungary in a business category, you must meet the following conditions. If you do not, your application will be rejected. 

• You must be living in a country where are lodging your application. If you are residing in a residence permit in any foreign nation, you may apply it from the respective country.
• You must possess a valid passport as per the requirements.
• Your main reason for the visit must be to take part in business activities such as taking part in business meetings, conferences, trade fairs, etc.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the stay in the country. If being sponsored, you must be able to prove this as well.
• You must be invited by a Hungarian organisation/company to visit the country for business.
• You must apply for the permit only if -

• 1. Hungary is your only destination, or
  2. Hungary is one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you will be spending the majority of the time here, or, 
  3. If there is no main destination, Hungary must be your port of entry.

As per the Hungary business visa requirements, the following documents are mandatory for applying. Keep in mind that there may be additional documents depending on individual eligibility.

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must consist of at least 2 blank pages.
  2. Passports older than 10 years are not allowed.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.

• Print out of the completed application form
• A covering letter from the sending company - 

• 1. This should include traveller’s basic details.
  2. It should clearly mention the source of funds.
  3. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  4. It must be on the company letterhead and must contain the seal. 
  5. It should be addressed to the Embassy of Hungary
• Invitation letter from the Hungarian organisation/company stating complete details of the visit, in the Hungarian language
• Travel itinerary/documents - 
  1. A detailed travel itinerary 
  2. Round trip flight tickets
  3. Proof of accommodation 
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Proof of occupation -
  1. Proof of occupation such as employment letter, Copy of business license, etc.

• Financial documents -
  1. Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

Ensure that you carry all the original documents with you to the appointment centre. These will be verified by the officials there. However, you may have to submit only photocopies of a few of these documents as they will not be returned back.

• Dimensions:  35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured 
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be recently captured - within last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral facial expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed/prescription 
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The time taken to process the business permit depends on aspects such as the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, previous travel history, and so on. Normally, this process takes around 15 working days. However, in some cases, it may take up to 30 working days. In certain extreme cases, this can even take up to as long as 60 days. Since it is impossible to pinpoint the exact number of days for processing, it is suggested that you apply for the permit well in advance. You must apply at least 15 days before the date of travel, but no more than 3 months before.

The fees for the process depends on a few factors such as the number of entries, the Hungary business visa duration, biometric charges, as well as any other service charges. Without prior notice, it can also vary upon the foreign exchange rates. As a result, it is necessary to determine the exact fees before starting the application process.

Upon successful submission at the appointment centre, and the payment of fees, the application will be sent to the embassy or consulate for processing depending on the jurisdiction. Note that even though the VAC has full authority to accept the applications and take the biometrics, they have no role in the processing of the application. The processing is solely in the hands of the embassy or consulate. 

If your application is successful, you can collect the passport and visa in person from the VAC/embassy, or you can have it delivered to you by the VAC for a specific fee. You may also get a third party to collect it for you, provided that they carry an authorization letter signed by you. 

While you wait for a decision on your application, you may track the status of your application. You can do this by visiting https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-Passporttracking and entering your reference number and date of birth. You may also contact the respective travel agency to know the status. The embassy directly will not provide answers to any queries regarding the status.

Upon successful receipt of the business permit, you must follow the below-mentioned points. These are to ensure that you abide by the rules and have a pleasant stay in the country.

• Keep a track of the expiry date, duration of allowed stay, and the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. 
• Carry all the documents without fail while travelling. You may have to show copies of the documents required for the application at the entry port.
• Ensure that you travel to Hungary within 6 months of the issue date. After this date, you will not be allowed to travel as the permit will become invalid.
• While you are in the country, carry a copy of your travel documents with you. Also, ensure that you maintain the original documents safe. 
• While you are on a business permit, you are not allowed to take part in work activities. However, you are allowed to engage in other activities that fall under the Schengen short term category such as tourism, visiting friends, etc.
• You will not be able to extend the business visa under normal circumstances.
• Since this is a Schengen type, you are allowed to visit any of the other Schengen nations. However, if you receive the Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) type, you can only visit the countries that are specifically listed on the sticker.
• While you are in the country, you must respect their tradition and culture. You must also abide by the Hungarian immigration laws.