Hungary Student Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

To take part in study-related activities such as training, internship, research, etc for a short term, you will require a Hungary Schengen student visa. However, if you are a citizen of one of the Schengen countries or the visa-exempt nations for Hungary, you do not require a permit to enter. The student permit, more formally known as the Schengen Educational/Scientific/Training/Study visa is valid for a duration of 90 days in a 180-day period and is issued as single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry.

The Hungarian student visa application is done using an offline application form. Before starting the application, you must ensure that you qualify to apply for this particular type of visa. After this, you can start the application process as follows- 

1. Acquire all the documents that are required for the visit as per the requirements.
2. Visit the website of the VAC (Visa Application Centre), or the Hungarian embassy, and download the Hungary student visa application form. The form is the same for all types of short-term Schengen category for Hungary. However, in the option asking about the purpose, you must mention this as “Study/Research”. 
3. Fill in the application form, print, and 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 as per your jurisdiction.
5. With the documents, the application form, and the fees visit the respective appointment centre. You may have to give an interview at the centre if required.

Kindly note that if you have submitted your biometrics for a Schengen application in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again as the data is recorded in the VIS (Visa Information System). In this case, you do not have to attend the appointment in person.

While selecting the VAC, ensure that you select the one that has jurisdiction over your state of residence.  In case you wish to apply directly to a Hungarian mission, and 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 the genuine documents and truthful information. Submission of fake documents and false information can lead to automatic Schengen visa rejection. 

To be able to apply for this category, you must meet the following criteria. Failure to do so will make you ineligible for the process, thereby causing your application to be rejected. 

• You must be living in a country where are submitting 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 training/educational activities only. 
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the stay in the country.
• You must be invited by the Hungarian institution.
• You must meet the English language requirements.
• 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 student visa requirements, the following are the list of documents that are required for the application - 

• 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
• Certificate from the sending and receiving institution duly signed and stamped by the issuing authority
• 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
• Financial documents
• Proof of English language proficiency - IELTS/TOEFL

Kindly ensure that you carry all the original documents to the appointment centre. You will, however, require to submit only photocopies for a few of these documents as you will not receive them back.

The Photo Specification for Hungary Student Visa are as follows -

• 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

The time taken for the processing of the student visa depends on several aspects such as the number of entries, the volume of applications at the embassy, previous travel history, and so on. In normal conditions, it takes around 15 working days to process. However, in certain cases, it may take up to 30 working days. And in a few extreme cases, this can even take up to as long as 60 days. As a result, it is suggested that you apply for the permit well in advance. You must apply at least 15 days before the intended date of travel, but not more than 3 months before.

The total fees can depend upon the number of entries, the biometric service charges, any additional express processing charges, and so on. It can also vary upon the foreign exchange rates. It is, therefore, necessary to check the exact charges before starting the application. 

Once you have submitted the application, it will begin processing. Even if you have submitted at the VAC, the application is processed at the embassy/consulate. The VAC is only responsible for collecting the applications and forwarding them to the embassy as per the jurisdiction. 

If your application has been accepted, you may collect it directly from the VAC or embassy, or also have it delivered to you by the VAC for an additional charge. Alternately, you may also use a third party to collect it for you as long as they possess an authorization letter. 

Waiting for an answer from the embassy can be anxious. However, you can track the status of your application in the meanwhile. You can visit https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-Passporttracking and track the status by entering your reference number and date of birth. Alternately, you may contact your travel agency to track it for you. Keep in mind that the embassy does not answer any enquires regarding the status. 

While you are in this category, you must keep in mind the following points to ensure a safe and pleasant stay. 

• Keep a note of the expiry date, duration of permitted stay, and the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. 
• Carry all the documents without fail while travelling. You may need to show copies of the documents at the entry port.
• Ensure that you travel to Hungary within 6 months of the issue date. After this, your visa will become invalid.
• While you are travelling in the country, keep a copy of your travel documents with you. Also, ensure that you keep the original documents safe. 
• While you are on a short term student permit, you are not allowed to take part in work. 
• You will not be able to extend this category 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 mentioned on the sticker.
• While you are in the country, you must respect the local tradition and culture. You must also abide by the Hungarian laws.