Hungary Tourist Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

People travel to Hungary for various purposes ranging from tourism to business to even work there. If, however, you are travelling for the purpose of tourism, a tourist permit is an endorsement you would require. Also known as the Hungary Schengen tourist visa, this is issued for a number of activities such as sightseeing, taking part in leisure or adventure activities, and other forms of tourism. Being a type of the Schengen, this is granted for a maximum stay duration of 90 days in a 180-day period and can be available in the single-entry form, double-entry form, or even multiple-entry form.

To apply for the tourist category, you must do it offline. However, before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible to travel to the country as a tourist. After that, you may proceed to make the application as follows - 

1. Proceed to procure all the documents necessary for this particular category.
2. Visit the website of the Hungarian Visa Application Centre (VAC) or the embassy and download the application form. Please note that the application form is the same for all the short term categories. You must simply specify the purpose as “tourism”.
3. Fill in the Hungary tourist visa application form and take a print out of the completed form. 
4. Book an appointment for the application submission. You may choose one of the VACs or the Embassy/Consulate-general of Hungary situated in India. You can book an appointment by calling or using the online portal of the VAC, or by emailing the Embassy/consulate. Due to the high volume of applications, it is mandatory to get a prior booking for the appointment.
5. With the documents, application form and fees, visit the respective appointment centre in person. You may send a third party in certain situations that are mentioned below.
6. You will have to provide your biometrics and pay the fees as well. In some cases, you may be subjected to an interview with a consular officer.

Kindly note that if you have submitted your biometrics for any Schengen category visa for any country in the past 5 years, your biometrics are stored in the Schengen VIS (Visa Information System). In this case, you do not have to submit them again, and as a result, you do not have to attend the appointment in person. You may authorize a third party to submit it for you. However, you would be required to supply them with an authorization letter. 

Also, note that you must apply at the VAC that has jurisdiction of your state of residence. Also, if you are applying directly at the embassy/consulate, residents of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli must apply to the Consulate-general of Hungary in Mumbai. For the rest of India, you may apply at the Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi.

Please ensure that you submit only genuine documents and true information. Submission of fake documents or providing false information can lead to an automatic Schengen visa refusal. A rejected entry permit is considered a black mark on your travel history. 

As mentioned previously, before starting the application for the Hungary tourist visa from India, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility conditions. The following are the conditions under which you may apply for the tourist category.

• You must be living in India while you are making the 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 primary reason for the visit must be to take part in tourism activities.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the stay in the country.
• 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 tourist visa requirements, the following are the documents you must submit to make a successful application. However, note that there may be slight changes to this depending on the traveller’s eligibility.

• A valid passport- 

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

• A complete application form duly signed
• A covering letter - 

• 1. This must include the applicant's details as well as that of the visit.
  2. It should clearly mention the source of funds.
  3. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  4. It should be signed by the applicant and addressed to the Embassy of Hungary.

• Travel itinerary/documents - 

• 1. A detailed travel itinerary 
  2. Round trip flight booking
  3. Proof of accommodation 

• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Proof of occupation - 

• Financial documents -

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

Kindly note that you must carry all the original documents for your appointment. However, you are requested to only submit photocopies of certain documents that you will not receive back. Also, you may be required to translate the documents to Hungarian language and get it certified.

The Hungary tourist visa photo specifications 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 and prescription are permitted
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The time taken to process the tourist visa for Hungary from India depends fairly on the entry type of the permit, the volume of applications and so on. In normal cases, the visa will be processed within 15 working days. However, these may increase up to 30 days in special cases, and can even take up to 60 days in extreme cases. Due to this uncertainty, it is suggested that you apply for the permit well in advance. You must apply at least 15 days before the day of travel, but not more than 3 months prior.

The total fees for this application depend on a few variables such as the number of entries, the biometric charges, as well as any other service charges. The fees can also vary depending on the foreign exchange rates without prior notice. As a result, it is necessary to check the exact amount before starting the process.

Upon successfully submitting the application and fees, your application will begin processing. If the embassy requires any additional verification, you may be required to attend an interview. If your application has been approved, you may collect the passport and visa directly from the VAC or embassy/consulate. You can also have the VAC deliver it to you for a specific fee. 

Please note that even if you submit the application at a VAC, they have no control over the processing and decision of the application. This power is solely in the hands of the embassy or consulate. 

While you await a response, you may check the status of your application. You can do this by visiting https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-Passporttracking and providing your application reference number and date of birth. You may also contact the respective travel agency to have them track it for you. Please ensure that you do not contact the embassy or consulate directly as they do not provide information on this topic.

On receiving the tourist permit, you must keep in mind the following key points. These are to ensure that you have a hassle-free travelling experience in Hungary.

• Keep a note 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 will also need 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 tourist 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 visiting friends, take up voluntary charity work, etc.
• You will not be able to extend the tourist visa under any normal circumstances.
• Due to the fact that 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.