Hungary Visit Visa for Indians - Definitive Guide

To visit Hungary to meet family members and friends, most people require a permit. The Hungarian permit that allows this is known as the Hungary Schengen visit visa. Being a type of the Schengen, this is issued for a duration of 90 days in a 180-day period and is issued as single-entry, double-entry, and multiple-entries. 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 visa. 

The application for a visit permit is done using an offline application form. Before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible to travel as a visitor. After this, you may proceed with the application process as follows- 

1. Obtain all the documents that are required for as per the requirements. You can find this in the list mentioned in this guide.
2. Visit the website of the VAC (Visa Application Centre), or the Hungarian embassy, and download the Hungary visit visa application form. Please note that the form is the same for all the short-term Schengen category for Hungary. However, while filling the form you must mention your purpose of visit as “family/friend visit”. 
3. Fill in the application form, print it and then sign the respective places. 
4. Proceed to book an appointment for the document submission, submitting biometrics, as well as paying the fees. You can choose the centre as one of the VACs, or the embassy/consulate.
5. Along with the documents and the application form, visit the respective appointment centre. You may also have to give an interview at the centre.

Please note that if you have already submitted your biometrics for any Schengen application in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again as the information is still stored in the Schengen VIS (Visa Information System). In this case, you do not have to attend the appointment in person. 

While choosing the VAC, ensure that you select the one that has jurisdiction of your state of residence.  If you are directly applying to the 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 also important to ensure that you submit only genuine documents and provide the correct information. Submission of fake documents and false information are grounds for automatic Schengen visa rejection. A refused permit can affect your future travel plans. 

To be able to apply for this permit, you must meet the following conditions. If you do not qualify, you will have to apply for the visa that is apt for your purpose of visit and requirements. 

• You must be living in a country where you 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 meet your family members or friends.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the stay in the country. If you are being sponsored by your family or friend, you must be able to prove this as well.
• You must be invited by your family/friends living in Hungary.
• 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 requirements of Hungary visit visa, the following are the list of documents you must submit to successfully submit your application. However, there may be additional documents necessary as per the individual criteria.

• A valid passport- 

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

• Print out of the completed application form.
• A covering letter 

• 1. This should include the applicant’s basic details.
  2. It should clearly mention the source of funds for the stay.
  3. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  4. It should be addressed to the Embassy of Hungary.

• Invitation letter from your family member or friend stating the details of the visit
• Copy of passport, resident permit of the invitee
• 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. 1. Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

Ensure that you carry all the original forms of the documents to the VAC or embassy/consulate. However, you may have to submit only photocopies of a few of these documents as you will not receive these back.

The Photo Specifications for Hungary Visit Visa are mentioned below -

• 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 this particular type of permit is dependant on several parameters such as the entry type, the volume of applications, the Hungary visit visa duration, previous travel history, and so on. Normally, it is issued in a period of 15 working days. In some cases, this may take up to 30 days, and in extreme cases, it may even take 60 days. As a result, it is necessary to ensure that you apply well in advance. However, you should not apply before more than 3 months before the date of travel.

The exact fees for the process depend on a number of factors such as the number of entries, the biometric charges, as well as any other service charges. This can also vary upon the foreign exchange rates. As a result, it is suggested that you check the exact amount before starting the application.

meanwhile, if the embassy requires additional verification, you will be called up for an interview. Note that even if you have submitted the application at the VAC, they have no role in the processing. The VAC’s sole purpose is accepting the application and biometrics. The processing is performed by the embassy. 

Once your application is successful, you can collect it from the VAC or embassy/consulate in person. You may also choose for the passport and documents to be sent to your address at an additional fee.

While your application is being processed, you may check the status of your application. You can do the tracking by visiting https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-Passporttracking and entering your reference number and date of birth. You can also contact the respective travel agency to know the status. 

When you receive this permit, you must keep in mind the following points. This is to ensure that you have hassle-free and pleasant travel experience. 

• Keep in mind the expiry date, duration of allowed stay, and the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. You must not stay back after this period. 
• Ensure that you carry all the documents while travelling. You may have to show copies of the documents at the entry port.
• Make sure that you travel to Hungary within 6 months of the issue date. After this date, your permit will become invalid.
• While you are travelling within the country, always carry a copy of your travel documents with you. Also, ensure that you keep the original documents safe. 
• While you are on a visitor permit, you are not allowed to take part in work activities.
• It is not possible to extend this visit visa under normal circumstances.
• Since this is a Schengen category, you are allowed to visit any of the Schengen nations with this. However, if you are issued with the Limited Territorial Validity (LTV) type, you can only visit the countries that are specifically mentioned on the visa sticker.
• While you are in the country, you must respect their customs and culture. You must also abide by the Hungarian laws.