In order to curb the epidemic, from September 1. 2020. the Government of Hungary will once again introduce restrictions for its returning citizens and for foreigners who wishes to enter Hungary. In our article we would like to explain the provisions specially for the foreign citizens.
According to the Government Decree No. 408 of 2020. (VIII.30.) (hereinafter as „Decree”) that took effect on September 1. 2020. people that come from any contry who do not have hungarian citizenship, may only enter into the territory of Hungary with exceptions specified by law.
Foreign citizens who are entitled for permanent residence and their relatives, as well as those foreign citizens who have residence permit issued by the immigration authority for more than 90 days are treated in the same way as Hungarian citizens. Furthermore the Decree does not affect those people who are able to dependably certify that they had been infected by COVID-19 during the 6 moth period prior to the entry, which means that these people are exempted from quarantine.
In order for foreign citizens to be able to enter into the territory of Hungary an application must be submitted in advance, electronically to the local Police Department competent to the place of entry, in case of crossing the border at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport to the Police Department of the 13th district of Budapest.
The competent authority shall decide whether to approve or to reject the application, provided that the following grounds for exemptions are met and justified:
- the participation in judicial proceedings or in authority proceedings in Hungary, certified by a document issued by hungarian court or authority,
- a business activity or other work, which are justified by a letter of invitation from the central government administrative department, autonomous regulatory body, autonomous state administrative body,
- acces to health care with refferal from health care institution or with other proper certificate,
- to perform the fullfilment of an obligation for study or exam on a sutdent or pupil status, if it is certified by a certificate issued by the educational institution,
- to travel in passenger transport related to the work with transport activity aimed to reach the starting point of the transport task (to the starting place of the work) or to return home after such work in passenger transport if this is certified by a certificate issued by the employer.
- participation in family events (marriage, baptism, funeral),
- caring and nurturing relative under the Act V of 2013 on Civil Code,
- participation in international sport, cultural or church event of major importance or
- a valid reason other than the previous points above.
If the competent authority approves the application for entry, than the applicant is entitled to enter to the territory of Hungary on condition that, if it is requested, then the original document which certifies the exemption must be presented.
After September 1. 2020. it does not matter from which country does the foreign citizens who whishes to enter come from.
Prior to the entry, uniformly, every person may be checked by medical examination, which they are required to tolerate. If during the examination the infection is suspected, than this person cannot enter the territory of Hungary.
After crossing the border, those who are not suspected of being infected must be placed in an official quarantine or official home quarantine for two weekes after entering the country.
It is possible for the person quarantined to request a shortening for the quarantine period by participating in molecular biological testing – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – twice within 5 days, at least 48 hours apart, in accordance with health regulations. If based on the result of the exemination it is confirmed that by the time it was performed the infection was not detected, than the release from the official quarantine may be requested from the competent epidemiological authority, which shall decide to terminate the quarantine.
Beside the genaral provisions for non-Hungarian citizens, the Decree contains specific provisions on military convoys, affiliated companies, commuters and athletes, sport professionals and participants in sport events. However these people are not subjected to the stricter provisions described above.
According to the Government Decree No. 419 of 2020 (IX. 1.) that was promulgated and took effect on the 1 September 2020 the measures intoduced by the Decree apply only on a limited extent to the citizens of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Poland. If the citizens of the listed countries have an accomodation reservation for at least one day until 30 September 2020 and the reservation of the accomodation was made prior to the promulgation of the Government Decree No. 419 of 2020 (IX. 1.), than they may enter to the terriory of Hungary under the condition that they certify with a certified document in Hungarian or in English language, that once within a 5 day period prior to the entry a molecular biological test – SARS-CoV-2 PCR test – was performed in accordance with the health regulations and in the time of the performance of the test the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not detected.
After the mitigating actions performed in the summer, the Government has introduced significant restrictions once more againts the coronavirus epidemic, which restrain the entry for foreign citizens, but it can also be also seen that in exceptional cases it is possible to permit the entry to the territory of Hungary for urgent, either personal or business travel, after performing the proper precaution.
Subject to the possibility of acting both in person and by proxy, in case of an assignment our Law Firm undertakes to act in the authorization process before the authorities.
Furthermore, with the help of our partner, we can ensure that the necessary tests are carried out in order to shorten the quarantine period.
Please feel free to contact us, if we can be of further assistance:
Újváry Zsolt és Társa Ügyvédi Iroda
Dániel Győri
Address: ground floor 2. 19/A Prielle Kornélia Street, H-1117 Budapest
Telephone: +36 1 365 1000
Email: gyori@wos.hu