Visa to Hungary: how to apply and get Schengen yourself

Do Russians need a Hungarian visa in 2021?

The visa regime, which is still in effect between the Russian Federation and Hungary in 2021, requires Russians visiting this country to have a visa. The purpose of the visit does not matter at all. A trip to Hungary may be due to study and work, recreation and entertainment, tourism and other purposes. In any case, documents are required that will allow you to cross the border in full compliance with legal norms and rules.

Since 2007, Hungary has been fully included in the Schengen zone. This greatly simplifies the requirements and makes it possible to visit this country with a standard visa. You can arrange it in different ways and everyone independently determines for themselves a suitable and profitable option.

Main types of visas

There are several types of visas for residents of the Russian Federation. One or another type of visa is issued based on the length of stay within the country and the purposes that the person visiting has:

Transit visa-free – provided for travelers who transfer between flights within a period of no more than 24 hours. This is followed by a flight to a country outside the Schengen zone;
Transit – issued during transit through the territory of the country. We are talking about visiting the international Hungarian airport with subsequent departure to third countries;
C - this Schengen visa to Hungary allows you to stay within the country for no more than 90 days. The purpose of the visit can be very different. A visa may imply the possibility of one, two or multiple visits to Hungary during the period of time specified on it. It can be not only several days (according to the conditions of the trip), but also several years. But you can stay in Hungary or another Schengen country at the same time, up to 90 days within six months;
D - national visa format, which provides the opportunity to stay in the country for 90 days or more. The longest period of stay is 12 months with the possibility of subsequent extension. With such a visa you can travel to other Schengen countries, but not more than 90 days. Obtaining such a visa is possible only at the Hungarian Embassy.

Schengen visa

Schengen visa to Hungary for Russians

Russian citizens require a Schengen visa to visit Hungary. The validity period of a visa depends on its type and purpose of travel. The most popular is the tourist Schengen visa type C for travel for a period of no more than 90 days for the purpose of tourism, work, study, or visiting friends or relatives.

Types of Schengen visas

Schengen visa type A This is an airport transit visa for traveling through EU airports to third countries.
Schengen visa type B A transit visa that allows you to stay in the European Union only for short periods of up to 5 days.
Schengen visa type C Tourist or business visa. The most common Schengen visa, which allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days every 180 days, is issued for a period of up to 5 years. The visa can be with a restriction on the number of entries, or without restrictions (MULT).
Schengen visa type D National long-term visa. Allows you to stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 consecutive days.

Consular fee

The consular fee for a Schengen visa type C to Hungary is 35 euros. When applying to the visa center, you must also pay a service fee of 20 euros. When contacting the Hungarian Embassy, only the consular fee is charged.

Registration period

The processing time for a Hungarian Schengen visa is usually 10 working days, but in some cases it can be up to 30 days, for example if the application requires additional examination.

Duration of stay

The period of stay in Hungary with a Schengen visa type C is no more than 90 days within 180 days without limiting the number of entries and exits.

Documents for a visa to Hungary

The list of documents for obtaining a Hungarian Schengen visa complies with the rules of the Schengen Agreement. We recommend reading the instructions for applying for a Schengen visa.

Application form for the Hungarian consulate.
A foreign passport of a Russian citizen valid for 3 months after the end of the trip.
Color photograph, size 3.5x4.5 cm, 1 pc.
Air ticket reservation.
Hotel reservation (hotel, apartment, hostel) or tourist voucher.
Certificate from work.
Bank account statement (not older than 1 month), or sponsorship letter for unemployed applicants.
Insurance (insurance policy).
A copy of the Russian passport (pages with marks).
A copy of a foreign passport (all pages).
Consent to the processing of personal data.

Hungary visa for children

In addition to the standard list of documents, the following documents will be required to obtain a Schengen visa to Hungary for children.

A separately completed application form for the child.
A child over 14 years of age must sign the form along with the signatures of the father and mother.
A copy of the birth certificate.
Copies of the first pages of the internal passports of the father and mother and copies of their Schengen visas.
Consent to travel certified by a notary if the child travels independently.
Children under 6 years old do not pay the consular fee.

How much does a visa to Hungary cost in 2021?

The visa preparation procedure is free of charge. The cost is fixed and has the following tariff:

Standard with standard design - 35 euros;
Standard with expeditious registration - 70 euros;
National format visa – 50 euros;
Standard on behalf of non-Russian citizenship - 60 euros.

There are also additional expenses. The service fee for residents of the capital is 20 euros. When applying for visas at one of the regional VCs, you will need to pay an additional 10 euros for delivery assistance.

You can also turn to accredited travel agencies for help. In this case, all registration work will be carried out by the tour operator. And this will require additional costs. The exact cost varies and can be 5,500 rubles or more.

The following categories of applicants are exempt from paying the fee:

Children who have not reached 6 years of age;
Students who visit Hungary as part of exchange programs;
Representatives of scientific and cultural delegations.

A submitted visa application does not necessarily require its approval. Refusal to issue is also possible. Refunds of spent funds are not provided.

Collection of documents for a visa to Budapest

The process of collecting and submitting documents to obtain a visa to Budapest is not complicated or confusing. The main condition for quick and successful registration is strict compliance with all requirements and rules.

Required package of documents

5 main documents for a visa - see the memo in the picture:

The minimum list of documents required for Russians when applying for Schengen in Budapest includes:

visa application form - filled out electronically or by hand in blue ink, and must be signed by the applicant himself;
a foreign passport valid for at least 3 months after the planned expiration of the visa;
copies of the main pages of the Russian general passport;
photographs (2 pieces), taken on a light background and taking into account all requirements;

What are the photo requirements when applying for a visa:

documents that confirm the main purpose of visiting Budapest (tourism, treatment, business, study, etc.);
medical insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros and issued taking into account the rules: if a one-time one is requested, then the validity period of the policy must fully cover the duration of the visit; if a multiple multi-Schengen visa is requested, then it is enough to make insurance for the dates of the first trip;
confirmation of availability of funds for the trip:
for pensioners and schoolchildren - a sponsorship letter and a document confirming their status.

Watch the video “How to fill out an application for a visa to Hungary”:

For the child, you must additionally provide a birth certificate, and if he is traveling unaccompanied or with only one of the parents, official consent to travel abroad from his official representative.

Traditionally, when applying for a tourist visa to Hungary, the following documents are attached confirming the applicant’s intentions:

air tickets purchased and paid for in advance, both ways;
hotel reservation (either a reservation on the official letterhead of the establishment with a signature and stamp, or an uploaded confirmation from the reservation system).

How to get a visa to Hungary on your own

From September 14, 2015, the procedure for submitting documents for obtaining a Schengen visa has been changed. We are talking about the first submission, and this is due to the need for the applicant to submit his biometric data. The process involves scanning fingerprints from both hands and obtaining a digital photograph of the person who wishes to apply for a visa.

All received data must be entered into the VIS information database and stored for the next 5 years. There is no need to re-submit your fingerprints during this period. The transfer to each new visa will take place automatically. The only exceptions are isolated situations that are caused by instructions from the consulate when any questions or suspicions arise.

Design options

The visa itself can be obtained in several ways, namely:

When contacting a travel agency, this is the simplest and fastest, but at the same time quite expensive option from a financial point of view;
When visiting the Hungarian Embassy on your own, this is the least expensive solution in terms of money. You can sign up not only in person, but also through an online application. The date and time of the visit is chosen by the applicant independently. To submit an application, go to the official website of the Embassy. Here you can familiarize yourself in more detail with all the questions of interest and receive comprehensive explanations on the documents that are required for registration;
Seek help from an accredited partner - which provides comprehensive support when obtaining visas to travel to Hungary. This is the most convenient option, which allows you to perform all the required procedures as close as possible to your home. The provider's representative offices are scattered throughout the Russian Federation.

Visa procedure

To obtain a visa, you must complete a number of certain actions, namely:

Determine whether you need a specific visa. If a short-term stay is expected, then a class C visa is required. For a long stay in the country, a D visa will be relevant;
Prepare the entire package of required documents. The full list can be found on the official website of the Embassy;
Make an appointment and submit biometric data (when you first apply for a visa);
Make all required payments and deductions;
Submit documents for consideration.

After this, you just have to wait for a favorable decision. You should be aware of the deadlines for review and issuance of permits. The procedure takes a certain period, which is regulated by law. Therefore, you should not hope to receive permission the next day after applying.

Budapest, Hungary

Main types and types of Hungarian visas

After we have decided whether a visa is needed for Budapest, we will figure out what types of this entry document exist. Like most Schengen countries, Hungary offers one of the following visa categories:

Classic Schengen visa (C): it will allow you to stay on the territory of Hungary and other countries of the union for no more than 90 days within six months. There are several types:

tourist – if the main purpose of the trip is tourism;
guest - issued at the invitation of relatives or friends living in Budapest or another Hungarian city;
work visa to Budapest - gives the right to work in Hungary and do business;
educational – provided to students studying at Hungarian educational institutions;

Transit (A): the basis for its registration is the need for transfer across the territory of Hungary to the country of primary residence. Without a visa, you can stay no more than a day and only at the airport, while a transit visa will allow you to explore the main attractions of Budapest during the break between two flights;
National (D): this type allows you to stay on the territory of the state for more than 90 days.

Based on the validity period, C visas are divided into three types:

single entry: it can be used to make only one visit to Budapest;
double entry: allows you to visit Hungary twice;
multiple multi-Schengen: issued for a period of six months to 5 years.

Despite the approved deadlines, staying in Schengen territory for more than 90 days is strictly prohibited!

Hungary visa application form

Filling out the form is possible not only during a personal visit to the CC or the Hungarian Consulate. You can download a blank form to fill out from the departments’ website. You can also see a sample form there. It is highly advisable to do this. This approach will help avoid annoying mistakes and misunderstandings.

Filling out the form must be as neat and clear as possible, without corrections or blots. Only Latin letters are allowed. Typing on a PC is also possible. There is no difference when submitting an application form with one or another filling out.

Do not forget about the possibility of refusing to accept documents. You can get it even if you fill out the form carelessly. You should be very careful and take your time.

Apply for a visa to Hungary in person or through a travel agency

You can submit documents through agencies that will help with the preparation of the package, but personal presence at the visa center or consulate is required! This is due to biometrics, that is, the submission of fingerprints. Everyone should do this except children under 12 years of age. If you live in a small city, then my advice: look for the nearest locality where there is a Pony express representative office. Unfortunately, due to the need to provide biometric data, documents cannot now be transferred through intermediaries.

It’s another matter if you have already submitted your fingerprints for another Schengen visa: they are stored in the database for five years. In this case, you can submit documents through an agency.

Documents for a visa to Hungary: list from 2021

Required documents to obtain a visa include the following:

Questionnaire - it must be prepared and filled out in accordance with the form prescribed by law. The electronic version of document preparation will require its subsequent printing on a printer and affixing a personal signature;
International passport - its validity period should not exceed 10 years. It must be possible to use it for at least another 90 days after completing the trip and returning home. It is necessary to have two pages without any entries for affixing a visa. Passports that have an extended validity period will not be accepted;
Copies of Schengen visas - we are talking about permits that were issued during the last 3-year period;
Copy of personal passport - pages with personal data and registration information must be prepared;
Photo - you must provide 2 photographs that fully comply with current requirements and regulatory standards. The quality of photographs should not cause any complaints, and they should be printed on matte paper of the highest quality. When applying to the Visa Application Center, you should not cut and paste your photo yourself. All this will be done independently by an authorized employee;
Medical insurance - it must cover the entire geography of the Schengen area. It must indicate an amount equal to 30,000 euros or 50,000 dollars;
Papers on financial solvency - their presence is mandatory, and they themselves must confirm that the applicant has funds not only for the trip itself, but also for staying in the country;
Papers confirming the purpose of the trip - a specific list of them is determined based on the tasks that the applicant sets for himself.

It is also mandatory to submit an agreement with permission to process data transferred to the CC or the Embassy. You can download and sign it in advance and even before your visit to the department.

Budapest, Hungary

Photo for a visa to Hungary

There are also certain requirements for photos, which include the following aspects:

Size 3.5x4.5 cm;
The photograph should not be older than six months;
The background in the photo should be plain, white or light in color;
About 75% of the total area is allocated to the face;
The neck and upper shoulders are also visible in the frame;
The photo should be as natural and natural as possible;
Editing or correction with special programs is not allowed;
The face should not be hidden behind dark glasses, long hair, accessories or hats. The only exceptions are those that applicants wear for religious reasons. But they should leave their face as open as possible;
The photo is taken exclusively from the front and with neutral emotions on the face;
The frame should be clean and free of additional people or accessories.

Visa documents for children

Applying for a child visa requires the preparation of an additional package of documents, which includes:

Birth certificate. A personal passport is also possible for a child over 14 years old;
International passport (if available);
Photo according to established standards;
Insurance policy;
Exit permit. Issued when a child is traveling with one of the parents. It must be notarized. Guardians with appropriate permission from parents can also act as accompanying persons;
If one of the parents is absent, a certificate confirming this fact is required;
When traveling on your own, you must have permission documents from your parents and have them certified by a notary;
Minor children who travel on their own must have a personal passport;
Documents on the financial support of the child from parents or third parties with confirmation of their solvency.

Additional documents

The need for additional documents differs depending on the individual and the purpose of his trip. Based on this, the applicant will need to additionally prepare:

Students receive papers confirming enrollment and availability of place of residence. It can be provided by the university or selected independently;
For tourists - a trip ticket or voucher;
For those traveling for personal purposes - an invitation from the host party with a guarantee of accommodation and notarization;
Those going for treatment will receive accompanying medical information and confirmation of the patient’s appointment with a local clinic. It is necessary to indicate the duration of treatment and its cost;
For those going on a business trip - previously prepared contracts, agreements, etc. It is mandatory to have an invitation from a partner from Hungary indicating his personal details and contact information;
For those going to events of a cultural or sports nature - an invitation from the organizers or organisers;
For truckers - a notification issued by RAS indicating all the required information;
For journalists - confirmation of the person’s professional qualities, a letter with the purposes of the trip stated in it, which is prepared by the employer;
For hired workers - a letter from the employer and an employment contract;
For pensioners - a copy of the pension certificate;
For property owners - information from the land registry that was prepared within the last 90 days;
Students and schoolchildren - documents with complete personal data, information from the educational institution, a letter from the sponsor with the addition of his passport data and confirmation of personal solvency, as well as a questionnaire prepared by parents.

Types and categories of visas to Hungary

First of all, you need to decide on the purpose of your stay. The type of visa to be issued will depend on this. The chosen goal must be documented.

For a tourist visa to Hungary, you need confirmation of a hotel reservation, or a description of the tourist route (if you plan to travel by car or bicycle). The purpose may also be to visit the graves of relatives, in which case documentary evidence of the burials will be required.

If you are planning a work trip, you should apply for a business visa to Hungary. To confirm the purpose of the visit, you will need an official document (invitation and copy of the contract)

If the trip is related to study, then you should apply for a student visa to Hungary . To apply for this visa, you will need to bring a document confirming official enrollment in an educational institution to the Hungarian embassy, as well as:

Confirmation of payment for the first academic term (a receipt is sufficient)
Confirmation of provision of accommodation (dormitory)
Information about funds for accommodation and food (details can be found in the academic department of the university)

If you have friends or relatives in Hungary, they can issue an invitation. Then you will be able to travel to Hungary on a visit visa.

Depending on the length of stay, there are two categories of visas to Hungary:

Category C – short-term. The most popular category. Issued for a period not exceeding three months.
Category D – annual. Issued for a period of three months to a year.

How long does it take to get a visa to Hungary?

According to the established procedure, the processing of a visa application submitted in the usual format takes 7-10 days. An extension of up to 30 days is also possible. This is due to the need to provide additional documents or resolve issues that arise during registration.

With prompt review, the period is reduced to 2-3 days. But for such speed you will have to pay twice the amount compared to regular registration.

It is advisable to submit your application approximately 15-90 days before the start of your planned trip. The optimal filing period, taking into account possible emergency situations, is 45 days before departure to Hungary.

Budapest, Hungary

Where to get a visa to Hungary

Friends, today, in order to obtain a Schengen visa to enter Hungary, you must personally contact the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow or the nearest Hungarian Consulate General. Another option is to use the services of the Visa Application Center.

Embassy and Consulates General

Those who are used to doing everything on their own and do not like to overpay intermediaries will be able to submit documents directly to the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow.

Contacts of the consular department of the embassy:

Address: 115127, Moscow, st. Mosfilmovskaya, 62.
Telephone.
Fax machine.
email
Website: https://moszkva.kkmsite.info/rus

Hungarian Embassy in Moscow on the map:

Just in case, I am providing a link to the embassy contacts so that you can always check the relevance of the information: https://moszkva.kkmsite.info/rus/contact/generated.

For those who decide to apply for a visa in Moscow, an online appointment with the visa department is provided. This can be done by following this link - https://hungaria.embassytools.com/ru/index. Here you need to click on the word “Calendar” and then select a date available for recording.

Don't be discouraged if there are no dates available for booking. Check this page from time to time and you may get lucky as sometimes people cancel their booked date.

In addition to the embassy, there are three more Hungarian Consulates General operating in the Russian Federation.

In St. Petersburg:

Address: 191025, St. Petersburg, st. Marata, 15.
Phone: +7 (812) 312-6458, 312-67-53, visa department: 314-58-05.
Fax machine.
email
Website: absent.

Consulate General of Hungary in St. Petersburg on the map:

In Ekaterinburg:

Address: 620075, Ekaterinburg, st. Gogolya, 15.
Telephone.
Fax machine.
email
Website: https://ekaterinburg.mfa.gov.hu/rus

Consulate General of Hungary in Yekaterinburg on the map:

In Kazan:

Address: 420107, Kazan, shopping center "Suvar Plaza", st. Spartakovskaya, 6, 5th floor.
Phone, 526-55-53.
Fax machine.
email: genconshungar [email protected] ,
Website: https://kazany.mfa.gov.hu/rus

Online registration at the consulates general is not provided. However, for Yekaterinburg, I can say that you can reserve a date for submitting documents by calling the Consulate General. Pre-registration is possible from Monday to Thursday from 15:00. until 17:00 by phone +7 922-150-90-44. But documents are accepted on the same days, that is, on Monday-Thursday, but in the morning, from 09:30 a.m. until 13:00. More detailed information is presented on the website of the Consulate General of Hungary in Yekaterinburg.

In St. Petersburg the order is a little different. In order to make an appointment to submit documents to the Consulate General of Hungary in St. Petersburg, you will have to call the official Hungarian Pony Express visa center. However, be prepared that you may be offered a very distant, completely unsuitable date.

As for Kazan, as far as I understand, the Kazan Consulate General does not currently issue short-term tourist visas.

Hungary Visa Application Center

Another alternative for obtaining a visa is through the Hungary Visa Application Centre. This is very convenient, since the Visa Center is represented almost everywhere in Russia. You don’t have to travel outside your region of residence, and maybe even your city. For a complete list of cities with contact details, see this page - https://hungary.pony-visa.ru/ru/contacts.

The only thing is that when you apply to the Visa Center, you will incur additional financial costs in the form of payment of a service fee in the amount of 20 euros for each passport at the Central Bank exchange rate on the day of payment.

As for me, no matter how hard I tried to do without the services of the Visa Center, I couldn’t save 20 euros on ice cream.

When I called the St. Petersburg consulate in the hope of making an appointment to submit documents, a polite employee explained to me: “All registration is carried out only through the official Hungarian visa center Pony Express. Call the visa center and tell them that you want to make an appointment to submit your documents directly to the consulate.”

That’s what I did, however, when I dialed the visa center’s phone number, I didn’t particularly hope that there would be a free window for submitting documents to the Consulate directly. Who wants to miss out on their benefits?

Well, that’s roughly how it turned out. I was informed that yes, you can sign up directly, but the nearest date is June 29 (and I called on May 28, and the nearest date was almost a month later).

I usually rarely plan my holidays too far in advance. Therefore, this option, of course, did not suit me, especially since the plane tickets had already been purchased for June 24th. What should I do? I had to submit documents through the visa center. So, if you live in St. Petersburg and know in advance when you have a vacation, and that you definitely want to go to Hungary, and if you don’t want to overpay extra money for a service fee, I advise you to make an appointment 2 months before your planned trip to submit documents for a Hungarian visa.

Embassy, consulates, visa centers of Hungary in Russia

There are several Hungarian representative offices for citizens of the Russian Federation, which are located in major cities throughout the country.

Embassy of Hungary in Moscow

Address: st. Mosfilmovskaya, 62 Moscow, 119590

Phone: +7 (495)-641-75-00

E-mail Website: moszkva.mfa.gov.hu

Documents are accepted Tuesday-Thursday. Time: 8:30–12:00.

The period for issuing passports is 16:00–16:30.

The department works on weekdays with the exception of holidays, which are provided for by the legislation of Hungary and the Russian Federation. The Consulate is also closed on the last working days of each month.

Consulate General in St. Petersburg

Address: st. Marata, 15 St. Petersburg, 191025

Phone: +7(812)-312-64-58; 312-67-53

Documents are accepted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Time: 10:00—12:00.

Consulate General in Yekaterinburg

Address: st. Gogolya, 15 Ekaterinburg, 620075

Phone: +7(922)-150-90-44, +7(343)-355-92-54

Pre-registration is required to receive documents. Reception is held on Monday-Thursday from 10:30 to 13:00.

Registration is also possible by phone

Consulate General in Kazan

Address: Shopping center "Suvar Plaza", st. Spartakovskaya, 6, 5th floor Kazan, 420107

Phone: +7(917)-266-96-69

Hungary Visa Application Centers

Exhibition Center in Moscow

Address: Nizhny Susalny lane, 5, building 19 Moscow, 105064

Telephone

Exhibition Center in St. Petersburg

Address: Moskovsky pr-t, 60/129, letter A, BC “Senator”, office. A-104 (entrance from Obvodny Canal) St. Petersburg, 190013

Telephone

Where and how to apply for a Hungarian visa

Hungary is a member of the Schengen agreement, so if you are going to visit it, you should take care of obtaining a visa in advance. Since September 10, 2015, the Ministry of External Economic Relations and Foreign Affairs of Hungary has officially entrusted the receipt and processing of visas to the Pony Express joint-stock company. This is due to the provision of service for clients, as well as the convenience of submitting documents.

It seems to me that now it has become easier to apply for a visa to Hungary, since Pony express has representative offices in many large cities of Russia. Calmly, without an appointment, we come to the Pony Express branch in your hometown, submit documents and take fingerprints. The Consular Section is located in Moscow, and the Consulates General are in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The list of cities that accept documents via Pony express can be found here.