If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Hungary visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Hungary may ask you to show €40 per day. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Hungary, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Hungary can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Hungary can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €40 per day. (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Hungary
Main international airports in Hungary: Budapest (BUD).
If Hungary is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Hungary is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Hungary has an external Schengen land border with Serbia, Ukraine. Crossing there means a full passport check and EES registration, just like at an airport.
The EES at airports and borders in Hungary
In Hungary, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Budapest (BUD) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Hungary no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Hungary in depth: Serbian and Ukrainian borders
Hungary's borders with Serbia and Ukraine are external Schengen borders and can have long queues in summer. Its borders with Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania are internal.
Hungary uses the forint (HUF), but sets its minimum in euros: about €40 per day.
Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport is the main entry point for long-haul and Middle East flights.
Good to know about Hungary
- Borders with Serbia and Ukraine are external Schengen borders.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Hungary add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Hungary after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hungary use the euro?
No, it uses the forint (HUF), although the reference amount is set in euros.
Do US citizens need a visa for Hungary?
No. US citizens can visit Hungary visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Hungary?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Hungary, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Hungary?
€40 per day. Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.