ETIAS for Hungary

Hungary is a full European Union and Schengen Area member, and travel to Hungary will be covered by ETIAS on exactly the same terms as travel to any other Schengen country. Once the system launches — expected in the final quarter of 2026 — there will be no additional Hungary-specific authorization to apply for. One approved ETIAS covers a trip to Budapest just as it covers a trip to Paris or Vienna. Budapest, the capital, is consistently one of Central Europe's most-visited cities, known for its Danube riverfront, historic districts, and thermal baths.

Getting to Hungary

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is Hungary's main international gateway and the point of entry for most visa-exempt travelers arriving by air. As a landlocked country in Central Europe, Hungary is also commonly reached overland by train or car from neighboring Schengen states. Long-distance coach and rail services connect Budapest directly with major cities in neighboring Austria and Slovakia and beyond, making road and rail arrival common for travelers already in Europe. Regardless of how you arrive, ETIAS is checked at whichever Schengen border you cross first, which may or may not be the Hungarian border itself.

Do I Need ETIAS to Visit Hungary?

Yes. Visa-exempt nationals — including travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Japan — will need a valid ETIAS to enter Hungary once the system is live. The requirement, the €20 fee, and the exemptions for applicants under 18 or over 70 are identical to those that apply everywhere else in the Schengen Area.

How Long Can I Stay in Hungary With ETIAS?

An approved ETIAS allows a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and this allowance is shared across the whole Schengen Area rather than reset per country. If you spend time in Hungary and then continue on to another Schengen country within the same trip, those days count toward the same 90-day limit. This makes ETIAS well suited to travelers building a wider Central European itinerary — for example pairing Budapest with Vienna or Bratislava — rather than a single-country visit. The authorization itself stays valid for three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, so it can be reused across multiple trips to Hungary within that window.