ETIAS for Hungary

EU Visa Waiver for US citizens Visiting Hungary

Citizens of the U.S. will soon need to register with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before traveling to Hungary.

ETIAS is a new permit for visa-exempt nationals entering the Schengen Area. With ETIAS, Americans can continue to visit Hungary without a visa for up to 90 days.

The ETIAS application process will be fast, efficient and 100% online. This page explains all the ETIAS for Hungary requirements for U.S. citizens.

ETIAS Hungary for U.S. Citizens

ETIAS for Hungary is expected to be available to U.S. citizens from 2026. ETIAS, the new European travel authorization, is similar to the US ESTA and Canadia eTA.

The ETIAS system will pre-screen visa-exempt foreign visitors, making Hungary an even safer travel destination.

With ETIAS, U.S. passport holders can stay in Hungary, or elsewhere in the Schengen Area, for up to 90 days for business or tourism.

As there are no internal borders in the Schengen Area, the same ETIAS can be used to visit Hungary and the other Schengen nations. It is a multiple-entry permit valid for 3 years or until the American passport expires.

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ETIAS requirements for U.S. citizens to visit Hungary

You need a valid U.S. passport to apply for ETIAS for Hungary. You must fill out the ETIAS application form with basic personal information and passport data.

An email address and credit or debit card are also required to successfully complete the application.

Traveling from the U.S. to Hungary with ETIAS

To travel without a visa, U.S. citizens must be visiting Hungary for:

  • A maximum of 90 days per 180-day period
  • Business, tourism, or study purposes

You also need to meet the health and security requirements to travel to Hungary without a visa. The information applicants provide is checked against security databases. ETIAS improves security in Hungary and across the Schengen Area.

Documents to travel to Hungary from the USA

Hungary is a member of the Schengen Area.

To travel to Hungary, U.S. citizens need:

  • Passport
  • A valid ETIAS visa waiver for Hungary (from 2026)

You only need a visa for Hungary if you do not meet the ETIAS requirements.

When traveling to Hungary from the U.S., you must carry the passport you used to apply for ETIAS. ETIAS is verified when your passport is scanned at the external border.

Americans traveling with a visa should carry a physical copy of the document.

Hungary Travel and Tourism Information

Hungary (Magyarország) is a country in Central Europe bordered by Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Ukraine.

Hungary is home to numerous World Heritage Sites and UNESCO Biosphere reserves like the second-largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton), and the largest natural grassland in Europe (Hortobágy).

Hungary is culturally rich destination for American tourists. Its capital, Budapest, is known for its architecture, including the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Buda Castle. Visitors can also enjoy the city's thermal baths.

Outside of Budapest, U.S. tourists can explore picturesque towns and villages like Eger and Szentendre.

About Hungary

Capital: Budapest

Language: Hungarian

Area: 93,030 km²

Population: 9,797,561

Timezone: UTC/GTM 1

Currency: Forint (HUF)

Code: +36

Electric sockets: 230 V AC, 50Hz. Type plug C (standard European plug) and plug F (Schuko). This socket also works with plug E.

U.S. Embassy in Budapest, Hungary

Address: Szabadság tér 12 H-1054 Budapest, Hungary

Interesting facts and tourist info about Hungary

  • Hungary is part of the EU but does not use the euro. It has its own currency, the Hungarian forint
  • The official language is Hungarian, several minority languages are also spoken including German, Serbian, Romanian, Slovak, and Slovenian
  • Budapest is home to the oldest metro line in continental Europe and is the second oldest in the world after London’s Tube
  • Hungary has public bathing practices that date back to Roman times. The country boasts around 1,500 spas, 450 of which are public
  • Hungarians never clink their glasses, or bottles, of beer. According to legend, when 13 Hungarian generals were executed in Austria during the Revolution of 1848, Austrians clinked their beer glasses after each execution. Therefore, Hungarians refuse to clink glasses as a way to honor the generals’ memory

Medical Information for U.S. citizens in Hungary

Recommended vaccines:

  • Routine Vaccines
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B

Emergencies:

  • 112 is the pan-European emergency number
  • 104 – Ambulance and emergency medical services
  • 105 – Fire-brigade, rescue services, civil protection
  • 107 – Police
  • 199 – International enquiries
  • 188 – Auto club help number
  • 06-1-438-8080 – Tourist Police
  • 06-1-2000-100 – 24-hour medical assistance in English (Falck SOS Hungary)