In the communication, they state that in the interest of avoiding potential threats, the Chief Medical Officer has published in an official decision a list of countries classified according to red, yellow and green categories; placement into each category is determined by the status of the epidemic at any time, trends regarding the number of infections and the quality of the given country’s healthcare system.
Upon entry, both Hungarian and non-Hungarian nationals are required to undergo a health screening.
Hungarian nationals returning from countries marked as yellow or red are required by the competent disease control authority to enter compulsory home quarantine.
Exceptions to this rule are people who can verify negative PCR test results via documentation in Hungarian or English, based on two tests conducted not more than five days before entry, with a minimum of 48 hours between the two tests.
If there is no document verifying a negative PCR test result, compulsory home quarantine can be avoided with two negative PCR tests carried out in Hungary, with a minimum of 48 hours between the two tests.
If a person returns from a “yellow” country, they are exempted from quarantine after the first negative test, under the condition that they are required to have a second PCR test performed.
Hungarian nationals returning from “red” countries can only be exempted from quarantine if they have two negative PCR test results.
In the case of non-Hungarian nationals arriving from “yellow” countries, there is no need for disease control observation if they can prove with documentation in Hungarian or English that the results of two molecular biological tests – SARS-CoV-2 tests – are negative and were performed not more than five days before entry into Hungary and with a minimum of 48 hours between the two tests.
Foreign nationals arriving from “red” countries are not allowed to enter the territory of Hungary. Only cases deserving special consideration constitute an exception to this rule, they stressed.
People who can prove via documentation in English or Hungarian – for instance, with a hospital release report, a positive PCR test result and any other certificate issued by a healthcare provider or authority – that they have had the coronavirus infection in the past six months and are fully recovered are allowed to enter the country without any restriction, they added.
They indicated that requests for travel-related sample-taking can be submitted to a general practitioner – in the case of designated quarantine, to the competent general practitioner at the place of stay – until July 31.
The two PCR tests performed with a minimum of 48 hours between them will be ordered by the general practitioner from the National Ambulance Service.
They drew attention to the fact that in every instance, applicants are required to state on the test form “travel-related sample-taking.”
The National Ambulance Service will transport samples to the healthcare provider with a microbiological laboratory designated by the National Centre for Public Health.
Until the end of July, PCR tests can be carried out in designated laboratories at the expense of the state.
Until July 31, the costs of the tests in every instance will be covered by the state; however, thereafter, people will have to cover the costs of testing themselves.
A PCR test conforming to the relevant professional healthcare standards can be carried out in any laboratory authorized to engage in microbiological laboratory diagnostic activities.
Test results will be uploaded into the Electronic Health Service Space (EESZT) system, from which they can be downloaded by both the general practitioner and clients; however, laboratories will also send the results directly to clients, including foreign clients.
A request for exemption from compulsory home quarantine can be submitted – along with payment of HUF 3,000 per person – to the competent district or metropolitan district office at the applicant’s place of residence or stay, the communication reads.