This is where you can find information about the entry restrictions taking effect starting today, compulsory home quarantine and exemptions from compulsory home quarantine. The purpose of the restrictions on entry into the territory of Hungary is to prevent the introduction of infection from abroad and a resurgence of the epidemic in Hungary. We can only avoid the repeated introduction of measures restricting our lives if we keep the virus outside Hungary’s borders.
We have classified foreign countries into three categories: red, yellow and green. In the case of entry from the countries marked as yellow and red, passengers crossing the border are randomly tested (at road border-crossings and airports), their body temperature is checked, they are required to complete a questionnaire, and they are ordered to enter compulsory home quarantine as before. Tasks related to border controls are performed by the police. Persons ordered to enter compulsory home quarantine are required to stay at home for 14 days and inform their general practitioners in the event that they develop symptoms. If a person would like to be exempted from compulsory home quarantine, they can have a PCR test; in the case of countries falling into the yellow category, they can be released from quarantine after 1 negative PCR test result, while in the case of countries falling into the red category, 2 negative PCR test results are required.
| Classification of countries | Rules of entry into Hungary for Hungarian nationals | Rules of entry into Hungary for non-Hungarian nationals |
| ‘Green’ countries – current infection rate is low | May enter without restrictions. | May enter without restrictions. |
| Yellow’ countries – current infection rate is less severe | Upon entry, Hungarian nationals are required to undergo a health screening. If a person is not suspected of being infected, he or she is required to enter a designated quarantine or compulsory home quarantine for 14 days. No disease control observation is required if a person can verify with documentation in Hungarian or English – showing the results of two molecular biological tests conforming to the relevant healthcare standards (SARS-CoV-2 tests) and performed a maximum of 5 days before entry into Hungary, with a minimum of 48 hours between the two tests – that at the time of testing the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not present in his or her body. In a case deserving special consideration, a person may request and be granted an exemption from entering quarantine if the result of his or her molecular biological test conforming to the relevant healthcare standards (SARS-CoV-2 test) is negative, but such a person is required to have a second test performed. A Hungarian national who upon entry into Hungary can verify that he or she had the COVID-19 infection in the 6 months before the requested border-crossing and is fully recovered will also be exempt from disease control observation. | Upon entry, non-Hungarian nationals are required to undergo a health screening. If a person is suspected of being infected, he or she is not allowed to enter the country. If a person is not suspected of being infected, he or she is required to enter a designated quarantine or home quarantine for 14 days. No disease control observation is required if a person can verify with documentation in Hungarian or English – containing the results of two molecular biological tests conforming to the relevant healthcare standards (SARS-CoV-2 tests) and performed a maximum of 5 days before entry into Hungary, with a minimum of 48 hours between the two tests – that at the time of testing the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not present in his or her body. In a case deserving special consideration, a person may request and be granted an exemption from entering quarantine if the result of his or her molecular biological test conforming to the relevant health care standards (SARS-CoV-2 test) is negative, but such a person is required to have a second test performed. A non-Hungarian national who upon entry into Hungary can verify that he or she had the COVID-19 infection in the 6 months before the requested border-crossing and is fully recovered will also be exempt from disease control observation. |
| ‘Red’ countries – current infection rate is severe | Upon entry, Hungarian nationals are required to undergo health screening. If a person is not suspected of being infected, he or she is required to retire to designated quarantine or compulsory home quarantine for 14 days. No disease control observation is required if a person can verify with a document worded in Hungarian or English – containing the results of two molecular biological tests conforming to the relevant health care standards (SARS-CoV-2 tests) performed maximum 5 days before entry into Hungary, with minimum 48 hours between the two tests – that at the time of testing the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was not demonstrable in his or her body, or In a case deserving special consideration, on request a person may be granted an exemption from retiring to quarantine if the results of 2 molecular biological tests conforming to the relevant health care standards (SARS-CoV-2 test) are negative. | Non-Hungarian nationals are not allowed to enter the country. In a case deserving special consideration, the local competent police unit, according to the planned place of entry into Hungary (in the case of the airport, the 18th district police constabulary), may grant an exemption. Upon entry, non-Hungarian nationals are required to undergo a health screening. If a person is suspected of being infected, he or she is not allowed to enter the country. If a person is not suspected of being infected, he or she is required to enter a designated quarantine or home quarantine for 14 days. In a case deserving special consideration, a person may request and be granted an exemption from entering quarantine if the results of 2 molecular biological tests conforming to the relevant healthcare standards (SARS-CoV-2 test) are negative. |
How can a Hungarian national returning from a country classified as yellow or red and who has been ordered to enter compulsory home quarantine request a PCR test?
Upon entry into the country (at the road border-crossing point or at the airport), a Hungarian national returning from a country classified as yellow or red is given an order to enter compulsory home quarantine and a red sticker, which he or she is required to display on the door of his or her home. As before, the police will check compliance with the rules relating to compulsory home quarantine.
If a person would like to receive an exemption from compulsory home quarantine and have a PCR test performed, they can do so at their own expense or at the expense of the state. In every instance until July 31, the costs of the laboratory tests will be covered by the state; however, thereafter, people will be required to cover the costs of testing themselves.
Until August 1, 2020, requests for sample-taking in connection with travel may be submitted to general practitioners; in the case of designated quarantine, to the competent general practitioner at the place of residence. Please contact the general practitioner by telephone. The two PCR tests to be performed with a minimum of 48 hours between them will be ordered by the general practitioner from the National Ambulance Service. Members of the ambulance service will come to the applicant’s home to take nose and throat samples. The applicant is required to remain at home in quarantine until the test results come through.
The result of the test will be uploaded into the “EESZT” system from which both the general practitioner and the client will be able to download it. The laboratory will also send the result to the client directly. An application for an exemption must be submitted to the competent district or metropolitan district office at the place of residence/stay. The disease control authority will exempt the person concerned from quarantine in a decision and will oblige him or her to have a second PCR test performed. Non-Hungarian nationals can obtain their results from the general practitioner ordering the test.
If the result of the test is negative – meaning that no coronavirus infection is present – an exemption from quarantine must be requested from the disease control authority with territorial competence. The authority will issue an exemption in the form of a decision and will oblige the person to have a second test performed.
If the test result is positive – meaning that it shows the presence of the coronavirus infection – compulsory home quarantine cannot be suspended, and a disease control investigation and disease control measures will take place in accordance with the protocol in force, as issued by the National Centre for Public Health.