New Coronavirus Travel Restrictions Take Effect In Hungary

• Published date: 29 July 2020
• Subject Matter: Immigration, Coronavirus (COVID-19), General Immigration, Government Measures
• Law Firm: lus Laboris
• Author: Ms Marianna Csabai (CLV Partners)

The Hungarian government has implemented new travel restrictions as a response to the increase in Covid-19 cases in nearby countries. This article provides details.

As of 15 July 2020, the Hungarian government has implemented new travel restrictions as a response to the increase in novel coronavirus cases in nearby countries (Gov. Decree No. 341/2020 (VII. 12.); the 'Gov. Decree'). The travel restrictions only affect passenger traffic.

The Gov. Decree introduces three colour-coded categories for countries (or certain regions within countries); based on infection rates, countries are classified as 'red', 'yellow' or 'green', for high, medium and low infection respectively.

The chief medical officer is responsible for classifying countries and regions through decrees, which are then published in the Hungarian Official Gazette. Unclassified countries are considered green for the purposes of travel restrictions. If a country is classified as red or yellow, the chief medical officer may specify certain regions within that country as green if the infection rates are low in those regions.

Most EU member states are in the green category, with the exception of Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Bulgaria and Romania.

At the time of writing, the following countries are classified as yellow: UK, US, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria, Romania Serbia, Russia, Japan and China.

153 countries have been classified as red, including for example: Ukraine, India, Israel, Turkey, all American countries (except the USA and Canada), all Asian countries (except Japan and China), all African countries and all countries of Australia and Oceania.

The Gov. Decree also differentiates between Hungarian and third-country nationals. For the purpose of the travel restrictions, third-country nationals and their family members are treated as Hungarians if their travel documents prove that they are entitled to permanent stay in Hungary, or if the third-country nationals obtained a temporary permit issued by the policing authority responsible for immigration allowing them to stay for longer than 90 days.

1. Travel restrictions for Hungarian nationals (and third country nationals treated as Hungarians)

There are no restrictions on entering Hungary from green countries. If the Hungarian national arrives from a yellow or red country, the traveller must undergo a medical examination.

• If there is no suspicion of infection, the individual mustl remain in home quarantine for 14 days. If the...