US Embassy COVID-19 Travel Alert 09.11.2020

https://hu.usembassy.gov/covid-19/

Last updated: November 9, 2020

The Department of State’s current Travel Advisory for Hungary is Level 3: Reconsider Travel.  If you are in the U.S. and plan to visit Hungary, please refer to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html.

International commercial flight options currently exist in Hungary. U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The U.S. government has no plans to arrange repatriation flights in Hungary at this time.

Please enroll in STEP and provide your name and contact information to our email address:  Ez az email cím védett a spam robotoktól, a megtekintéséhez engedélyezni kell a Javascriptet. so we can contact you as soon as we have any updates.

Quick Links:

• U.S. Embassy Budapest Alerts and Messages for U.S. citizens
• American Citizen Services Contact Information:
  during official hours (workdays 8AM-5PM CET) – Phone: (36-1) 475-4164;
  E-mail:  Ez az email cím védett a spam robotoktól, a megtekintéséhez engedélyezni kell a Javascriptet.
  Emergency calls after hours and on weekends/holidays  – for U.S. citizens only: (36-1) 475-4400. An Embassy Duty Officer will be on call to handle emergencies.
• Budapest Airport Information:
  Websites:
  English – COVID-related information
  Hungarian – COVID-related information
  Social Media: Facebook (in Hungarian) – Twitter (in English)
  Airlines – listing of all airlines with contact information and links to their websites and social media sites

Country-Specific information:

• Hungary has 114,778 cases of COVID-19 within its borders. Number of deceased: 2,493.
• For official up-to-date information about COVID-19 related restrictions and regulations, please visit: https://koronavirus.gov.hu/.  English language information is available at http://abouthungary.hu/news-in-brief/coronavirus-heres-the-latest/
• As of November 4, a state of emergency went into effect.
• As of November 5, a partial curfew is in effect. From midnight to 5 a.m. everybody is required to stay indoors, whether at home, at a temporary home, or an accommodation. The only exceptions are for commuting to and from work, and in case of health needs or health emergencies.
• General rule is that physical distancing of one and a half meters is to be kept, and face masks – only medical and textile masks that cover the nose and mouth are accepted – are mandatory when shopping, on public transport, in taxis, at public transport stations, waiting rooms and stops, in hospitals, social institutions, doctors’ offices, and also in theaters, cinemas and shopping malls. The regulation applies to everybody, with the exception of children under six. Those who breach the rule will be fined or excluded from travel. In cases of resistance, police can be summoned.
• Public areas, parks, shops, shopping malls, and markets are open.
• Restaurants, cafés, bars, and hotels are open. Food service must close at 11 p.m. Masks must be worn at restaurants, bars, and food service points and can only be removed during meals. Clubs are closed.
• Cultural institutions, such as libraries, museums, zoos, cinemas, and theaters are open.
• Universities may be open provided that physical distancing is observed, but the rector has the ultimate right to decide. Visiting student residences is still prohibited.
• Visits to health care and social care institutions are banned.
• From October, schools and kindergartens can only be entered after the body temperature has been measured. The feverish child must be separated, and the parent or guardian must be notified immediately.
• Open-air cultural and sporting events (e.g. open-air theater, cinema, circus, exhibition, literary event) can be attended in accordance with epidemiological rules. The wearing of masks at open-air cultural and sporting events is mandatory. Spectators may occupy only one in three seats, shall not sit directly behind each other and shall maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters between them. An outdoor event is defined as a program that takes place for the entire duration outside a walled, covered building on all sides, or during which spectators are protected by a tent (such as a circus tent) due to the weather, or those that are enclosed by a wall built for the event or take place in an uncovered or partially covered facility (e.g. stadium, swimming pool, outdoor stage, outdoor cinema). No events with open seating may be held, and no one may attend an event without assigned seating.
• Mass events of more than 500 people are banned. Worship services can be held, and civil marriages and funerals can also be held at a protective distance. Family events and weddings of less than 200 people can be held.
• Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc airport is open.
  Covid-19 information for passengers is available at https://www.bud.hu/en/covid_19.
  For departing passengers with cancelled flights, travelers should check carrier schedules for the latest updates and work directly with the carrier or travel agent to arrange or reschedule travel.
• The U.S. Embassy in Budapest offers appointments for some American Citizens services, to include passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Please refer to our U.S. Citizen Services page (https://hu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/) for an appointment. In case you need to travel to the U.S. in the next seven days please come to the Embassy to submit an application for an emergency passport. Official hours for emergency passport applications: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 9:30 am.  No appointment is necessary.  Visa applicants with interview appointments scheduled in the next 30 days should refer to the following website for more information: http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/hu/.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

• Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes, under certain circumstances.
• Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes.
• Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.

As of July 15, 2020, the Government of Hungary introduces entry restrictions.  Countries are classified into “red”, “yellow” and “green” categories, based on the severity of the COVID situation in each.

• Hungarian citizens and their relatives can enter Hungary from a “green” country without a health check. A Hungarian citizen coming from a “yellow” or “red” country will be subjected to health checks at the border and must be quarantined for 10 days. An exception to this is if they can credibly show two negative coronavirus tests 48 hours apart in the previous 5 days. A Hungarian citizen coming from a “yellow” country may be released from quarantine after the first negative coronavirus test, but if coming from a “red” country, two negative tests are required.
• In the case of non-Hungarian citizens, those coming from a “yellow” country can enter under the same conditions as Hungarian citizens, but it is not possible to enter Hungary from a “red” country.
• Categories and countries (as of August 31, 2020):
• “Red” Countries: All foreign countries are red.
• “Yellow” Countries: Currently, no countries are yellow.
• “Green” Countries: Hungary is the only green country.
• Hungarians returning from abroad – or those family members who live abroad – may be subject to mandatory health examinations, and if it is proven that they are infected, they must go into quarantine at home or in the hospital. Hungarians returning to Hungary will have to enter a 10-day quarantine, no matter which country they are coming from. Hungarians can leave quarantine only after two negative COVID-19 test results. Separate rules apply to those who cross the border for work on a daily basis. Exemptions will be granted to Hungarians and citizens of neighboring states, defined by the foreign minister, who live within 30 kilometers of the state border. Such persons living on either side of the border may enter or leave Hungarian territory for up to 24 hours but may not leave the 30-kilometer strip.
• Foreigners without a residence permit will be banned from entering Hungary, effective September 1. Travel for business purposes and military convoys are possible, and there will be a humanitarian corridor.
• Others allowed into Hungary are:

– athletes or sports professionals with work in Hungary,

– those on official visits,

– freight forwarders,

– those who can verify that they have had the coronavirus in the past six months,

– those whose presence is necessary for official proceedings ongoing in Hungary,

– those who are pursuing business activities, students in Hungary,

– those who are invited to a family event, such as weddings, funerals or baptisms,

– those taking part in sports, cultural or church events,

– those who must care for a relative at home.

Those who have other reasons for entering Hungary must submit a request in English or via a lawyer.

• Arrivals in Hungary must tell border police where they will fulfill their quarantine obligations. If they have a suitable device, they must download a so-called quarantine software with which police can check the observance of official home quarantine. If on-site checks cannot be carried out in any other way, those in quarantine must allow police to enter their home.
• See details in English (as of August 31, 2020): http://abouthungary.hu/news-in-brief/coronavirus-heres-the-latest/
• Official list of countries by category (as of September 1, 2020):
  https://magyarkozlony.hu/dokumentumok/3c26563b389056f4b8ca6b5e062f333d196f6dcb/megtekintes (PDF 195KB) (in Hungarian)
• Humanitarian corridors: Foreign citizens arriving from abroad in passenger traffic to transit can enter Hungary if they undergo a medical check upon entry and such a check does not reveal the suspicion of infection.  Please check the Hungarian Police’s website for details: http://www.police.hu/en/content/humanitarian-corridor
• Exception Requests: Foreigners may make a request an exception and entry permit with supporting documents on the National Police website. See https://ugyintezes.police.hu/web/guest/uj-ugy-inditasa/ (in Hungarian only)

Movement Restrictions:

• Is a curfew in place? Yes. From midnight to 5:00 am.
• Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.

Quarantine Information:

• Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes.

A 10-day quarantine is currently required for all international arrivals from “red” or “yellow” countries. Please see “Entering Hungary” above for additional information.

COVID-19 Testing:

The following providers can be contacted regarding COVID-19 tests (official regulated price of one test is 19,500 HUF):

• First Med Center: Prices and detailed descriptions in this link: https://firstmedcenters.com/cov19test/. Address: 1015 Budapest, Hattyú utca 14, 5th floor, Hattyúház. Phone: +36-1-224-9090
• Rozsakert Medical Center: Phone: +36 1 392 0505; Email: Ez az email cím védett a spam robotoktól, a megtekintéséhez engedélyezni kell a Javascriptet. ; Address: 1026 Budapest, Gábor Áron street 74-78.
• SYNLAB:

– Budapest, Centrum-Lab (SYNLAB-csoport tagja) Mammut Bevásárlóközpont 4. emelet., Mammut Shopping mall, 4th floor; Sample taking every day (Mon-Fri, from 12:00), Appointments by phone +36 1 5 888 500.

– Budapest 2. kerület, Budagyöngye Magánvérvételi Hely; Sampling: Monday, Tuesday, Wed 11.00 – 12.00; Appointment must be requested by phone: +36 70 285 4542.

-Budapest 13. kerület, Váci Corner Magánvérvételi Hely; Hours: Mon-Fri 12.00 – 14.00. Appointment by phone +36 1 5 888 500; Sampling in the order of arrival, in the lab container located in the parking lot.

– O street Budapest 6th district, Address: 1066 Budapest, Ó utca 44; Hours: Mon-Fri 12.00 – 15.00. Appointment by phone +36 1 5 888 500.

• Affidea Magyarorszag KFT.: Váci Greens Egészségközpont, 1138 Budapest, Föveny u. 4-6; Hours: 8:00-10:00; Appointment by phone: +36-1 8036464

Transportation Options:

• Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
• Is public transportation operating? Yes.

o Masks are required on all public transport.

U.S. citizens who are considering returning to the United States should work with their airlines to make travel arrangements while flights are still available. In case commercial transportation options cease to be available, we are compiling a list of persons seeking to leave Hungary. Please enroll in STEP at https://step.state.gov/ and provide your name and contact information to our email address:  Ez az email cím védett a spam robotoktól, a megtekintéséhez engedélyezni kell a Javascriptet. so we can contact you as soon as we have any updates.

Your email message should include the following information:

• Your full name as spelled in your passport.
• Information we can use to contact you now – a current phone number and email address.
• Your date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
• Your passport number, and its date of issuance and expiration. If it is not a U.S. passport, please note the country that issued it. Please also note any non-U.S. citizen immediate family members traveling with you.
• Please note your current location (city and country) and any special needs you may have, such as medical issues.

For the latest information regarding flights departing Budapest, please visit the airport’s website which is updated continuously.

Fines for Non-Compliance:

Hungarian authorities can impose civil violation fines for non-compliance with current rules regarding quarantines and mask-wearing requirements, such as on public transportation.

Consular Operations:

• The U.S. Embassy Budapest American Citizen Services Unit currently offers appointments only for passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Please refer to https://hu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/ for further information.
• The U.S. Embassy Budapest Visa Unit is accepting visa applications for limited categories. Please refer to https://www.ustraveldocs.com/hu/index.html for more information.

Entering the United States:

Travel restrictions barring entry to the U.S. from the Schengen Zone do not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and some family members of U.S. citizens, including any prospective adoptee who is seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications. For further information about the exceptions and the most current information regarding COVID-19, the March 11 and March 14 Presidential Proclamations, and its impact on travel to the United States, please visit www.coronavirus.gov, www.dhs.gov/coronavirus and www.whitehouse.gov/.

Local Resources:

The Hungarian government has created a public hotline for individuals to talk to infectious disease specialists about COVID-19: 06-80-277-455 and 06-80-277-456. Please note that this hotline is offered in Hungarian only.

• Hungarian Government’s page: https://koronavirus.gov.hu/
• COVID-19-Related On-line Information Sources in Hungary

Other links:

• COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
• CDC page on COVID-19
• Travel.state.gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page
• Department of State Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page
• Alerts and Messages, U.S. Embassy Budapest

By U.S. Embassy Budapest | 9 November, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Consular Affairs, Europe & Eurasia, Health Issues, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News, U.S. & Hungary, U.S. Citizen Services

Írta: Gabriella Gombár