IMPORTANT NOTICE ON RULES AND REGULATIONS
- Please note that the visa procedure concerning family members of Hungarian citizens has changed with effect from 1 January 2019 (see below: point III.6 and 8)
- Consulates are collecting fingerprints and digital photos from visa applicants and the applicants' data will be stored in the Visa Information System (VIS). The data can be consulted by all visa-issuing authorities of the Schengen States, and is counter-checked by border authorities at the entry of the visa holder into the Schengen area. For further information: https://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/visa-information-system-vis
Non-EU citizen need a valid passport fulfilling the following criteria:
· its validity shall last until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States
· it shall have been issued within the previous 10 years.
List of travel documents which entitle the holder to cross the external borders of the Schengen Area and which may be endorsed with a visa can be found on the following website at the (Info banner on the right, under 4 different links):
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/index_en.htm
Please note that a visa is only a prerequisite for entering the country. However, entry conditions may be checked at the border and you might be refused to enter the country even if you possess a valid visa in case you fail to comply with the entry conditions.
VISAS AND RESIDENCE PERMITS
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
For general information on Schengen Visa Policy please check the following website:
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa_en
For general information on travelling to Hungary please visit:
http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/utazas-magyarorszagra
http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/en
II. VISA APPLICATION CENTRES IN UAE
ABU DHABI:
Level B2 (Lower Ground), The Mall, World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed The 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi UAE.
DUBAI:
WAFI Mall, Level 2 & Level 3, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai UAE.
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/hun/
Contact by email: info.huae@vfshelpline.com
Or call: +971 4 205 5650
III. RESIDENCE PERMIT
Foreigners intending to stay more than 3 months in Hungary may apply for a residence permit at VFS Global Abu Dhabi and Dubai (please see point II.).
You can find information about the above on the website of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing at
www.oif.gov.hu
Information on residence permit procedure including the downloadable application form and the correspondent appendixes can be found on the website of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing at www.oif.gov.hu and also on the website of VFS Global.
In case of a refusal, the decision may be appealed within 8 days after the decision was delivered and the appeal is to be submitted in person at the Consular Office of the Hungarian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The administrative fee for appeal is 641 AED. The competent authority (National Directorate General for Aliens Policing) decides on the appeal within 21 days.
IV. SCHENGEN VISA
1. General information
Hungary is a member of the Schengen Area, therefore if you have a valid Schengen visa (i.e. you have not surpassed the validity date, the number of days and the number of entries permitted) then you can use it to travel to Hungary as well.
We would strongly recommend you to apply for a visa as early as possible but not more than 6 months before the date of your actual journey.
In accordance with Article 9 of the Community Code on Visas (810/2009 Regulation of the Council and the Parliament) the application should be lodged at least 15 days before the intended travel. If an applicant fails this time due to the point II.3.3.1 of the C(2010) 1620 decision of the European Committee published on 19th March 2010 it is his/her responsibility. Please note that in certain cases the visa procedure could take up to 45 days (in accordance with Article 23 of the Visa Code).
2. Where to apply for a Schengen visa to Hungary
Visa service is provided at the Visa Application Centre for Hungary by VFS Global Abu Dhabi and Dubai (please see point II.). VFS assists applicants with the procedure and forwards the application to the Embassy for an additional fee.
Please note that if you are not resident in the UAE you should normally apply for a visa at the Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
If you want to visit one Schengen country you should apply for a visa at the Consulate of that country. If you wish to visit several Schengen countries you should apply at the Consulate of the country where you intend to stay for the longest period of time. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but no main destination can be determined you should apply at the Consulate of the Schengen country whose external border you will cross in order to enter the territory of the Schengen Area.
Applications should be lodged at least 15 days before the intended journey. Please note that neither the Consular Section of the Embassy of Hungary nor the Visa Centre takes responsibility for applications submitted less than 15 days before this date and the Consular Section of the Embassy of Hungary reserves the right to send back such applications without making any decisions on them.
3. How to apply at the Visa Application Centre
All Schengen visa applications shall be lodged at one of the following VFS visa application centres:
HUNGARY VISA APPLICATION CENTRE
ABU DHABI:
Level B2 (Lower Ground), The Mall, World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed The 1st Street (Airport Road), Abu Dhabi UAE.
DUBAI:
WAFI Mall, Level 2 & Level 3, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai UAE.
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/hun/
Contact by email: info.huae@vfshelpline.com
Or call: +971 4 205 5650
VFS is accepting walk-in appointments for the following categories only:
Family members of Hungarian Nationals, visiting family/friends.
4. Duration of the procedure
In accordance with article 23 of 810/2009/EC regulation (Visa Code) applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging of an application. However, this period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.
5. Visa fees
Schengen visa fee is 321 AED.
Visas are issued free of charge for the following applicants:
- children under the age of 6 travelling with their own passports,
- family members of EU/EEA citizens either travelling together with their EU/EEA national family members or travelling in order to meet their EU/EEA national family members (family members of Hungarian nationals do not fall under this category)
- researchers having a valid contract with a research institution in Hungary,
- pupils, students and their teachers travelling for study reasons,
- representatives of non-profit organizations under the age of 25 participating and attending seminars, conferences, sport, cultural or educational events organised and held by NGOs,
- Belarus citizens between the age of 6 and 12 years,
- Turkish citizens between the age of 6 and 12 years,
- Belarus national participants aged 25 years or less in seminars, conferences, sport, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations.
A reduced fee applies to the following applicants:
- nationals of countries having a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus;
- nationals of Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia and Moldova without biometric passports;
- children between the age of 6 and 12 years.
The visa fee can be paid when the application is submitted at VFS Visa Center.
Please note that in case of refusal the fee will NOT be reimbursed.
6. Supporting documents to be presented by visa applicants:
for the full checklist please visit the website of VFS Global https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/hun/apply-visa
General requirements when applying for a short stay visa (C):
- passport containing at least two blank pages, issued within 10 years before the submission of the visa application and its validity shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area,
- UAE residence permit valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen area,
- a wholly and legibly completed and signed visa application form,
- a passport-size colour photo (not older than 6 months),
- travel medical insurance valid throughout the territory of the Schengen area and covering the entire period of the applicant’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be €30,000,
- documents indicating the purpose of the journey,
- documents in relation to accommodation or proof of sufficient means to cover the costs of accommodation,
- proof of sufficient means of subsistence (eg. recent bank account statements, payslips etc),
- confirmed outward and onward ticket reservation.
7. Specific requirements
Specific requirements depend on the main purpose of travel, the length of the intended stay and the personal circumstances of the applicant. For more information please visit the following websites:
https://konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu/en/how-apply-visa
https://konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu/en/short-term-stay
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/hun/apply-visa
Please bear in mind that the consul may ask for additional documents anytime during the visa procedure and applicants may be called for a personal interview, as well.
8. Documents required from family members of EU/EEA citizens
Third country national family members of EU/EEA nationals accompanied by the EU/EEA national or joining the EU/EEA national are waived from visa obligation in case they possess a ‘residence card of a family member of an EU/EEA national’ issued by an EU/EEA Member State. Please note that you may be requested by the immigration authorities to provide documentary proof of family relationship (e.g. original certificate of birth, marriage or civil partnership).
Family members of EU/EEA citizens not holding the above mentioned residence card are not waived from visa obligation even if they are travelling together with their EU/EEA national family member or travel in order to join the EU/EEA national family member in Hungary.
Family members of Hungarian citizens who need a visa to travel to Hungary based on the 2018/1806/EU Regulation should lodge the application in line with the general Schengen visa procedure.
9. Visa refusal
If the visa is refused, annulled or revoked, applicants have the right to appeal. Appeals should be submitted in person at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Hungary in Abu Dhabi 8 days within the date of receiving the decision on refusal and 3 days within the date of receiving the decision on the annulment or revocation of a visa.
The Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade decides on the appeals within 15 days (in case of annulment or revocation of a visa within 5 days). The appeal should be lodged in writing and it should be signed by the applicant. The appeal must be submitted in Hungarian or in any other official languages of the European Union. If the applicant lodges the appeal in another language he/she must submit an official translation thereof.
The fee of the appeal procedure is 641 AED and should be paid when submitting the appeal by bank card to the Embassy of Hungary in Abu Dhabi. The fee for the appeal procedure cannot be reimbursed, not even in case of a positive decision. Reduction of the fee is not possible and must be paid by all applicants (even if the visa procedure was free of charge).
Further supporting documents may be submitted during the appeal procedure and the applicant might be called to the Consular Section for a personal interview.
The decision on the appeal may be subject to judicial review.
In case of refusal a new application may be submitted at any time and the visa fee has to be paid again. For further details about the appeal procedure please check the information on the refusal form.
10. Getting your passport back
Upon collection of the passport, applicants are advised to check the entries of the visa sticker, and notify the Consular Section of the Embassy of Hungary in case of any discrepancy.
11. Information on visa waiver agreements
Please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
http://konzuliszolgalat.kormany.hu/en