Hungary
About
| The small country of Hungary (Magyarország), surrounded by a sea of Slavs, is unique for its language, culture and ability to survive. Spend hours wine tasting at the vineyards of the Szépasszony Valley, or soak away the stress in the large thermal lake at Hévíz near Lake Balaton. The soothing waters rarely drop below 33ºC. Sunbathe on the popular sandy beaches (strands), or take a dip in the famously shallow waters of Lake Balaton. Go on a boat trip and explore the many towns that border the lake shore. Follow the tourist trails in Kiskunság National Park which preserves parts of the Danube Tisza Floodplain of Central Hungary in seven disconnected areas. Learn about swamps, migratory birds, alkali plateaux and lakes in this biosphere reserve. |
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| Capital: | Budapest (BUD) |
| Currency: | Hungarian Forint (HUF) |
| Language: | Hungarian (Magyar). German is also spoken. English is spoken in most tourist areas. |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 36 |
| Time Zones: | UTC / GMT +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) |
| Public Holidays: |
Jan 1; Mar 15; Apr 18; May 1-2; June 9; Aug 20; Oct 23-24; Nov 1; Dec 24-26 |
| Side of the Road: | Right |
| Best Time to Go: | May to September |
| Best for: | Thermal Baths, Medieval Architecture, Religious Sites, UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Plugs: | 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are used |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. |
| Health: | There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities, however visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. If you require any medication on your travels it is best to bring it with you, in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it. |
| Customs: | Normal social conventions. |
| Travel Tips / Warnings: | There have been reports of scams against tourists by restaurants and taxi’s, who charge exorbitant prices to foreigners – use hotel recommended restaurants and transport. Avoid political demonstrations. |
| Duty Free: | Hungary is within the European Union. If you are travelling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices. If you are travelling from within the EU, there is no limit on the amount or value of goods you may import, providing your goods are for personal consumption. Goods imported for commercial purposes are subject to duty and the following guideline amounts are in place to determine whether this is the case: • 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco. • 10L of spirits over 22%, 20L of alcoholic beverages less than 22%, 90L of wine and 110L of beer. If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Hungary by travellers over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco (if arriving by air). • 40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50g of tobacco (if arriving by other means). • 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22%. • Other goods up to the value of €430 for air travellers and €300 for other travellers (reduced to €150 for children under 15). |
| Prohibited Imports: | Meat or milk products and potted or rooted plants from outside the EU. Pornography, drugs and unlicensed weapons. |
| Prohibited Exports: | Raw meat or milk products, potted or rooted plants. You can must obtain a licence to export cultural goods which are more than 50 years old or have a commercial value of more than Ft50,000. |
Issuing Authorities
The Embassy of Hungary
959 Arcadia Street, Arcadia 0083
Tel: 012 430 3030
E-mail: konz.prt@mfa.gov.hu
Web: pretoria.mfa.gov.hu/eng
Visa applications by appointment only.
Schengen visa may be applied for directly at the embassy, or through the visa application centre.
The Embassy of Hungary in Pretoria also issues visas for Latvia.
The Embassy is also accreddited to: Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, eSwatini, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Visa Requirements
South African passport holders do require a visa.
Hungary is a member of the Schengen Agreement.
- If you intend to visit only Hungary, you must apply at the Embassy of Hungary / Visa Application Centre.
- If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate that is your main destination / longest stay.
- If you intend to visit several countries but are spending an equal number of days in each, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the country of your first point of entry.
VFS GLOBAL
Tel: 012 425 3052
Email: info.hunsa@vfshelpline.com
Web: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/zaf/en/hun
Hours: Monday - Friday 08:00 - 12:30 and 13:30 - 17:00
Cape Town: 8th Floor 2 Long Street, Cape Town
Durban: Unit 409, 4th Floor, 91-123 Cowey Road (Problem Mkhize Road)
Pretoria: Brooklyn Pavilion, First floor, 217 Bronkhorst Street (entrance on Tram Street), Nieuw Muckleneuk
Applications are by appointment.
REQUIREMENTS
See General Schengen Requirements.
In addition to general requirements:
- Copy of data/bio page of passport
- Copy of flight reservation
- Minors: parental consent letter
- Document checklist
- Data sheet (if staying at more than one Schengen country)
Visa Processing Time
On average, 15 working days. It is advisable to submit applications 6 weeks in advance. Applications shall be lodged no more than six months before the start of the intended visit.
Visa Validity
Up to 90 days.
Visa Cost
Adults: EUR90
Children (6-12): EUR45
Children (under 6): Free
VFS Service fee: 9 EUR
SA Representative
SA Embassy
Gárdonyi Géza út 17, H-1026 Budapest
Tel: +36 1 392 0999
E-mail: budapest.consular@dirco.gov.za
Web: dirco1.azurewebsites.net/budapest/
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio |
