For many third-country citizens, the Schengen Area’s 90/180-day rule is well known: people from visa-exempt countries can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. However, fewer people know that Hungary has bilateral visa waiver agreements with several countries, allowing certain citizens to remain in Hungary beyond the standard Schengen Area limit.
If you are considering moving to Hungary, planning a longer visit, or exploring your options before applying for residence permits in Hungary, understanding these special rules can help you avoid accidental overstays and unnecessary immigration issues.
It is important: The bilateral agreements only extend the period of lawful visa-free stay in Hungary. They do not grant the right to work, establish long-term residence, or replace any of the available residence permits. If you are immigrating to Hungary, planning employment, starting a business, studying, or moving to Hungary permanently, you will generally need the appropriate residence permits in Hungary before your visa-free period expires.
What is the additional Visa-Free Stay in Hungary?
Hungary has bilateral agreements with a number of non-Schengen countries that allow their citizens to remain in Hungary only after they have exhausted their normal Schengen visa-free stay of 90 days. Depending on your nationality, this additional period is either:
- 90 extra days, or
- 30 extra days.
These agreements remain in force alongside Hungary’s obligations under the Schengen rules, but they come with important limitations as the additional stay is not automatic in every situation:
1. You must not have already used your initial 90 Schengen days elsewhere
The extra period is only available if you did not arrive in Hungary after spending your first 90 visa-free days in another Schengen country. So, if you have spent 90 days in the Schengen Area elsewhere and then travel to Hungary, you cannot rely on Hungary’s bilateral agreement for an additional stay.
If you begin your visa-free stay in Hungary under the applicable bilateral agreement, you may qualify for the extended period.
2. During the additional period, you must stay in Hungary
Once you are using the additional visa-free period provided by Hungary, you cannot travel to other Schengen countries. The bilateral agreement extends your lawful stay only in Hungary. Travelling to another Schengen Member State during this period may place you in violation of Schengen immigration rules.
3. Leave the Schengen Area directly from Hungary
When the additional visa-free period expires, you should leave the Schengen Area directly from Hungary. This means you should not continue travelling through other Schengen countries after your lawful stay in Hungary has ended under the bilateral agreement.
Which countries have the 90 + 90 days?
Citizens of the following countries may benefit from an additional 90-day visa-free stay in Hungary, subject to the applicable conditions:
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)
- Israel
- Japan
- Macau (Special Administrative Region)
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Panama
- Paraguay
- South Korea
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Which countries are eligible for an additional 30-day stay in Hungary?
Citizens of the following countries may benefit from an additional 30-day visa-free stay in Hungary:
- San Marino
- Singapore
If you are unsure whether you qualify for the additional stay, or you are planning moving to Hungary and need assistance with immigration Hungary matters or residence permits in Hungary, feel free to contact me on how to obtain your residence permit and on how to avoid costly mistakes and to ensure that your immigration status remains lawful.