Embassy
Embassy of France, Budapest
Budapest District V
Kossuth Lajos tér 13–15. 1055
Hungary visa requirements for French citizens
French citizens can visit, live and work in Hungary without a visa.
Passport
FRA
France
Going to
HUN
Hungary
Free to visit, live and work
People from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can enter without visas.
- Visa
- Not required
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Hungary.
Ways into Hungary
Visit visa-free if eligible, or apply for a short-stay visa.
Visa not required For your passportEuropean visa-free entryPeople from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can enter without visas.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Bring a valid passport or accepted national identity card.
- Check registration rules if staying longer than 90 days.
Documents required
- Valid passport or accepted identity card
- Stays longer than 90 days have separate registration rules.
Visa not requiredSchengen document entryA qualifying Schengen residence permit or long-stay visa lets you make short visits.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your residence permit or long-stay visa qualifies.
- Check that both your documents remain valid.
- Bring the document and your passport.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Qualifying residence permit or long-stay visa
- The limit is 90 days in any 180 days outside the document's issuing country.
- A residence permit from outside Schengen does not automatically qualify.
Visa on arrivalEmergency border visaBorder police may grant a visa for a proven, unexpected urgent need.
- Stay
- 15 days
How to apply
- Ask for an application form at the border.
- Explain the emergency and why you could not apply earlier.
- Show your passport, accommodation and funds proof.
- Wait for the border police's decision.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Proof of the urgent reason
- Proof you could not apply earlier
- Visit purpose and accommodation proof
- Funds and return travel proof
- Hotel booking
- Approval is exceptional; transit stays cover only the time needed.
- Show 1,000 HUF per day, plus enough for return travel.
Visa requiredTourist visaThis visa is for short tourist visits when you cannot enter visa-free.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Apply where you legally live.
- Choose Hungary if it is your main or only destination.
- Book an appointment at least 15 days before travel.
- Submit your documents, pay and give fingerprints if required.
- Wait for approval, then check your visa details.
Documents required
- Passport issued within past 10 years
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Signed form and recent colour photo
- Travel plans and accommodation proof
- Proof of funds
- Travel medical insurance
- Proof of legal residence, if needed
- Parental consent, if needed
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- Your visa sets your dates, entries and days; 90 days per 180 is the maximum.
- Insurance must cover 30,000 EUR; passport must last 90 days after planned Schengen departure.
Sources (28)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Hungarian Consular Service: Short Term Stay
- Hungarian Consular Service: Visa-free travel to Hungary
- National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing: Visa-free citizens
- Hungarian Police: Issuing a visa at the crossing point
- Embassy of Hungary in Washington: Visa and Travel Information
- Embassy of Hungary in Washington: Short Stay Visas
- Embassy of Hungary in London: Visa Information
- Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi: Short-stay applications
- Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi: Visa-free entry
- Embassy of Hungary in Kuwait: Basic Schengen visa rules
- Immigration authority: Study and student mobility
- Immigration authority: Residence permit for employment
- Immigration authority: European Union Blue Card
- Immigration authority: Seasonal employment
- Immigration authority: Guest self-employment
- Immigration authority: Family reunification
- Immigration authority: Medical treatment residence permit
- Immigration authority: White Card
- Immigration authority: Visa for guest investors
- Immigration authority: Working holiday agreements
- Immigration authority: Procedural fees and exemptions
- Enter Hungary: Official electronic immigration platform
- Enter Hungary: European Economic Area nationals and family members
- Enter Hungary: Holiday/working residence documents
- European Union: Official ETIAS questions and answers
- European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa
- European Commission: Visa Code Handbook, including airport-transit exemptions
- Council of the European Union: Vanuatu visa exemption ended
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from France
- Plugs C FAdapter for some
- MoneyHUF Ft
- Time+11h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageHungarian
- Emergency112 or 107 police112 or 104 ambulance
Planning your Hungary trip
Best time to go: Summer is warm and popular for Lake Balaton. Hot days can bring heavy storms, while autumn can have several days of steady rain.
- BudapestExplore the Danube riverbanks, Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue. The capital also has the Great Synagogue and historic bathhouses.
- HollókőThe old village and its surroundings preserve Hungary's village traditions.
- Aggtelek National ParkIts caves contain striking stone formations, including stalagmites.
- Pannonhalma ArchabbeyVisit the historic Benedictine abbey and its natural surroundings.
Scams to watch for in Hungary
- Pickpocketing on public transport and in crowdsThieves take wallets, passports, cash and cards from pockets or bags. Closed purses and backpacks can still be vulnerable. Pickpocketing is the most common crime against tourists in Budapest.
- Worthless taxi changeA driver gives you obsolete Romanian banknotes as change. They look similar to Hungarian money but are worthless and cannot be exchanged.
- Inflated taxi fares and driver toutsDrivers approach arriving travellers or wait in busy central areas, then charge much more than expected. Travellers may also face very high fares after dark. Booking your own taxi is usually cheaper than taking a waiting car or having a hotel book one.
About Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked republic in Central Europe, on the Carpathian basin and the Danube.
- Capital
- Budapest
- Money
- Hungarian forint (Ft)
- Languages
- Hungarian
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +36
Other Europe passports
Going to Hungary
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Hungary with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do french citizens need a visa for Hungary?
French citizens can visit, live and work in Hungary without a visa.
Do hungarian citizens need a visa for France?
Hungarian citizens do not need a visa for France. Show your passport at the border.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to Hungary?
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Hungary are easier for french citizens?
Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia Slovenia, and 3 more let french citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Hungary?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Hungary?
Hungarian forint (Ft). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Hungary?
Hungarian.
How strong is the France passport?
It ranks #7 and reaches 155 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck