Schengen visa (short-term, type-C visa ) 

Please note: a visa is a preliminary permission for entry, which does not automatically entitle its bearer to enter the Schengen area. The traveller may be requested at the border to demonstrate that the conditions for his/her entry and stay in Hungary are met. If the conditions under which the visa had been issued are no longer met, the traveller may be denied entry.

 

Appointments

Applications must be submitted in person and by appointment only. Our Consular office hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Appointments can be booked via phone at 02-8501-1200, ext. 111 or email at Consular.TPE@mfa.gov.hu

We only accept Schengen visa applications submitted at least 15 calendar days and maximum 6 months before the date of intended departure*. It is recommended to submit the application earlier than 15 days before the planned departure date, as the visa processing time may be extended up to 45 days. Our Office does not take any responsibility for delayed submissions and therefore failed travels. Please take this into account when booking your appointment. 

 

General information

The Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei represents Lithuania, Malta and Slovenia for processing type-C short-term Schengen visas (not exceeding 90 days). This visa representation is exclusive for type C visas, and our Office is not authorised to issue any other type of visas for these member states. Foreign residents in Taiwan who need a visa other than type C to these member states are kindly advised to contact the respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs or their foreign Missions. (Lithuania; Malta; Slovenia).

Traveling to Malta: When submitting the Schengen visa form and other relevant supporting documents, please include the necessary "Declaration of Proof of accommodation/bearing costs" form and its attachments as requested by the Malta authorities.

  • Purpose: This declaration serves as confirmation from a sponsor in Malta regarding their ability to accommodate and/or provide financial support for a visa applicant(s) during their stay in Malta.
  • Usage: This document is mandatory for all visa applications where the applicant(s) intend to reside at the sponsor's private residence in Malta or receive financial support from the sponsor.
  • Completion: The sponsor is responsible for completing the document, and their signature must be witnessed and certified by a licensed notary / lawyer. Subsequently, the notary / lawyer signs and stamps the document. Additionally, the sponsor must furnish supplementary supporting documents.

Please refer to the Website of the Consular Services >>> for:

  • Visa application information for non-Taiwanese passport holders
  • List of countries that do not need a visa
  • Other information related to entering Hungary and the Schengen Area

 

Which country is competent to issue the Schengen visa?

The Schengen visa application has to be submitted at the representation of the country which is competent for examining and deciding on it according to the main destination of the travel. The competent country will be:

(a) the country whose territory constitutes the sole destination of the visit;

(b) if the visit includes more than one destination, or if several separate visits are to be carried out within a period of two months, the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length of stay, counted in days, or the purpose of stay; or

(c) if no main destination can be determined, the country whose external border the applicant intends to cross first in order to enter the territory of the Schengen Member States.

If the applicant plans to visit any other Schengen Member States besides Hungary, the applicant is strongly recommended to check its entry rules.

 

Please find the Schengen VISA-application form here >>>   

 

Requirements

* If your application fails to fulfil any of the requirements below marked with (*), it is considered inadmissible and your documents, including application fee will be returned to you without further notice. (Visa Codex art. 19:3).

  • Submitted at least 15 calendar days and maximum 6 months before the date of intended departure*
  • Application form - completed and signed*
  • Travel document* valid for travel to the destination Members States. The travel document's validity must exceed the planned stay in the Schengen Area with at least 3 months, it must have been issued within the last 10 years and shall contain at least 2 blank pages.
  • Copy of the data page of the passport, any visas, residence permits, entry and exit stamps.
  • One colour photo*, maximum six months old, passport size (45 mm x 35 mm), full face and taken against a light background 
  • Payment of the visa fee*.  If the application for a visa is refused, the fee will not be reimbursed.
    • The visa fee shall be waived for applicants belonging to one of the following categories:
      • children under six years;
      • school pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;
      • researchers, as defined in point (2) of Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 8 ), travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research or participating in a scientific seminar or conference;
      • representatives of non-profit organisations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations.
    • The visa fee may be waived for:
      • children from the age of six years and below the age of 18 years;
      • holders of diplomatic and service passports;
      • participants in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations, aged 25 years or less.
  • Providing biometric data (digital photo and fingerprints)*
    • The following applicants shall be exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints:
      • children under the age of 12;
      • persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible. If the fingerprinting of fewer than 10 fingers is possible, the maximum number of fingerprints shall be taken. However, should the impossibility be temporary, the applicant shall be required to give the fingerprints at the following application. The authorities competent in accordance with Article 4(1), (2) and (3) shall be entitled to ask for further clarification of the grounds for the temporary impossibility. Member States shall ensure that appropriate procedures guaranteeing the dignity of the applicant are in place in the event of there being difficulties in enrolling;
      • heads of State or government and members of a national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose;
      • sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose.
  • Individual medical travel insurance which covers all costs that could arise as a result of emergency medical assistance, emergency hospitalization or medical repatriation. The insurance should cover costs of at least EUR 30,000 and be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit.
  • Non-Taiwanese applicants residing in Taiwan: Copy of the applicant's Taiwanese residence permit card (ARC / APRC) or VISA. 
  • Proof of accommodation;
  • Flight ticket booking - including return ticket;
  • Proof of sufficient means of subsistence both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to the country of origin/residence, e.g.:
    • Original income certificate of the employer;
    • Certified bank account statement on the account turnover during the last three months;
    • Pension slip;
    • Payslip for last three months;
    • Certificate of registration in case of entrepreneurs;
    • In case of minors, a declaration by the legal representative to take financial responsibility and on the existence of financial means to do so.
  • If employed: signed, stamped and dated letter from current employer containing the following information:
    • Personal data, function/position;
    • Terms of employment  (temporary or permanent);
    • Starting date of employment;
    • Monthly net salary;
    • Number of years with employer/organization;
    • Granted leave days;
    • Contact details of the employer.
  • Additional requirements for tourism:
    • ​Detailed travel itinerary or certificate of the travel agency
  • Additional requirements for visits (family & friends): 
    • ​Letter of invitation (signed and dated, including duration of stay, details on the relation between the inviting person and the applicant, the inviting person’s ID number, the applicant's ID number, reference to financial support if provided, reference to accommodation if provided) 
    • If accommodation is provided by the inviting person, proof of legal residence at said accommodation 
    • Copy of ID/passport (including signature) of the inviting person. If the inviting person is not a Hungarian citizen, please also submit a copy of their residence permit
    • Any other documents demonstrating the relationship to the inviting person
  • Additional requirements for business and conference
    • Signed and stamped letter of invitation. The invitation must contain the following information:
      • Personal data
      • Detailed information on the purpose of visit 
      • Duration of stay
      • Name and address of the inviting party
      • Name and position of the person signing the invitation
      • Registration number of the inviting party
      • Financial responsibility, if provided by the inviting organization
      • Date and contact details
    • Signed and stamped letter from your current employer or organization containing the following information:
      • Personal data
      • Function/position
      • Terms of employment  (temporary or permanent, begin and end dates of the contract)
      • Number of years with employer/organization
      • Purpose of visit
      • Granted leave days
      • Financial responsability, if provided by the employer
      • Date and contact details
    • Pay slips & certified bank account statements from the last three months
    • If you are attending a conference which requires prior registration, proof of registration and receipt for registration fee.
  • Additional requirements for minors (under 18 years):
    • Both parents have to be present at the visa interview (if either of the parents is absent or deceased this must be proven by a death certificate or a court order for custody);
    • Copy of birth certificate (the original must be presented);
    • Copy of both parents passports / ID-cards;
    • Certified bank statements of parent(s)/guardians(s)/sponsor(s) covering the last three months.
    • Written consent letter from both parents, if the child is travelling alone, or from the parent that is not accompanying the child when travelling. The letter should include the parent(s) telephone and e-mail contacts.
    • If the legal guardian is someone other than the biological parent as stated in the birth certificate, a custody order must be submitted proving legal guardianship;
    • A letter from school containing the child’s name, name of parents, grade, number of years at school, school holidays, contact details, date and name of school representative;
    • If the child is travelling with a group please submit a complete list of names of all group members travelling and name of person in charge of the group

 

Family members of EEA (European Economic Area) citizens 

Citizens of EU member states are automatically citizens of the European Union. This means that they can move freely around the countries of the EU, and have the right to live in those other countries if they meet certain conditions. Freedom of movement applies to all EU member states, although restrictions can be placed on new members to the EU. It also applies to Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein (who make up the EEA alongside the 27 EU member states) and Switzerland.

The Directive 2004/38/EC (Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States) extends the right to mobility within the territory of EU/EEA/CH to family members of EU/EEA/CH citizens too. Member States shall grant family members every facility to obtain the necessary visas, as long as the family member travels with or visits the EU/EEA/CH national.

The definition of ‘family member’

According to the regulations the following categories of applicants are considered as ’core’ EU/EEA/CH family members and may obtain a visa for family members of a citizen of the Union:

  • The spouse
  • The partner with whom the EU/EEA/CH citizen has contracted a registered partnership, on the basis of the legislation of any Member State, if the legislation of the host Member State treats registered partnership as equivalent to marriage;
  • The direct descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependant as well as those of the spouse or partner as defined above; or
  • The dependant direct relatives in the ascending line and those of the spouse or partner as defined above.

The following persons are defined as ‘extended’ family members:

  • Any other persons not falling under the abovementioned scope of ’core’ family members, who are:
    • dependants;
    • members of the household of the EU/EEA/CH citizen;
    • strictly require the personal care by the EU/EEA/CH citizen on serious health grounds; or
  •  Partners with whom the EU/EEA/CH citizen has a durable relationship, duly attested.

If you are a family member of an EEA citizen (who is not a Hungarian citizen), and you are travelling along with them or with the purpose of joining them in the Schengen area, you may apply for a Schengen visa with simplified conditions.

Derogations from the general rules of the Visa Code applying for family members:

  • No visa fee can be charged.
  • Family members can lodge their application directly at the consulate without any costs. This possibility must be genuine and effective, and the appointment must be allocated without delay. Where family members decide not to make use of their right to lodge their application directly at the consulate but to use the extra services, they should pay for these services
  • Third country family members of EU/EEA/CH nationals are entitled to apply for a C-EGT Schengen visa for stays of up to 90 days (in any 180-day period).
  • The visas must be issued as soon as possible to make it possible to distinguish between the rights of a third-country national who is a family member of an EU/EEA/CH citizen and those of other third-country nationals.
  • To benefit from the simplified procedure, the following conditions have to be met:
    • Proof of family relationship
    • Proof of the EEA citizen's citizenship
    • Proof that the visa applicant will be travelling with, or joining the EEA citizen 
  • Does not apply to family members of Hungarian citizens!

    • As of 1 January 2019, the article about the third-country family members of Hungarian citizens was removed from under the scope of the Act I of 2007 and its implementing decree. The Schengen visa provision of EEA citizen’s family members was therefore transferred to the scope of Act II of 2007 on the Entry and Residence of Third-Country Nationals (Harmtv.) and its implementing decree (Harmvhr.).

      As a result the possibility of applying for the so-called C-EGT/visitor visa and subsequent Hungarian residence card has been abolished, which means that family members of a Hungarian citizen should undergo the same visa procedure as other third country nationals.

 

Decision making

In order to assess a visa application, the Consul:

  • Consults the Schengen Information System for travel/entry bans;
  • Inspects former visas issued to the applicant;
  • May consults competent authorities of other Member States
    • Some Schengen States require that they be consulted on visa applications submitted to other Schengen States by citizens of certain countries. The consultation process may take up to seven calendar days. Such consultation is currently required for nationals of the countries listed here.;
  • May consult the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing of Hungar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary;
  • May consult with foreign representations of other Schengen Member States;
  • May request additional interviews with the applicant;
  • May request the presentation of further documents or certificates in addition to the ones already attached to the application;
  • May contact parties in connection with the visa application for more information (employer, bank etc);

 

Refusal

Applications will be refused if:

  • False, counterfeit or forged travel document is presented;
  • The purpose and conditions of the intended stay are not provided;
  • Sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay, and for the return to his country of origin or residence are not demonstrated;
  • The maximum duration of authorized stay within the same 6 months period in the territory of the Member States (90 days) is exceeded;
  • An alert has been issued in the Shengen Information System (SIS) to refuse entry;
  • The applicant is considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security or public health, international relations of any of the Member States, in particular where alert has been issued in Member States national databases for the purpose of refusing entry on the same grounds;
  • Adequate and valid travel medical insurance is not presented.
  • Doubt arises concerning the validity and the content of the supporting documents, the reliability of the statements made by the applicant.

Applicants are notified of the reason for refusal via a standardized refusal form. Notification on the reason for refusal can be obtained at our Office only by the applicant in person. In case of refusal the visa fee will not reimbursed.

In case of refusal a new application may be submitted at any time, after the deadline of the appeal (8 days) has expired. The visa fee has to be paid again.

 

Appeal procedure

  • If the visa is refused, revoked, or annulled, applicants have the right to appeal. Appeals can be submitted in person at our Office within 8 calendar days following the date of receiving the decision on refusal, and within 3 calendar days following the date of receiving the decision on annulment or revocation.
  • The appeals are handled by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
  • The appeal request should be lodged in writing in Hungarian or in any official language of the European Union (e.g. English) and it should be signed by the applicant.
  • The applicant can submit further supporting documents during the appeal procedure, and he/she may be invited to our Office for a personal interview.
  • The fee of the appeal procedure is EUR 160 which should be paid upon submission of the appeal. The fee for the appeal procedure cannot be reimbursed, even in case of a positive decision. 
  • The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade decides on the appeal within 15 days (in 5 days on appeals against a refusal of the annulment or revocation of a visa). If the refusal is upheld in its decision, it may be subject to a judicial review initiated by the applicant.
  • In case of refusal a new application may be submitted at any time, after the deadline of the appeal (8 days) has expired. The visa fee has to be paid again.

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