The European Union has just announced a new system for non-European citizens wishing to visit Europe. This includes Hungary. The ETIAS system in Hungary will be the same throughout the EU. The ETIAS Hungary visa waiver is an online application to visit Europe, which must be completed in advance. It will only cost $ 5 and should not take more than 10 minutes to complete.
The new pre-trip authorization (ETIAS) is introduced to improve security throughout Europe, which has been affected by an increasing number of terrorist attacks in recent years and an unprecedented wave of refugees and migrants.
Is Hungary part of Schengen and what does it mean?
Yes. Hungary is part of the Schengen group as well as one of the 28 members of the EU The difference between Schengen and the EU is that Schengen was created solely to regulate borders, while the EU is much more than determining who is allowed to go where. Most countries are like Hungary and are members of both the EU and Schengen, but there are some countries that are not part of Schengen but are still in the EU. An example is Great Britain. Britain has the same rules as other EU countries with respect to the movement of other EU citizens, but sets its own rules on non-EU citizens. When etias-france will officially start (most likely at the beginning of 2020), Hungary will have the same rules as all other Schengen countries.
Is Hungary an interesting place to visit?
The introduction of ETIAS in Hungary should not reduce the number of visitors to the country as it has exceptional archaeological and natural attractions. The Hungarian capital, Budapest, lies on both banks of one of the longest and most historic rivers in Europe, the Danube, which finally flows into the Black Sea. Budapest has a number of interesting World Heritage listed buildings worth seeing as Buda Castle. The old village of Hollókő and the surrounding countryside are also an interesting diversion.
Hungary has many natural areas that are worth visiting, especially if you are an avid ornithologist. There are several national parks, lakes, meadows and of course the Danube. Riding is another popular activity in Hungary.
Who will have to apply for an ETIAS in Hungary once it is officially introduced?
The ETIAS system does not affect any EU or Schengen citizen. They will always appreciate the freedom of movement across the area. This will affect you if you are a citizen of one of the 60 or so countries that currently have nothing to do before arriving in Europe for a visit of up to 90 days. This list of countries includes places like Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. The ETIAS application should not take a long time to complete once it is operational and should then last 5 years. It will work in the same way as the pre-trip checks already in place in the United States and Canada.