Hungary is closing its borders - are there any exceptions?

As of Tuesday, foreigners cannot cross Hungarian borders as the country is applying stricter rules to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. Czech Prime minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) spoke with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán and he was promised some exceptions for Czechs.

Orbán supposedly promised that all Czech citizens who had paid for or booked their stay in Hungary before the 1st of September will be able to travel to Hungary with the need to have a negative coronavirus test not older than five days. Both polititians met in Slovenia at a strategic forum. There, Babiš spoke with the Slovenian Prime minister Janez Janša about traveing as well. Slovenia does not let Czechs to its country without a 14-day quarantine at the moment. According to Babiš, Janša said he would look at the possibilities.

At the moment, Hungary makes exceptions for athletes from foreign countries, army convoys, humanitarian aids or diplomatic visits. People who travel to see their family or attend weddings or funerals are also allowed to the country. People traveling to another destination through Hungary will be allowed to transit only when having Schengen visa.

Exceptions are planned for students as well. All Hungarians traveling back to their country will have to go into 14-day quarantine.