How to travel to Hungary’s neighbouring countries

In case you already got your immunity certificate, you can profit from certain advantages when travelling to a neighbouring country of Hungary and when returning.

As all countries are trying to boost their vaccination programme to return to normality and have a relatively free summer, some of them already grant certain advantages and easement to those possessing the holy certificate. Here is a comprehensive guide to crossing the Hungarian border and to know what to prepare for in these neighbouring countries.

First of all, even if you do not have a social security card (TAJ), you can still be vaccinated in Hungary.

It is very important to note that

the rules of the immunity certificate and how to obtain it have changed!

Now, let us focus on the rules and exceptions when crossing the Hungarian border to go to a neighbouring country, summed up by index.hu.

If you wish to travel to Romania, get ready for quarantine. Usually, it is 14 days, but if you have a PCR test that you are obligated to do in 72 hours anyway before entering the country, lockdown decreases to 10 days. You do not need a PCR in 4 cases:

• kids under the age of 3,
• those who received their second jab at least 10 days earlier
• those who suffered through the virus at least 90 days before entering the country and can officially prove it
•  commuting workers.

You do not need to go to quarantine in the following cases:

• you travel through the country and spend less than 24 hours and do not show any symptoms
• those who spend less than 72 hours in the country and have done a PCR maximum 72 hours earlier
• those who already had covid at least 14 days earlier but not earlier than 90 days.

In case of a special occasion (funeral, getting married, childbirth or emergency medical appointment), you will need to submit a request in advance to avoid quarantine.

Based on the latest news, a bilateral agreement is to be signed between the two governments in days, which might enable Hungarian, Romanian citizens having an immunity certificate to travel free between the two countries.

Ukraine does not take any chances. You need a PCR test conducted 72 hours before your entry into the country, together with a certificate stating the objective of your travel and an insurance covering a possible covid treatment you may need in the territory of the country, and you also need to download a “stay at home” quarantine monitoring application. In case you deny all these above, a 14-day-long quarantine awaits, but you are still obligated to get a test in 24 hours. If negative, you are free to go.
Of course, in case of a special occasion, like a funeral or a business trip, you can skip quarantine with the appropriate documents. However, border control officials will decide whether they grant or deny entry to the country.

Slovakia also plays safe and sends you to quarantine for 14 days, even if you have the immunity certificate.

The only exceptions are:

• at least 14 days have passed since you received the second dose of an mRNA-based vaccine
• more than 4 weeks have passed since receiving the first dose of a vector vaccine
• at least 14 days have passed since receiving the first jab of a vaccine, after having been through covid
• in case you have been through covid in the last 180 days, and you can prove it.

You can enter without a test, but you are obligated to take one 8 days later. Commuters and students will need a negative PCR or antigen test from the past 7 days. On the other hand, those travelling through the country, cargo shippers and diplomats are not required to have a test.

Slovenia is free for those Hungarian citizens who have the immunity certificate, thanks to the two countries’ bilateral agreement.
Those, however, who do not have the plastic card will need to spend 10 days in quarantine, except for the possession of a negative PCR test taken a maximum of 48 hours earlier. (The test needs to be taken in an EU or Schengen country, USA, UK, Australia, Israel, Canada, Russia, New-Zealand)
Quarantine is also ruled out for those:

• who have been through the virus between the past 21 and 180 days
• who have been vaccinated at least 14 days earlier with the second jab of the Moderna, Sputnik V, CoronaVac, Sinopharm, or with the Janssen vaccine
• who got the first shot of the AstraZeneca or the Covishield at least 21 days prior
• who were completely vaccinated by the Pfizer serum at least a week earlier.

Commuters will need a PCR or a quick antigen test from the past 7 days. The same rules apply to special occasions when you return in 72 hours.

Serbia welcomes those Hungarians who were fully vaccinated and have the immunity certificate. Arriving from Hungary, you either need a negative PCR test from the last 48 hours, or else you are subjected to 10 days in quarantine. This, however, can be skipped with a test taken in Serbia.
In case you would travel for business, you do not need a test, but you have to notify authorities 24 hours prior with a written request submitted to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Serbia.
Children under the age of 12 do not need a test in case you have a negative one or a temporary or permanent residence permit. The same applies to agricultural and humanitarian workers.

Austria is much stricter. You will need a negative PCR not older than 72 hours or a negative antigen test not older than 48 hours. The country still obligates you to a 10-day-long quarantine that can be left the earliest 5 days later with a negative test in your pocket.
When it comes to students, commuters, anyone wishing to visit a family member, or if you travel for business reasons, you will still need a test.
Restrictions are only lifted in case of:

• an unforeseen or urgent family matter (serious sickness, death, funeral, childbirth)
• a family matter than can be previously planned (birthday, marriage, baptism)
• agricultural work or animal care
• maintaining the traffic of passengers and cargo.

Commuters need to re-register every 28 days apart from needing a negative test 72 before entering. It can also be taken in Austria in the next 24 hours.

And finally, the most awaited country, Croatia. They are earnestly waiting to welcome Hungarian tourists. If you travel from Hungary, you will need a negative PCR or antigen test from the last 48 hours. You can also take the test in Croatia, but in this case, you will need to register the place where you start your quarantine. If you do not test, a 10-day-long quarantine is mandatory. These restrictions stay in effect even if you only travel for some days for personal matters.
No restrictions apply for those who:

• received the first dose of the vaccine
• have the immunity certificate
• have been through covid the past 180 days and can prove it with a positive test taken at least 11 days before travelling.

Those provenly travelling for emergency business purposes do not need a test. This exception involves students, health care workers, paramedics, daily commuters, cargo shippers, or those travelling to attend a funeral or an emergency medical treatment.
However, everyone needs to give a statement on the length of their staying, including the address they will stay at, in case we talk about several days.

As seen above, the immunity certificate is a very useful plastic card. Nevertheless, trying to trick the authorities with a fake certificate is not worth it at all.

Here is what you can expect if you do so against our warning and get caught.

Read alsoHungarian employees among the least willing to get vaccinated

Source: index.hu, Krónika