Entry of foreign students to Hungary during COVID-19
I am an international student at a Hungarian university. What should I do if I come to Hungary from abroad?
You need to check the risk classification (green, yellow, red country) of your country and the rules your university applies during COVID.
What do the colors mean and where can I find the country classification?
Green means low infected country
Yellow means less severely infected country
Red means severely infected country
The current list / map shows the status on August 7: https://koronavirus.gov.hu/cikkek/sarga-besorolasu-lett-spanyolorszag
What should I do if I come from a green country?
Those arriving from a green country have nothing to do, are free to enter the country and have no quarantine obligations. If you are coming from a green country but through a yellow or red one, you may be asked to provide proof of travel documents (e.g. a flight ticket). You should keep your tickets in case you need to show them.
What should I do if I come from a yellow country?
Students from the yellow countries are free to enter if there is no suspicion of infection based on a medical examination at the border. Students from the yellow countries should note the following:
Do not leave your home if you have a fever or any other signs of COVID-19 infection.
Before entering, find out if the university provides its own students with a PCR test immediately after entry, and what is the testing process. If the university provides testing, ask the university for proof of this before you enter. If not, it is advisable to perform 2 negative PCR tests (it shouldn't be more than 48 hours between the 2 tests) in their own country within 5 days prior to enter Hungary, as this will exempt the student from the 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine. The PCR test result should be presented in English, preferably in printed, signed and stamped form, but an “official, registered” email will also be accepted. However, the SMS received about the test result cannot be accepted as a certificate.
A student who has a document in English (eg. a final report, other certificate issued by a healthcare provider or an authority) who provides credible evidence that he or she has been infected with COVID-19 in the 6 months prior to entry is also exempt from quarantine..
If the student does not have the opportunity to perform 2 PCR tests in advance and does not have any credible proof that (s)he has been infected with COVID-19, then 2 weeks of mandatory quarantine await the student at his place of residence in Hungary. The exact address will be registered at the border.
(S)he can ask for permission at his own expense to do a PCR test and one more within 48 hours.
The application must be submitted to the epidemiological (public health) authority that ordered the quarantine - so not to the police. The information about the concerned authority you can find from the quarantine decision or ask immediately the police at the border. Currently, the list of PCR testing institutions officially approved in Hungary can be found here: https://www.nnk.gov.hu/index.php/mintavetel-celjabol-felkeresheto-intezmenyek
You may want to inquire about an appoinment at several institutions if you want to have a PCR test done quickly. The result will be emailed to you. This result must be forwarded to the competent authority (by email, photographed or scanned) and a fee of 3,000 HUF must be transferred to the authority's account, the contact details can be seen in the quarantine order decision.
If the result of the first PCR test is negative, the quarantine must be lifted, but the student must also do the second PCR test.
What should I do if I come from a red country?
Students from the red countries can only cross the border if they submit a fairness request on the following interface: https://ugyintezes.police.hu/en/meltanyossagi-kerelem (read the pdf document in the line of COVID-02; steps: 1.new case, 2.type of administration: Államhatáron történő beutazáshoz méltányossági kérelem, 3. policy group: Államhatáron történő beutazáshoz méltányossági kérelem, 4. COVID-02 or COVID-04). It is judged very quickly (within a maximum of 24-48 hours). The request must be handed in before you enter Hungary.
If a student from a red country comes to Hungary via a green or yellow country, he or she is not exempt from the rules for the red countries.
If the student has been allowed to enter Hungary on the basis of a request for fairness, please note the following:
Do not leave your home if you have a fever or any other signs of COVID-19 infection. Before entering, find out if the university provides its own students with a PCR test immediately after entry, and what is the testing process. If the university provides testing, ask the university for proof of this before travelling.
Students can enter Hungary if there is no suspicion of infection based on the health examination carried out at the border. The student from a red country will be in quarantine for 2 weeks from crossing the border. The student may request, at their own expense, permission to perform a PCR test and one more within 48 hours.
The application must be submitted to the epidemiological (public health) authority that ordered the quarantine - so not to the police. The competent authority will be determined from the quarantine decision. Currently, the list of PCR testing institutions officially approved in Hungary can be found here: https://www.nnk.gov.hu/index.php/mintavetel-celjabol-felkeresheto-intezmenyek
You may want to inquire about an appointment at several institutions if you want to have a PCR test done quickly. The result will be emailed to you. This result must be forwarded to the competent authority (by email, photographed or scanned) and a fee of 3,000 HUF must be transferred to the authority's account, the contact details can be seen in the quarantine order or ask the police immediately at the border.
If both PCR tests are negative, the quarantine must be lifted.
What happens if I have to be quarantined? Who monitors compliance with house quarantine rules?
The police will be checking you. The police can visit the affected person's home at random intervals and can check if the person is there.
We have the opportunity to trigger police control by installing a mobile app (Házi Karantén Rendszer: the application is in Hungarian. If there is no one to translate for you, it is difficult to use it, because the system also sends verification emails and sms in Hungarian). The installation of the software is optional. If you do not download the app the police can check you in person. (sources: 341/2020. (VII. 12.) Government Decree on travel restrictions during the epidemiological alert period; https://tasz.hu/koronavirus-hataratlepes)
Before the PCR-test
In order to ensure the accuracy of the sampling result, you must not eat, drink, brush your teeth, smoke or perform any activity that may affect the density and composition of mucous secretions during the 8-10 hours before sampling, eg: do not use mouthwash, do not eat candy, do not chew gum. Even in case of thirst, you can drink only clean water, but if possible avoid this 6 hours before the test.
