GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS

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1 Embassy of the Republic of Hungary Magyar Köztársaság Nagykövetsége Nairobi, Kenya GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS With effect of 1 st of June, 2009 Visa free entry - Citizens of EU and European Economic Area (EEA) Member States as well as citizens of countries stated below 1 may travel to Hungary without a visa. Family members of citizens of EEA Member States may also travel to Hungary without a visa if they received a residence card issued for family members of EEA citizens or a residence permit issued by any Schengen Member State (hereinafter referred to as SMS ). Entry conditions for foreigners under visa obligation - The Schengen visa and entry regulations are only applicable for stays not exceeding three months. The rules of Schengen visa issuing at the diplomatic posts of the SMSs are generally identical, visa fees are uniform. Rules for long stays exceeding three months are laid down by the national law of the SMS concerned. - It is important to note that a visa is only a preliminary permission for entry, which does not authorise its bearer automatically to enter the country. It enables aliens subject to the visa requirement to present themselves at the external border of the country which issued the visa or that of another country and request, depending on the type of visa, transit or residence, provided that the other transit or entry conditions have been met. Since the issuing of a visa presupposes that the consulate considered that the conditions of entry were fulfilled at the time the visa was granted, mere possession of a visa does not confer automatic right of entry. The conditions of entry are checked a second time when the person presents themselves at the external border (land, sea or airport) of the SMSs. If the border police decide that a person holding a visa does not fulfil the conditions of entry, they will be refused entry, even if they have a visa in their passport. 1 Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong (the exemption applies only to holders of a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ), Iceland, Israel, Japan, Macao (the exemption applies only to holders of a Regio Administrativa Especial de Macau passport), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Salvador, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, the Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela 1

2 - The Hungarian immigration authorities do not issue visas upon arrival at the border crossing point. - - Visas issued by one of the SMSs are valid also for Hungary, and on the other hand Visas issued by Hungarian representations abroad are also valid for the entire Schengen Area. Types of Schengen visa - Airport transit visa (A): entitles the bearer who is required to have such a visa to pass through the international transit area of airports without actually entering the national territory of the country concerned, during a stop-over or transfer between two stages of an international flight. Nationals from the countries listed below 2 and persons who are not necessarily nationals of those countries but who possess travel documents issued by their authorities are required to possess this type of visa. - Transit visa (B): entitles the bearer who is travelling from one Third State to another Third State to pass through the territories of the SMSs. This visa may be issued for one, two or exceptionally several transits, provided that the duration in each case does not exceed five days. - Short-stay or travel visa (C): entitles the bearer who seeks to enter the territories of the SMSs, for reasons other than immigration, to pay a continuous visit or several visits, the duration of which does not exceed three months in any half-year from the date of first entry. As a general rule, this visa may be issued for one or several entries. In the case of applicants who need to travel frequently to one or several SMSs, for example on business, short-stay visas may be issued for several visits, provided that the total length of these visits does not exceed three months in any half-year. This multiple entry visa may be valid for one year. Where to submit the visa application? - Schengen visa applications have to be submitted at the representation of the country in whose territory the sole or main destination of the visit is situated. The Consular Department of the Embassy of Hungary (hereinafter referred to as Consular Department ) shall decide, on a case-by-case basis, which is the country of main destination. - When the country of main destination cannot be determined (i.e. in case of visiting several states with stays of approximately the same duration), the country of first entry is responsible for examining applications for short-stay or transit visas. - Border guards are not liable to accept Schengen visas issued by another SMS for foreign nationals having Hungary as their main destination if those cannot justify why their visa was not provided by a Hungarian Consular Department. The same procedure applies for the entry into another SMS if the foreign national has a visa issued by any of the Hungarian Consular Departments. 2 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2

3 - In accordance with the representation agreement concluded between Hungary and Austria, the Austrian Embassy in Addis Ababa issues visa for Ethiopian citizens/permanent residents travelling to Hungary. The contacts of the Embassy are as follows: Address: N. Silk Lafto Kifle Ketema Kebele 04 H.No. 535, Addis Ababa Postal address: P.O.Box 1219, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia Tel: , , Fax: ( Homepage: - In accordance with the representation agreement concluded between Hungary and Finland, the Finnish Embassy in Dar es Salaam issues visa for Tanzanian citizens/permanent residents travelling to Hungary. The contacts of the Embassy are as follows: Address: Mirambo Street/Garden Avenue Postal address: Embassy of Finland, P.O.Box 2455, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: Fax: sanomat.dar@formin.fi Homepage: Who can submit a visa application? - In accordance with the aforementioned Schengen regulations applicants having Hungary the sole or main destination, or the country of first entry can submit their visa applications at the Consular Department. - The Consular Department has the competence to process the applications of the following persons: Nationals and permanent residents of the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Persons with no Hungarian foreign representation in their country. - Permanent residents of Kenya who intend to travel to the Republic of Latvia: Beyond the general requirements, an invitation approved by the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu Pārvalde) is also required. In addition, an English translation shall also be attached to the documents produced in Latvian. The Consular Department only represents Latvia in Schengen visa applications, therefore residence permit applications shall be submitted at Latvian consular missions. Attention! - As a general rule, the applicant shall be called on to appear in person in order to explain verbally the reasons for the application. Applicants being permanent residents of Kenya can only submit their application personally. Applicants that are not Kenyan residents may send their application with a courier company and arrange (i.e. pay for) the return trip (e.g. Nairobi-Kampala etc.) before sending the application. However, they may also be required to submit the application personally in Nairobi and execute an interview. - In countries where there is no Hungarian foreign representation competent to issue visas or where Hungary is not represented by another SMS, the honorary consuls are also entitled to receive visa applications with the purpose of transferring them to the Consular Department. - The Consular Department may receive visa applications at the earliest 3 months before the beginning of the visit. 3

4 Supporting documents for the application 1. General requirements - Valid passport (the validity of which has to exceed that of the requested visa by at least 3 months) - A photocopy of the personal data page of the passport - 1 passport-sized colour photo not older than 6 months (see the General Information on the Photo Requirements of the Schengen Visa Application for further information) - A wholly and legibly completed and signed visa application form that can be obtained free of charge from the Consular Department or can be downloaded from the website of the Embassy ( or that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( Schengen visa application forms are uniform therefore any application form used by any of the SMSs can also be used for applying for a Hungarian visa. - Adequate and valid individual travel insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment. The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the SMSs and cover the entire period of the applicant s stay. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30, In case the applicant is not a Kenyan citizen, certificate certifying lawful stay in Kenya - In case of a multiple entry visa, documents certifying the grounds for the multiple visit and - In case of minors, written declaration by the legal representative giving consent to the travel. Besides meeting the general requirements, the applicant shall also supply a certificate of the financial coverage of his expenses and a certificate of the purpose of the visit. 2. The financial coverage of the expenses shall be certified with the following documents - An original income certificate of the employer - A bank account statement on the account turnover during the last three months - A return airline print-out (reservation sufficient, ticket not required) - Certificate of reserved accommodation and - In case of minors, written declaration by the legal representative on the coverage of the costs and on the existence of the financial coverage. 3. The purpose of the visit shall be certified with the following documents Applying for a transit visa: - A valid ticket certifying the purpose of the visit and a visa to the destination country, if necessary. Applying for a short stay visa: - In case of a tourist visit: the certificate of the travel agency; or in case of an individual visit: the prepaid reservation of accommodation. - In case of an entry with an educational or other scientific or professional training purpose: the certificate of the receiving institution, the certificate of accommodation in Hungary. 4

5 - In case of an entry for visitation: the letter of invitation issued and endorsed by the Office of Immigration and Nationality or the letter of invitation in the form of a public notarial document and a photocopy of the data page of the personal identification document/passport of the inviting party in Hungary. - For the purpose of cultivation of family relations: an invitation letter as described above or a letter signed by the applicant in full awareness of his/her criminal liability describing the degree of the family relation, giving the name, address and phone number of the family member and the purpose of the entry and stay. - In case of an entry for business purposes: a letter of invitation from the business partner, the certification of the existence of commercial-business relations, the certificate of the local chamber of commerce on the existence of business relations and certificate on the accommodation in Hungary. - In case of an entry with the purpose of medical treatment: the certificate of the receiving health institution, including reference to the fact that the expected coverage of the medical treatment is available, and other certification of the coverage of the medical treatment, as well as the certification of accommodation in Hungary. - For the purpose of sport: accreditation proving the participation in the sports event or contract with the Hungarian sport club, the certificate issued by the delegating sport club / Olympic committee / Ministry of Sport, certificate issued by the delegating sport federation on the results achieved by the applicant in major international sport competitions and certificate issued by the organizers of the major international sport competition on the results achieved by the applicant. - For the purpose of cultural activities: agency contract with the Hungarian service provider, invitation letter issued by the host organisation. - For the purpose of attending conference: invitation letter issued by the host organisation, confirmation on participation issued by the host organisation, certification issued by the delegating organisation and receipt fro payment of the registration fee. Attention! - The Consul may request the presentation of further documents in addition to the ones outlined above. All documents must be submitted in English and/or in Hungarian. - Documents shall be annexed to the applications being submitted in the original. If the applicant needs the original document, then a photocopy shall also be annexed besides presenting the original document. - Any information on the application are given only to the applicant or to those who are legally authorized in the aforementioned way by the applicant. 5

6 Visa fee - Application for an airport transit visa, transit visa or short-stay visa: 60 EUR - The visa fee shall be paid upon submitting the application. The visa fee shall be paid exclusively in cash. Bank drafts, personal checks and credit cards are not accepted. Visas issued for free of charge to: - Children under the age of 14 and entered into the passport of the parent, - Family members of EEA citizens, - Children under the age of 6, travelling with their own passports. Visa application processing time - 30 days from the day of submitting the complete application. Rejection of the visa application - In case of entry ban or doubts concerning the application the Consular Department will refuse the visa application. Presentation of counterfeit documents is a reason for refusal in itself. Furthermore, the Consular Department reserves the right to examine the authenticity of the communicated data and the submitted documents. The communication of false data in itself will lead to the refusal of the visa application. - Notification on the reason for refusal can be obtained at the Consular Department only by the applicant in person. At the applicant s request the notification can be issued in written form, as well. - If the visa application is refused, the fee will not be reimbursed. - There is no legal remedy against the rejection of an application for an A, B or C visa, however, a complaint can be lodged to the Consul, the Ambassador or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary. Consular hours - Submitting visa applications: Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Collection of passports: Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Contact details - Address: Consular Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary, Kabarsiran Avenue, off James Gichuru Road, Lavington, Nairobi, PO Box Nairobi - Telephone: (254) (20) mission.nai@kum.hu - Homepage: 6