South Africa
Hungary
Hungary visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
Hungary requires South African citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Hungary visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at pretoria.mfa.gov.hu
Which Hungary visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Normally 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases where further checks or documents are needed.
Hungary’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities. Processing time, as Hungary states it: Normally 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases where further checks or documents are needed. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
Hungarian missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Hungary in Pretoria
Arcadia Street 959, Pretoria
Hungary has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.
Hungary: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,576 | 1,484 | 92 | 5.8% | 23.8% |
| 2024 | 1,834 | 1,739 | 95 | 5.2% | 28.2% |
| 2025 | 1,918 | 1,814 | 91 | 4.8% | 29.9% |
In 2025, Hungary’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 1,918 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 1,814. 4.8% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 5.2%. Applications rose by 5% compared with 2024 (1,834).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Hungary’s consulates worldwide refused 13.0%. Hungary was the 14th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Hungarian citizens travelling to South Africa
HungarySouth Africa Visa-free, 30 days South Africa visa for citizens of Hungary
Travel advice for Hungary
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
South African citizens planning a trip to Hungary can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Hungary at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 14 April 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Hungary (updated 23 September 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Hungary (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Hungary
How long South African citizens may stay in Hungary is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Hungarian embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Hungary; fees, documents and processing times are published by Hungary.
Hungary and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Hungary lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Hungary when it is the main destination of the trip.
Hungary’s neighbours for South African citizens
Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Austria and Serbia require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Hungarian citizens travelling to South Africa
South Africa admits Hungarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Hungary?
Hungary requires South African citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
Where is the Hungarian embassy in South Africa?
The Hungarian embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria.
How much does the Hungary tourist visa cost?
Hungary’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Normally 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases where further checks or documents are needed.
Do Hungarian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
South Africa admits Hungarian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.
Can South African citizens enter Hungary visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Hungary obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.