Custom regulations in Hungary

What to declare when traveling to Hungary

As a general rule, the value of goods you can bring to Hungary without paying taxes or customs depends on whether you're travelling by air or by some other method of transport. For example, you are allowed to import goods with a value of up to 430 euros if you're travelling by air, but only up to 300 euros if you're arriving in Hungary by any other means. It needs to be stated that the goods in question are intended for your own use, your family, or as gifts, and that they are not part of a commercial import.

Good to know:

For travellers aged 15 or younger, the value of goods imported must not exceed 150 euros, regardless of the travel method used to reach the country.

Bringing alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to Hungary

If you're arriving in Hungary from a non-EU/EFTA country, you are allowed to carry the following amounts of alcoholic beverages without worrying about customs duty or taxes for passengers aged 17 and up:

· wine, 4 litres

· beer, 16 litres

· alcohol stronger than 22%, 1 litre

· alcohol up to 22%, 2 litres

Regarding tobacco, a distinction based on whether you're travelling by air or not also applies. Air passengers over the age of 17 are allowed to bring 200 cigarettes/ or 100 cigarillos/or 50 cigars/ or 250 gr of tobacco, whereas non-air passengers are allowed to bring 40 cigarettes/ or 20 cigarillos/ or 10 cigars/ or 50 gr of tobacco.

Good to know:

Bringing in meat and dairy products from non-EU countries is strictly prohibited, and standard permit requirements apply to controlled medications.

Motor fuel in Hungary

The fuel in the tank of your car, if you're crossing the border by car, is tax and duty-free. Apart from that, you can also import 10 litres of motor fuel in the portable fuel tank of private vehicles, but anything more than that would be considered a commercial import.

Bringing weapons and ammunition to Hungary

If you're an EU/EFTA citizen, you can import your hunting, sports, or self-defence firearm (along with ammunition) to Hungary if you have a European Firearms Pass, which you must carry with you at all times. If you don't have that, the customs officer can issue you an accompanying firearms certificate, provided that you have a firearms pass from your home country or a certificate for hunting/rifle shooting.

If you're coming from a third country, you'll have to pay a service fee to get a certificate for importing firearms and ammunition to Hungary. Your stay should not exceed 90 days, and you should take them back with you when leaving the country and return the certificate to the customs officials. You will need to provide proof that you are entitled to carry firearms or hunting rifles, as well as proof of what you intend to do with them (sports club memberships, invitations to hunting events, etc.).

Bringing cultural goods to Hungary

When it comes to cultural goods like works of art, old books and artefacts, or finds from the earth that are older than 50 years and cost at least 50,000 HUF (approximately 125 euros), you will need a licence to export them. The Hungarian government takes the movement of historical artefacts very seriously, and it conducts random checks on traffic in the EU's internal border zones. Cultural objects from museums and other protected heritage sites require special temporary export permits, which are issued by the Inspectorate of Cultural Goods. You can find more information here.

Bringing foreign currency to Hungary

As an EU/EFTA member, Hungary has a cash limit of 10,000 euros (or its equivalent in HUF). If you carry more than that, you will need to file a written declaration with the customs authority whenever you enter or leave the territory of the European Union. No specific declaration is required if you want to travel between EU member countries. You can download the declaration here.

Good to know:

The currency limit applies to any paper bills or coins still in circulation, as well as cheques, promissory notes and money orders. Precious stones and metals, gold and old coins do not apply to this 10,000 euro threshold, but they still need to be within the 'value of goods' limit you are entitled to based on your travel mode.