Last updated on 23 April 2021.
The new regulations (published on 27 March) tie relaxing pandemic related restrictions introduced early March in Hungary not to any specific date, but to developments in the fight against the pandemic. The below measures will come into force once 2.5 million in Hungary have received at least the first dose of one of the available coronavirus vaccines.
Update: 2.5 million people have received at least their first dose by 6 April, which means that the below measures apply starting from 7 April, Wednesday.
Update 2: 3.5 million people have received at least their first dose by 23 April, which means that starting from 24 April, Saturday, the outdoor sections of restaurants may open (with the rules detailed below).
Update 3: Once 4 million people have received the first dose, sports and entertainment facilities may open again for people with a vaccination certificate (the plastic card you receive in the mail after your first dose). These include theaters, concerts halls, gyms, pools, ice rinks, zoos, adventure parks, and even the indoor sections of restaurants and hotels. This is expected to happen by the end of next week. (Details to be puplished later.)
Wearing a mask in all public spaces remains obligatory, without exceptions. It must be a proper mask that covers both the mouth and the nose (it cannot be a scarf or a bandana).
It is still advisable to stay at home as much as possible, which includes working from home whenever the job makes it possible.
Relaxing the curfew actually promotes social distancing, since if there is more time to take care of the same amount of affairs, people have more room to scatter.
Starting from 24 April, Saturday, now that at least 3.5 million people have received at least the first dose of a vaccine, the following rules apply (as detailed in the official decree):
Patrons may eat indoors in restaurants and canteens if it is a facility
All the shops that have been closed since 8 March may open for business. However, to maintain social distancing, the below rules apply to all shops (including grocery stores, pharmacies, and other establishments that have not been closed since March):
Customers should maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters from each other while they are waiting to enter a shop, and while shopping – unless they live in the same household. The 1.5 meter distance should also be observed while strolling in a shopping mall. At the same time, customers are asked to spend as little time in any shop or shopping mall as possible. While the government is relaxing pandemic related restrictions in Hungary, we should still continue to pay attention to where we go and how we interact with the people around us.
If a shop does not comply with the above listed rules, it may be fined for a sum between HUF 100,000 and 1 million (ca. EUR 300 – 3,000), and may be forced to close for a period between one day and one year.
The same rules apply as since September 2020, although rules pertaining to business travel became stricter at the beginning of March. Neither transit nor shipping is restricted.
Even with relaxing pandemic related restrictions once about a quarter of people living in Hungary gets at least their first dose of a vaccine, we should continue to pay attention to observe preventive measures and to take care of each other. Take advantage of the extended shopping hours and observe the 1.5m social distance from other people while also wearing a mask and sanitizing your hands regularly.
Should you have any questions or comments related to the above, just send us a message through the form below or comment on our Facebook post, and we will do our best to find an answer for you. Helpers has been assisting foreigners living in Hungary with matters related to business and immigration for 15+ years, and we are confident we can help you too.
In the past weeks, there has been a lot of confusion about this issue and several people have posted and shared the (mis)information that even if you have no TAJ number, you can register for the vaccine with a generic number 900 000 007. Please DO NOT DO THIS because:
Read MoreFor now, getting vaccinated for the coronavirus in Hungary is possible only if you have a Hungarian social security number. If you have that, you will still need to be registered at a GP (general practitioner) to get the vaccine – let us guide you through the whole process.
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