Washington has restored Hungary’s full participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program after Budapest addressed security concerns, ending years of limits on Hungarian travelers. Two-year, multiple-entry ESTA authorizations resume for applications filed from September 30.
The United States Department of Homeland Security said on September 16, 2025 in Washington that Hungary’s status in the Visa Waiver Program is fully restored. The move ends several years of tighter rules that had shortened ESTA validity and limited entries for Hungarian passport holders.
According to DHS, Hungarians will be able to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization valid for two years and usable for multiple trips starting September 30, 2025. Travel under the VWP remains capped at stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business.
In 2021, U.S. authorities revoked already issued ESTAs for some applicants born outside Hungary and stopped approving new requests from that group. Then in August 2023, the United States cut ESTA validity for Hungarians to one year and restricted it to a single use. Those measures are now being reversed after steps taken by Budapest to close security gaps.
The U.S. Embassy in Budapest has highlighted the change and pointed travelers back to standard Visa Waiver rules, including holding a valid e-passport and securing an ESTA prior to boarding. Officials also indicated that new two-year approvals will apply to applications submitted on or after September 30, while prior approvals keep the terms they were issued with.
Hungary will have its status in the Visa Waiver Program fully restored, following the completion of steps taken to address security vulnerabilities.
What Changes For Travelers On September 30
For applications filed from September 30, 2025, ESTA approvals for Hungarian citizens return to two years and can be used for multiple entries. This aligns Hungary again with other Visa Waiver countries. Travelers should apply well before departure and ensure their passport data matches the application exactly, since mismatches can cause boarding refusals.
An ESTA is a travel authorization, not a visa, and admission is still decided by U.S. border officers on arrival. Those planning several short trips in the next two years will feel the most immediate benefit.
How We Got Here
The United States introduced limits on Hungarian travelers beginning in 2021, citing security concerns tied to document issuance and identity verification. Two years later, the government further narrowed access by cutting ESTA validity and allowing only one entry per authorization. After bilateral engagement and technical fixes in Budapest, Washington now says the program’s integrity is protected without extra restrictions.
The restoration also removes a practical headache for families and frequent business travelers who needed to reapply for each U.S. trip. It should reduce last-minute costs and planning friction, particularly for those connecting through U.S. hubs.