Visa
Who does NOT need a visa?
Citizens of all countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Croatia, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, most countries of North and South America, members of the Schengen treaty, and some other countries do not need a visa.
A valid passport is all that’s required to enter Hungary. If in doubt, please contact the Hungarian Consulate or Embassy well in advance of departure.
Current member countries of the Schengen Area are:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria**, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland*, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway*, Poland, Portugal, Romania**, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland*.
* non-EU members. ** Schengen Air & Sea agreement.
Who needs a visa?
Travelers from other regions should consult the respective Hungarian or Schengen-partner representations regarding current requirements. Travelers holding a valid Schengen visa can travel freely within the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, regardless of which member state issued the visa.
Further information about visa regulations and Schengen visas can be found on the website of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade — Consular Service (Konzuli Szolgálat): https://konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu/en
Please check the requirements applicable to your profile at the same site under “How to apply for a visa.”
Visa Categories Choice
We recommend attendees of EMNLP 2026 who require a visa to apply for a Visa C (short-stay/Schengen visa).
Schengen Visa C is intended for tourism, business, or visiting purposes (without gainful employment) for a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period.
The standard Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults (as of the fee increase that took effect in June 2026), €45 for children aged 6–12, and free for children under 6. This fee is the same across all Schengen states, including Hungary.
Fee waivers may apply in some cases (e.g., certain researchers, students on organized academic trips, or close family members of EU citizens) — check the “Fees” section on the Consular Service website above for current details, as exemptions and amounts can change.
Invitation Letter via Registration
You will be able to issue an invitation letter once your registration is complete. If you have applied for a registration waiver (e.g., as a student volunteer or D\&I participant) but have not yet received the results, please proceed with registration and select “I have applied for a grant subsidy” as your payment method in the meantime.
For those applying for a visa who need a visa invitation letter, please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/6u3TuNotWMALBRm7A
All other invitation letters will be provided at registration by YesEvents, our Registration Team.
Visa Appointment and Form
Applications for a Hungarian Schengen visa are submitted at a Hungarian Embassy or Consulate, or at an authorized visa application center (e.g., VFS Global), in your country of legal residence. Appointments for many locations can be booked through the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ online booking system: https://konzinfobooking.mfa.gov.hu/
Processing typically takes around 15 calendar days but can take up to 30–60 days depending on the mission, so applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible — ideally 6–8 weeks before travel, and no earlier than 6 months before.
In countries where Hungary has no diplomatic representation, applications may be submitted at the consulate of another Schengen state acting on Hungary’s behalf, or via a visa application center under contract with Hungary.
FAQ
Acquiring a visa appointment
Unfortunately, we cannot book visa appointments nor guarantee an appointment at your embassy of preference. We recommend regularly checking the relevant Hungarian embassy or visa center’s website for available slots, as they may open up at any time. Alternatively, consider applying at another Hungarian mission or authorized visa center if your situation allows it.
Contact details of visiting company
ELTE Research Centre for Linguistics, Benczúr utca 33., 1068 Budapest, Hungary
Veronika Lipp, Director General
Electronic letter of guarantee
We do not provide such a letter. However, the relevant Hungarian representatives have been informed that the conference is not responsible for covering the costs of attendees transportation, accommodation nor any activity outside of the beverages and food provided during the conference hours.
Embassy asking for justification letter
If you filled out the form correctly and on time, your data has been received in the respective embassy which serves as a justification letter and connection to ACL 2025, and your visa will be on “fast-track” for approval. In case you did not fill out the form correctly and on time, your visa application will follow the normal procedure.
Extension of the stay in the invitation letter
Unfortunately, we cannot modify the dates on the invitation letter, which reflect the official dates of the conference.
In case of visa rejection
In the unfortunate event that your visa is rejected, please follow the cancellation policy of your registration.
Note: under Hungarian procedure, applicants (or their legal representative) generally have the right to appeal a Schengen visa refusal within 8 days of the decision. The appeal fee is non-refundable (commonly cited as around €30) and must be submitted in Hungarian or another official EU language, with a certified translation if submitted otherwise.
Invitation letter for your family or invited guest
Unfortunately, we cannot provide justification to embassies for any person not directly associated with EMNLP 2026. Anyone wishing to obtain their own invitation letter should register for the conference.
Recommendations from the Visa Chairs
Carefully double-check the requirements of the Hungarian embassy or visa center you are applying to. An incomplete application can significantly delay approval.
It is important to deliver your visa application documents in person, rather than through a spouse, sibling, parent, friend, etc., unless the mission explicitly allows representation.
Apply at a Hungarian embassy, consulate, or authorized visa application center. You can find the competent Hungarian representation for your country of residence using the official locator:
Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Find a Mission: https://konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu/en