# Hungary Visa Rejection Rate for Indians: What Drives Approval > Hungary's Schengen refusal rate in India was 13.1% in 2025. What the figure measures, the documents Hungarian missions insist on, why work visas are closed to Indians and how to appeal. _Published: 2026-10-28 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1173_ ## TL;DR European Commission data show a 13.1% refusal rate for Schengen applications lodged at Hungarian consulates in India in 2025 and 13.2% in 2024. The figure covers short-stay visas only and predicts nothing about a single file. A complete checklist, the right jurisdiction and correct invitation documents are what you control. ## Key takeaways - Refusal rate for Schengen applications lodged at Hungarian consulates in India: 13.1% in 2025 and 13.2% in 2024 (European Commission). - The short-term visa fee is INR 9600 for adults, non-refundable, plus a VFS fee of INR 2133 with biometrics. - Decisions are due within 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 in individual cases. - A refused C visa can be appealed in person within 8 calendar days; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides within 15 days. - Employment D visas are closed to Indian nationals under Government Decree 450/2024, in force since 1 January 2025. **According to European Commission data, the refusal rate for Schengen visa applications lodged at Hungarian consulates in India was 13.1% in 2025 (2,106 visas not issued; 16,251 applications lodged) and 13.2% in 2024. The Embassy of Hungary in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai decide these short-stay applications.** ## Article A refusal rate is a backward-looking number. It tells you how a whole year of applications ended, not how yours will end. What you can act on is the checklist, the office you apply to and the paperwork your purpose of travel needs. This post covers each, using rules as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. ### What is Hungary's visa refusal rate for Indian applicants? YearRefusal rateVisas not issuedApplications lodged202513.1%2,10616,251202413.2%2,54819,243These are the European Commission's refusal rates for short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications lodged at Hungarian consulates in India. Three limits apply: - They cover every short-stay purpose together: tourism, business, conferences, family visits and the rest. - They do not cover long-term (D) visas or residence permits. - They do not tell you why individual files were refused. The rate was almost unchanged between the two years, while fewer applications were lodged in 2025. ### Which documents does the Hungarian checklist treat as essential? The VFS checklist for Hungary, published for the Embassy and the Consulate General, lists these items for most short-stay purposes: ItemWhat the checklist saysApplication formFilled online, downloaded and printed, with your e-mail ID in column 17PhotographsTwo recent colour photos, white background, 3.5cm by 4.5cm, no more than six months oldPassportFront and back photocopy; handwritten passports and passports with manual corrections on the data page are not acceptedSalary slipsLast three months, stamped and signed by the employerIncome tax returnAcknowledgment for the last two assessment yearsBank statementLast three months, signed and stamped by the bankSelf-employedCertificate of registrationTravelAirplane ticket bookingInsuranceTravel medical insurance for each applicant, including children, from the Embassy's approved list of Indian insurersOne point needs care. The Embassy's own short-stay page asks for ITR acknowledgments for the last three assessment years, while the VFS checklist says two. If you have three years available, include them. Tourists also need either a travel agency certificate for a prepaid programme, or an accommodation reservation with a deposit paid or a cancellation fee payable. Employees add an employment certificate referring to the leave granted; students travelling during the academic year add an enrolment certificate referring to leave; retired applicants add three months of pension slips. ### Does visiting family or a business partner in Hungary need extra paperwork? Yes, and the requirements are specific. - Visiting family or friends: an original invitation letter issued by the Hungarian Office of Immigration and Nationality, the immigration authority. A private letter from your host is not the same document. - Business trip: an original employment certificate signed and stamped by your company, an original letter of invitation from the Hungarian business partner, a reference letter showing the actual business relationship, and prearranged accommodation. - Conference: an original invitation or registration confirmation from the host that refers to receipt of the registration fee, plus prearranged accommodation even if the Hungarian organiser arranged it. Documents marked (*) on the checklist must be submitted in original. If someone else submits or collects your file, you need an authorisation signed by you and certified by a public notary. ### Are you applying to the right Hungarian office? Hungary splits India between two missions. Book with VFS for the office that covers your state. OfficeStates and territories coveredEmbassy of Hungary, New DelhiDelhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the Andaman and Nicobar IslandsConsulate General of Hungary, MumbaiMaharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, LakshadweepVFS lists 16 centres, from New Delhi, Gurugram and Lucknow in the north to Chennai, Cochin and Puducherry in the south. Fees are INR 9600 for adults, INR 4800 for children aged 6-12 and INR 0 for children below 6, plus the VFS fee of INR 2133 with biometrics (INR 1600 without). Decisions are due within 15 calendar days and can be extended up to 45 calendar days in individual cases. ### Why can't Indians get a Hungarian work visa right now? This is a closure, not a refusal trend. Government Decree 450/2024 took effect on 1 January 2025. It allows residence permits for employment and guest-worker permits only for nationals of listed countries (Georgia, Armenia and the Philippines) or countries with a recognised office guaranteeing return. India is not listed, and the Embassy in New Delhi is not issuing appointments for employment D-visa applications for an indefinite period. The restriction does not affect residence permits for employment linked to an investment or for seasonal employment. The official sources do not say whether the suspension also covers EU Blue Card applications, so check with the Embassy before you plan around one. ### What can you do after a Hungarian visa refusal? - Appeal quickly. You, or a holder of power of attorney, must lodge the appeal in person within 8 calendar days of receiving the refusal (3 days for an annulment or revocation). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs decides within 15 days (5 days for annulment or revocation). - Do not expect a refund. Visa fees are not refundable. - Fix the file before reapplying. Compare your papers line by line with the checklist above. There is a longer-term upside to a clean record. Under the EU decision of 18 April 2024, Indian nationals living in India who obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years qualify for a two-year multiple-entry visa. For long-stay permits, fees and centre details, read our Hungary visa guide for Indian applicants. If your file needs a prepaid-style itinerary or hotel booking, see our hotel booking service. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Is the Hungary visa fee refunded if my application is refused? No. Hungarian visa fees are not refundable. The adult short-term fee is INR 9600, and the VFS service fee is charged on top. #### How early can I apply for a Hungary Schengen visa from India? Applications can be lodged no earlier than six months before the visit. With decisions due within 15 calendar days and possible extension to 45, applying well ahead gives you a buffer. #### Is travel insurance mandatory for a Hungary visa? Yes. Each applicant, including children, needs travel medical insurance from a company on the Embassy's approved list of Indian travel insurance companies for the Schengen visa procedure. #### Can I study in Hungary even though work visas are closed to Indians? Yes. Decree 450/2024 restricts employment and guest-worker permits, not study. The study D visa fee is Rs.11740 (EUR 123), and the immigration authority decides on the merits within 60 days of submission. ## FAQ ### Is the Hungary visa fee refunded if my application is refused? No. Hungarian visa fees are not refundable. The adult short-term fee is INR 9600, and the VFS service fee is charged on top. ### How early can I apply for a Hungary Schengen visa from India? Applications can be lodged no earlier than six months before the visit. With decisions due within 15 calendar days and possible extension to 45, applying well ahead gives you a buffer. ### Is travel insurance mandatory for a Hungary visa? Yes. Each applicant, including children, needs travel medical insurance from a company on the Embassy's approved list of Indian travel insurance companies for the Schengen visa procedure. ### Can I study in Hungary even though work visas are closed to Indians? Yes. Decree 450/2024 restricts employment and guest-worker permits, not study. The study D visa fee is Rs.11740 (EUR 123), and the immigration authority decides on the merits within 60 days of submission. ## Sources 1. [European Commission — Schengen visa statistics by consulate (2025)](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_en) — European Commission 2. [Embassy of Hungary New Delhi - Short Term Stay In Hungary (not exceeding the 90 days period)](https://newdelhi.mfa.gov.hu/en/21-short-term-stay-in-hungary-not-exceeding-the-90-days-period) — Embassy of Hungary, New Delhi 3. [VFS Global - Apply for VISA to Hungary In India](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/hungary/india/english/) — VFS Global 4. [OIF - Government Decree no. 450/2024](https://oif.gov.hu/news/government-decree-no-4502024) — National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF), Hungary