US Lifts Restrictions on Hungary’s Access to Visa Waiver Program

The United States has restored full access for Hungarian citizens to its visa-waiver program, rolling back limits introduced under the Biden administration.

From September 30, Hungarians will once again be able to apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visas valid for two years and multiple entries, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced this week.

The previous restrictions, imposed in 2023, had cut the validity period to one year and reduced ESTAs to single use, citing security concerns. Earlier in 2021, DHS revoked already-issued ESTAs of Hungarian passport holders born outside Hungary and denied new applications from the same group.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the decision underscored Washington’s confidence in Hungary’s security standards. “The United States and Hungary have a strong security partnership, and that commitment is reflected in the actions Hungary has taken to meet the requirements of the Visa Waiver Program,” she said.

The announcement marks another diplomatic win for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government has faced repeated tensions with Washington over issues ranging from energy ties with Russia to democratic backsliding. In April, the US lifted corruption-related sanctions on Orbán’s powerful chief of staff, Antal Rogán, who oversees parts of Hungary’s secret services.

While Orbán has cultivated close personal ties with former President Donald Trump, frictions in the broader relationship remain. A bilateral tax treaty severed under the Biden administration has yet to be restored, and Budapest is still waiting for the wide-ranging economic deal it had hoped to secure with Trump.

The US–EU trade agreement signed on July 27, which introduced a 15% tariff on most European goods, also dealt a blow to Hungary by raising duties on auto exports that had previously faced only a 2.5% levy. Meanwhile, Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies, even as Washington pressures the EU to accelerate efforts to phase out imports from Moscow.

Orbán’s hardline anti-immigration stance continues to find favor in US conservative circles, where his policies have been held up as an example. He also welcomed Trump’s earlier decision to shut down USAID, the main U.S. foreign aid agency.

The US government said restoring the full benefits of the Visa Waiver Program reaffirms its integrity and will help facilitate secure travel between the two countries. Only nations with the highest security standards are granted visa-free access, the statement noted.