Ukrainians staying in Hungary eligible for residence permit even with expired passports - govt directive

MOSCOW. June 18 (Interfax) - Ukrainians staying in Hungary will be entitled to apply for residency status even if their passports have expired as long as the state of emergency that Hungary has imposed over the situation in Ukraine remains in effect.

"A passport whose validity has expired or will have expired during the state of emergency is considered valid until the state of emergency is lifted, in line with the government's directive," Ukrainian media reported citing a Hungarian government directive dated June 14 and published on the government website.

Hence, a Ukrainian foreign travel document whose validity has expired shall be considered valid for granting residency status and a residence permit can be issued while the state of emergency in Hungary remains in effect and within six months after its lifting.

This condition does not apply to the Hungarian citizenship acquisition procedure.

Hungary first declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic on March 11, 2020, and it remained in effect with minor adjustments until June 2022.

In May 2022, the Hungarian government initiated a state of emergency over the crisis in Ukraine, and it has been regularly extended since then, the last time in April 2024.