US Limits Visa-Free Regime for Hungary Over Passport Distribution

The United States has curtailed Hungary's participation in its visa-free program due to security concerns surrounding the issuance of passports by Budapest between 2011 and 2020.

According to Euronews, under the US Visa Waiver Program, citizens of participating countries can travel to the US for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they have an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

Starting from Tuesday, the validity period of ESTA for Hungarian passport holders will be reduced from two years to one, and ESTA will only be valid for single-entry use.

US Ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, stated that "there are hundreds of thousands of passports that were issued by the Hungarian government under a simplified naturalization program without rigorous identity verification mechanisms."

He added that the United States has been drawing Budapest's attention to this "security vulnerability" for years under different administrations, but "the Hungarian government chose not to close it."

"It's a choice. The Hungarian government chose not to solve this security problem until now, which prompted the United States to react," Pressman summarized.

After coming to power in 2010, the government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban implemented significant political changes, granting citizenship to ethnic Hungarians abroad, including in Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Critics argue that Orban aimed to enhance his electoral prospects through this move.

The statement notes that the United States demanded personal data of dual citizens of ethnic Hungarian origin abroad, and that the Hungarian government is unwilling to provide such information to protect the security of these citizens.

According to the US, criminal networks were able to exploit this scheme to fraudulently obtain genuine Hungarian passports. Citizenship was granted swiftly, "without proper identity verification" of applicants, the US embassy wrote, criticizing Orban for failing to "completely eliminate this vulnerability."

The article also highlights the deep disappointment of Budapest's NATO allies over the fact that, as reported by The Gaze, the Hungarian Parliament has not yet ratified Sweden's application to join the Alliance.

Persistent concerns also exist about high-ranking Hungarian officials pushing Kremlin narratives, as well as Budapest's efforts to soften European sanctions against Russia.

The Hungarian government responded to the restrictions in a statement from the Ministry of Interior.

The statement said that the United States demanded personal data of dual citizens of ethnic Hungarian origin abroad, and that the Hungarian government is unwilling to provide such information to protect the security of these citizens.