The types of the travel discounts are:
I. Public transport travel discounts, and
II. Business travel discounts.
I. Public transport travel discounts
Two categories of public travel discounts can be distinguished.
1. Public transport discounts related to legal relationship with Hungarian institutions or to Hungarian benefits
British citizens were entitled to these transport discounts independently of the UK’s EU membership, the transport discounts were linked to a legal relationship with the relevant Hungarian institution or organisation or to a Hungarian benefit. Irrespective of the date of 31 December 2021, UK nationals shall remain entitled to these transport discounts as long as these legal relationships/benefits continue to exist.
These kind of travel discounts are for example granted on the bases of the following: Hungarian pensions, disability benefit, invalidity annuity, disability support, legal relationship with Hungarian public or higher education institution, employment by Hungarian public institutions or budgetary bodies.
UK nationals arriving after the withdrawal will also be entitled to these transport discounts if the legal relationship/benefit in Hungary indicated above exists.
Travel discounts according to student relationship
UK nationals who are in student relationship with a Hungarian educational institution and thus hold a Hungarian student card shall remain entitled to the following travel discounts:
Students with UK nationality who do not hold a Hungarian student card but have already resided in Hungary before the end of the transition period, and therefore hold a registration certificate and permanent residence card, and hold a British student card, shall only be entitled to the travel discounts until the date of 31 December 2021. In the latter case, only suburban, regional or national long-distance ticket discounts may be applied, they are not entitled to pass discounts. In general, the discount for travel costs will no longer be available on the basis of a British student card as of 1 January 2021.
Entitlement based on disability
A severely disabled person who receives disability support, or a severely ill or disabled child whose parent or carer receives a higher rate of family allowance, or a person with a long-term illness or who is severely disabled and receives a higher rate of family allowance is entitled to:
One accompanying person (only if travelling together with the above-mentioned person) is entitled to the following:
Discounts under further conditions:
The transport discounts linked to receiving a Hungarian pension or similar benefit shall continue to be available to UK nationals under the age of 65 if they receive such pension or benefit in Hungary. UK nationals to whom the Pensions Payment Directorate of the Hungarian State Treasury issues the so called „Ellátottak utazási utalványa” (Travel voucher) are entitled to discounted travel on local and suburban, regional or national long-distance public passenger transport.
Transport discounts granted on the basis of a legal relationship with a social or child protection institution in Hungary shall continue to be available if the legal relationship exists.
The public transport travel discounts granted to persons employed in public-interest agencies in Hungary shall be granted to UK nationals if they are employed by such bodies. With travel vouchers issued by the employer, these persons shall be entitled to 12 times a year for a return journey of 50% on suburban, regional or national long-distance public passenger transport.
UK nationals living in Hungary, who are unemployed shall be entitled to the following travel discounts:
2. Travel discounts granted on objective criteria
Travel discounts granted on objective criteria include the following:
Travel discounts under age 18 and over 65
UK citizens were entitled to discounts for free travel of persons over age 65 and travel discount for groups under age 18 as a result of the UK’s EU membership on the basis of the right of free movement and residence. UK nationals who already resided in Hungary before the end of the transition period (up to 31 December 2020), holding a registration certificate, a permanent residence card, are eligible to these discounts until the registration certificate or permanent residence card is valid (31 December 2021.) UK nationals aged 65 and over with settled status, as well as UK nationals with Hungarian pension benefits aged 65 and over, remain eligible to the discounts regardless of the deadline. In the absence of a residence permit, after 31 December 2021 UK nationals will be considered as third country nationals in the same way as UK nationals arriving after 31 December 2020. Accordingly, subject to those exceptions, they will not be entitled to the advantage.
Travel discounts for children under 6 and ages 6–14
All natural persons are entitled to travel discounts of other age categories – traveling free of charge of persons under the age of 6, traveling with tickets with a 50% price reduction on suburban, regional or national long-distance passenger transport and with a discount (student) pass on local passenger public transport for persons aged 6-14 –, therefore UK nationals – also without settlement status – will be entitled to these travel discounts also after 31st December 2021.
Further information
The regulation on public transport travel discounts is specified by Governmental Decree No. 85/2007.
In passenger transport by rail, the discounts shall apply to class 2 of carriage, while children accompanied by an adult may travel free of charge in any class of carriage until they reach the age of 6.
Please note that travel discounts (including the opportunity to travel free of charge) do not apply to:
For more information about travel conditions and domestic fares please visit the websites of the different Hungarian transportation service providers.
II. Business travel discounts
UK nationals remain to be entitled to a wide range of business travel discounts, if they meet the required conditions. For details please visit the websites of the different Hungarian transportation service providers.