COVID-19 PCR tests are carried out following the same protocol all over the world and the results of the tests are accepted internationally. The Hungarian Government however made the decision that everybody needs to present two negative tests, and at least one of these needs to be taken in Hungary. This decision is unreasonable and makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible for Hungarian people living abroad to travel home and visit their families. These relatives are often very old, vulnerable people for whom seeing their children a few times a year is a lifeline.

The decision to leave our country and our roots behind, regardless of the reasons was hard enough for all of us. Living and working abroad, while supporting relatives at home are difficult duties. We cannot risk walking into an eventually positive test in Hungary, while by being stuck in quarantine for 14 days, or waiting for the test results we might lose our jobs and livelihoods.

We call on the government to change this regulation, not let us down and ensure that we are able to see and support our old parents, of which many live isolated, alone and in fear. 

We call on the government to let us freely travel into our home country if we are coming from a low risk country or  able to present a negative PCR test result taken abroad. This will be a safer solution for everybody, a respectful, humanistic approach, representing the interests of Hungarian people at home and all over the world. This is also what a national government is rightly expected to do.