The United States has announced it will fully restore Hungary's status in the Visa Waiver Program, evidencing a warming of relations between their two countries under the Trump administration.

Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban (L) meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of White House in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 2019. On Tuesday, the United States removed restrictions placed on Hungary's admission to the United States' Visa Waiver Program. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI UPI

Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The United States has announced it will fully restore Hungary's status in the Visa Waiver Program, evidencing a warming of relations between their two countries under the Trump administration.

Hungary was admitted to the Visa Waiver Program in November 2008, permitting citizens of the European nation to travel to the United States for up to 90 days, visa free.

But the Biden administration twice imposed restrictions on Hungarian passport holders -- once in 2021 and then in 2023 -- after finding Budapest was not fulfilling its obligations under the Visa Waiver Program, specifically concerning national security. The Biden administration said Budapest had granted Hungarian citizenship to nearly 1 million people between 2011 and 2020 without adequate security measures.

In a statement Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Hungary has adopted measures requested by the United States to address security vulnerabilities, resulting in the lifting of the restrictions.

"The United States and Hungary have a strong security partnership, and that commitment is reflected in the actions that Hungary has taken to meet the security standards of the Visa Waiver Program,"Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. "Like President [Donald] Trump, Prime Minister Viktor [Orban] is dedicated to keeping his borders secure and vetting who comes into his country."

The change means Hungarian citizens will have expanded access to travel between the two countries, and will be able to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization with a two-year validity period, instead of one, starting Sept. 30.

"During the previous administration, the United States restricted Hungary's participation in the Visa Waiver Program, but this is the Trump administration, and we've reversed course," Robert Palladino, the U.S. charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest, said in a recorded statement to the people of Hungary.

"We believe in the friendship between our nations, grounded in sovereignty, freedom and mutual respect."

Orban is Hungary's authoritarian leader and ally of Trump. He was among the first world leaders to meet with Trump following Trump's election in November, flying to the United States for meetings with the president-elect and Elon Musk at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

The Hungarian leader also visited the White House in May 2019, during Trump's first term.