The Hungarian National Card (Nemzeti Kártya) is a type of residence permit that Hungarian authorities began issuing in 2024. Initially, the program was limited to Ukrainians and Serbs, but on July 8, 2024, the list was expanded: Russians can now also apply for this status. Given the overall situation with European migration regulations, this is an excellent opportunity for Russian citizens to move to Europe.
Hungary is one of the few EU countries where Russian citizens retain access to legal long-term residence through clear mechanisms. This doesn’t require a tourist visa or temporary status—the Nemzeti Kártya grants a full two-year residence permit with the right to work, conduct business, and travel freely within the Schengen Area.
For Russians considering moving to Europe in the current climate, the Hungarian National Card remains one of the few truly accessible tools – fast, relatively inexpensive, and offering the prospect of permanent residence in the EU within a few years.
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What is the National Card
The Nemzeti Kartya is formally a residence permit for employment. However, calling it simply a “work residence permit” would be inaccurate. The card replaced the former Munkavállalás and became a separate category with a set of benefits previously unavailable to ordinary foreign workers.
The document itself is a plastic card with the holder’s biometric data – fingerprints and a digital signature. The initial issue is valid for two years. Extensions are granted for three years if the conditions are met: an employment contract or an active company, and proof of income. This distinguishes the permit from other types of Hungarian residence permits, which are often extended in short two-year cycles.
Who can apply? The categories are quite broad. An employee of a Hungarian company is eligible. The founder or director of a legal entity (SRL) is also eligible. Even sole proprietors and freelancers working on projects for Hungarian clients are formally included. However, in practice, sole proprietors often face additional questions from the immigration service: they must prove a stable income and a connection to the Hungarian economy. Self-employment is perceived as a less reliable basis than a traditional employment contract.
Advantages of obtaining
- A simplified procedure with no high qualification barriers. There is no requirement to prove rare skills, collect letters of recommendation from previous employers, or prove the uniqueness of the profession.
- Complete freedom of movement within the Schengen area. The Nemzeti Kártya (Neighborhood Card) entitles the holder to reside in any Schengen country for up to 90 days out of every 180 without additional visas.
- Family reunification from day one, unconditional. The spouse and minor children of the main applicant receive a Family Residence Permit for the same two years as the main applicant and are immediately entitled to work, study, and open bank accounts.
- The lowest taxes in the European Union. Income tax in Hungary is fixed at 15%, regardless of income.
- A fast-track to permanent residency and EU citizenship. After three years of residence, the holder can apply for permanent residency.
- Unrestricted access to European banking services. Residents of the country open accounts with local and international banks, receive debit or credit cards, and apply for a mortgage to purchase real estate. They have access to loans from both public and private financial institutions on terms similar to those available to citizens.
- A favorable environment for starting and growing a business. Hungary ranked first among 52 countries in the Business Name Generator’s 2024 ranking of the best countries for startups.
- Relatively low cost of living compared to other EU countries. A family of four spends approximately €2,245 per month, excluding rent. Residents’ children receive free education in public schools and kindergartens and can apply for state-funded places at Hungarian universities.
- Possibility to change status without leaving the country. If after 1-2 years the need arises to switch to another type of residence permit (for example, a Blue Card for highly qualified specialists or a residence permit by investment), the application is submitted directly in Hungary. While the immigration service processes the new application, the existing Nemzeti Kartya remains valid, guaranteeing continuity of legal status.
- Fast processing and document processing times. The official application processing time is 21 days. From the time of submitting documents for a D visa to receiving the plastic residence card, it takes on average 2-3 months.
Applicant Requirements
The Hungarian National Card is available through two main routes: employment with a Hungarian company or by registering your own business. Russian citizens cannot obtain a permit as sole proprietors or by working for a sole proprietor. Only a legal entity can qualify for a residence permit. This is a key difference from some other programs, where self-employment is considered a sufficient condition.
Employment requires a preliminary employment contract – Előzetes Megállapodás. The employer signs this preliminary contract and mails a scanned copy or the original to the prospective employee. The minimum salary must comply with Hungarian law – 266,800 forints per month, equivalent to approximately €680 at the current exchange rate. Companies of any legal form can employ foreigners: limited liability companies (Kft.), public joint-stock companies (Rt.), cooperatives, foundations, and associations.
Registering your own company offers a second option. The minimum authorized capital depends on the legal form. A limited liability company (Kft.) requires 3 million forints (approximately €7,500). If the founders are a closed joint-stock company (Zrt.), the amount increases to 5 million forints (approximately €12,500). A public joint-stock company (Nyrt.) requires 20 million forints (€50,000). The government does not limit foreigners to specific sectors: they can work in construction, trade, IT development, open a restaurant business, or run a consulting agency.
The company owner is required to employ themselves as a director or other employee. The applicant’s salary must be at least €1,500 per month. This is higher than the minimum wage for employees. A company may have one or more founders, each of whom has the right to apply for a national card.
Housing is a mandatory requirement for all applicants. They must either rent property for a minimum of 12 months or purchase it without location or price restrictions. The minimum area is 6 m² per person. The lease agreement must be formally executed and comply with immigration law requirements. Property owners must present a purchase agreement and an extract from the property registry indicating the property as residential premises or a house suitable for permanent residence.
Required Documents
- Russian internal passport.
- International passport – original and copies of all pages. Its validity must be at least two years beyond the application date.
- Passport-size photograph.
- A completed residence permit application form. The form can be downloaded from the official Enter Hungary portal.
- A preliminary employment agreement from a Hungarian employer, the legal entity’s incorporation documents, an extract from the commercial register, and a protocol of appointment as director.
- Proof of financial solvency. A bank statement for the last 3-6 months with a balance of at least €10,000, or a certificate of income from a previous employer.
- Residential lease agreement or title deed.
- Health insurance for 1 year with coverage of at least €30,000.
- Receipt for payment of the administrative fee.
- Marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates – if applying as a family.
- Written statement of readiness to leave Hungary if a residence permit is denied.
Processing Time and Cost
The National Card is processed faster than most other types of European residence permits. It takes an average of 2-3 months from submitting your D visa application to receiving your residency status. This distinguishes the program from the classic business residence permit.
After your D visa is approved, the applicant receives a sticker in their passport valid for 90 days. During this period, they must enter the country and apply for a plastic residence card at the immigration office. The card itself is produced within 3 weeks of submitting biometric data. The card is delivered to your official registered address in Hungary or issued in person at the office.
The consular fee for applying for a D visa and the subsequent Nemzeti Kártya is €110. This amount is accepted at all Hungarian consulates in any currency; debits are made at the euro exchange rate at the time of payment. When submitting documents through the EnterHungary portal, an additional administrative fee is required – an additional €30 for electronic signature certification.
The issuing fee is 110,000 forints (approximately €280). This fee can be paid by credit card at the immigration office, by postal check, or by bank transfer. Registering your own company requires additional investment – the minimum authorized capital must be taken into account. After entering Hungary, the company owner pays mandatory taxes and social contributions for the first quarter – approximately €1,200. Annual health insurance costs €30-50 per month for one person. A family policy for three costs €70-100. Annual insurance costs start at €500.
The total cost of applying independently through employment is approximately €2,000–€3,000: consular fee, state duty, insurance, translations, tickets, and the first month’s rent. Opening a company increases the budget to €10,000–€15,000, taking into account the share capital, quarterly taxes, and legal support.
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Step-by-step process
- Determining the basis for a residence permit and preparing documents. The applicant chooses one of two routes: employment with a Hungarian company or registering their own legal entity. This step is critical: without an official basis, the application will not be accepted. At the same time, a basic package of documents is compiled.
- Submitting an application for a Category D visa. Documents are submitted to the consulate at the applicant’s place of permanent residence or in the country where the applicant holds a residence permit. Russian citizens entering the country on a tourist visa cannot apply for a national card while in Hungary, except in extraordinary circumstances.
- Application review by the Migration Service. The Migration Service verifies the authenticity of the employment contract or company incorporation documents, the applicant’s financial solvency, and the legality of the property. In some cases, additional documents or clarifications are requested.
- Obtaining a Category D visa and entering Hungary. After the application is approved, a Category D visa valid for 90 days is affixed to the passport. During this time, the applicant must enter the country and apply for residency. The D visa can be used for single or multiple entries, depending on the consulate’s decision.
- Submitting documents for a residence card at the immigration office. The applicant personally applies to the immigration office at their place of registration with a full set of documents. Personal presence is required.
- Production and receipt of a plastic residence permit card. The document is produced within three weeks of submitting biometric data. The completed document is delivered to the official address of registration in Hungary or collected in person at the immigration office.
- Extension and transition to permanent residence. After two years, the national card holder can apply for an extension for another three years, provided the grounds for residence are maintained. After another three years of residence, the applicant can apply for national permanent residence. Since 2025, obtaining permanent residence requires passing an exam on basic knowledge of the Hungarian language and the country’s constitutional values. After another 8 years of continuous residence as a permanent resident, it becomes possible to apply for Hungarian citizenship and obtain an EU passport.
Rights and responsibilities of the holder
The holder of a Nemzeti Kartya receives a status that is legally equal to other categories of temporary residents. There is no distinction between a “full” or “simplified” residence permit – the status provides the full range of rights granted to foreigners with a legal residence permit.
Legal employment is valid without additional permits. Work can be either employed by Hungarian companies or self-employed. Changing employers or fields of work requires notification to the immigration authorities, but does not automatically block your status. This distinguishes the Nemzeti Kártya from some other work visas, where the contract is strictly tied to a specific employer and terminating the contract means losing your residence permit.
The Schengen Area is fully open. Hungarian residents can travel within all agreement countries visa-free for up to 90 days in any six-month period. Important: the 90 days are calculated cumulatively across all Schengen countries, not individually for each. Exceeding this period carries a fine of €500 and a ban on entry into the EU for 1 to 5 years.
Compliance with Hungarian laws is a basic requirement. Criminal offenses, administrative violations with fines exceeding a certain threshold, and participation in illegal financial schemes are grounds for revocation of your residence permit and deportation. The authorities have a zero-tolerance policy for violations of immigration laws. Violations may result in a ban on entry to the EU for 3 to 10 years.
Relocating with Family
The National Card allows for family reunification from the first day of the main application. The spouse and minor children receive a Family Residence Permit for the same two years as the main applicant. This distinguishes the program from most other types of European residence permits, where the reunification process drags on for months and requires separate applications after the main applicant has proven financial stability. Here, everything is simpler: the family moves together, the children are enrolled in school, and the spouse immediately begins working or starting a business.
Family members automatically receive the right to work and engage in entrepreneurial activity without additional permits. The spouse can become an employee, start a sole proprietorship, or register their own company—their immigration status allows this. Both spouses can work: a combined income covers living expenses more quickly, reducing the financial stress of the first months of adaptation.
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Assistance in Obtaining
Applying for a Hungarian National Card on your own is technically possible, but requires a thorough understanding of the country’s immigration laws. An error in completing the application, an improperly executed employment contract, or documents that don’t meet immigration service requirements will result in a refusal—a loss of several months and paid state fees. Re-submitting requires collecting documents again and another round of waiting for a decision.
Professional support eliminates these risks. Our company’s immigration specialists will prepare a complete document package that meets all legal requirements. Our key advantage is full support at all stages, from submitting your application to obtaining residency status.
Submit a consultation request. An expert will review your personal circumstances, analyze possible scenarios, and recommend the optimal application process.
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