Residence permit in Hungary

Since January 2024, a new immigration law has been in force in Hungary, providing residents of non-EU member states with ample opportunities to live, study, work and commercial activities on its territory. The new law has changed the list of available residence permits and the requirements for applicants for a residence permit. A prerequisite was the indication of the purpose of temporary residence.

Prospects and advantages

• Low cost of living compared to Western European countries.
• Moderate taxation (income tax 9%, dividends 15%).
• Mild climate, well-developed infrastructure, border with 7 European countries.
• Good public safety and friendly atmosphere.
• Ease of business registration, visa processing, and opening bank accounts.
• The possibility of visa-free visits to other European countries.
• The creation of a company and a residence permit are available to everyone, regardless of citizenship.
• High-quality international schools and English-speaking universities.

Types of Hungarian residence permits

You can stay in Hungary for a long time on different grounds. This opportunity is provided both by the country’s own legislation and the rules of the EU, of which it is a member. Foreigners most often use the following features:

• Residence permit – there are 22 programs in the country for foreigners who want to obtain a temporary residence permit. They are designed for a period of 6 months to 10 years, provide various employment opportunities, and bring family members with them. The length of stay for certain types of residence permits does not count towards the right to permanent residence and registration of Hungarian citizenship.
• White card – a program for “digital nomads”, which gives the right to receive income from employers outside the country, excluding the possibility of official employment in Hungary and starting a business. The permit is given for 1 year, it can be extended.
• A permanent residence card in Hungary can be issued after 2-3 years of residence permit status, depending on the primary reason for entry. It gives the right to an unlimited number of entries and exits from the country, the right to work, stay in other Schengen countries. The validity period is 5 years, extended repeatedly.
• The EU Blue Card is issued to highly qualified specialists, taking into account the list of professions in each EU country, they give the right to employment and residence in any of them, as well as the import of family members. To receive a card, you must have an employment contract.

Residence permit for investments

According to the new law of 2024 in Hungary, a foreigner who invests in a special Hungarian real estate fund through the purchase of bonds gets the right to reside in the country for a period of 10 years. The amount of the investment contribution must be at least 250,000€. The investment fund must have a state registration and at least 40% of its portfolio must be held by shares of construction companies engaged in housing construction in Hungary.

The investor’s gold card allows for an extension for another 10 years. With it, you can freely move around the EU states to establish a business or carry out other activities. The investment must be retained in the fund for at least 5 years, and if you intend to stay in the country for more than a 10-year period, you will have to deposit it again.

Through employment

Hungarian immigration legislation provides for the issuance of different types of residence permits based on the nature of the work performed and the required qualifications. Employment in unskilled jobs is allowed with a permit issued by:

• to participate in seasonal work (for no more than 6 months);
• to participate in an approved project or in their own business;
• for migrant workers – persons employed according to the employer’s quota or recruited through a recruitment agency;
• for employment – performing other jobs that are not included in the previous categories.

Foreigners working in highly qualified positions retain the right to family reunification, meaning they can bring their spouse, children, and parents. They can obtain the following types of residence permits:

• Hungarian card – available to highly qualified employees in accordance with with a list of relevant professions approved by the government. You can check their relevance using FEOR codes.
• The EU Blue Card is for highly qualified workers with a monthly salary 1.5 times higher than the average salary for the year preceding the previous one (in 2024, 773,700 Hungarian forints).
• The corporate card is available only to the heads of certain companies who have signed an agreement with the Government of the country to conduct commercial activities.

Opportunities for digital nomads

Since 2022, Hungary, like many other European countries, has created the opportunity for remote work with income from an employer registered outside the country of temporary residence. Freelancers can apply for a white card, cannot carry out paid work in Hungarian organizations, or organize their own company. The permit is issued for 1 year, and it is possible to extend it.

To receive a white card, the applicant must confirm the availability of a monthly income of about 3,000 euros for 6 months prior to entry into the country and for 12 months of residence, if the card is to be extended. It does not grant the right to import a digital nomad’s family, and the period of freelance activity is not counted towards the time required to obtain a permanent residence card.

For education

A residence permit for study is provided to schoolchildren, university students and universities for 3 years, if necessary, to continue their studies, an extension for another 1-2 years is possible. The applicant must pass a test of knowledge of Hungarian or English, provide proof of payment for the educational course, and a certificate of admission to a Hungarian educational institution.

Since 2024, students cannot bring relatives with them, if they entered on the basis of the old law, they continue to live in the country until the end of the permit period. After graduation, young people can request a residence permit to find a job or internship. Education is not counted in the 3-year period, which gives the right to apply for permanent residence.

For family reunification purposes

Obtaining a residence permit in Hungary on this basis does not cause difficulties when a foreigner is legally married to a citizen of the country. Foreign citizens temporarily staying in the country may not bring their relatives in all cases. Starting in 2024, this is not available to students, digital nomads, and unskilled employees.

Close relatives include spouses, minor children, and dependent parents of the migrant. The validity period of the permit for family reunification is 3 years. If an immigrant has obtained Hungarian citizenship, his foreign spouse can apply for permanent residence after two years.

For doing business

One of the most popular programs is to obtain a residence permit for financially secure foreign entrepreneurs (previously, the “permit for income–generating activities”). The document is issued for one year, and it can be extended for another two years. The entry of an immigrant’s family using this type of permit is available from the second year. The EU Blue Card is also suitable for business activities.

A special type of work permit is provided for citizens of eight Eastern European countries, including Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Russia – the national Hungarian card. It has been in effect since July 2024 and entitles both to work as an employee and to set up your own company. The permit is granted for 2 years, and can be extended for another 3 years. A family reunion option is available. The period of stay is included in the period for obtaining a permanent residence permit.

For treatment

Foreigners who intend to undergo diagnosis or treatment in medical institutions in Hungary can request a temporary residence permit for 2 years. The length of stay may be extended for medical reasons. To obtain a residence permit on this basis, you will need a contract for the provision of medical services.

If the patient is planning to travel with an accompanying person, it is necessary to confirm the relationship between them. The residence permit for the accompanying person is issued for the same period as for the main applicant. This document does not grant the right to work, study, or other activities other than caring for a sick family member.

Conditions of receipt

Starting in 2024, a residence permit card in Hungary is issued only if one of the legally permitted purposes of stay is indicated, as described above. It is impossible to obtain a residence permit “on other grounds”. In addition, the foreigner must meet certain requirements and submit a complete set of documents.

Requirements for applicants

• There is a place to stay (own, rented or represented by third parties housing).
• A foreigner is insured for a full range of medical services, or has sufficient funds to cover it.
• There are no disqualifying reasons: false information is provided, there is an outstanding criminal record, restriction or ban on entry.

Required documents

• Information about the purpose of entry (for employment: a document on registration of an individual entrepreneur, company, employment contract or preliminary agreement, for family reunification – on kinship, student ID, etc.).
• Information about the availability of funds (bank certificate, documents on the availability of property in the country, employer’s certificate of salary).
• Documents for housing: certificate of ownership, lease agreement, obligation of relatives to accept.
• A medical policy issued in Hungary or an international organization.
• A copy of the passport page with a photo; for a minor, a birth certificate.

Fees and duties

A state fee is charged for obtaining a residence permit and other services (appeal against refusal, extension), the amount of which is published on the website of the National Directorate General of Immigration:

• for reviewing an application submitted in another country – 110€;
• for obtaining a residence permit in person in Hungary – 39,000 Ft;
• for processing documents when applying through Enter Hungary – 24,000 Ft;
• for the extension of the residence permit – 23,000 Ft;
• for issuing an EU Blue Card – 38,000 Ft, through the Enter Hungary service – 26,000 Ft.

When using the Enter Hungary electronic interface, fees are paid with an international bank card issued outside of Russia. To the fees for obtaining a residence permit, you need to add possible additional expenses related to registration, translation of documents, relocation, and starting a business.

Moving with family

Not all immigrants can bring their family to Hungary. So, starting in 2024, foreigners who have received a residence permit for unskilled labor, a “white card” and students cannot do this. Other types of residence permits give the right to bring family members (children, spouse) with them to the country, who are issued a temporary residence card for the same period as the immigrant himself.

A foreigner who has received a residence permit submits an application via Enter Hungary to obtain a residence permit for their immediate family members based on family reunification. It is necessary to provide marriage certificates, birth certificates of children. Foster children and stepchildren must have a custody document.

Family members of an immigrant who have received a residence permit based on reunification can work in Hungary, provided they receive a special permit. It is issued if a foreign citizen submits an employment contract or an agreement with a Hungarian employer.

The application process

• Apply in the country of citizenship for a type “D” visa, which is valid for 3 months. The visa is issued in the standard manner through the Visa Application Center or the Consular Department of the Hungarian Embassy.
• Upon arrival in Hungary, no later than 30 days before departure, a foreigner must apply for a residence permit in accordance with the grounds stated when applying for a visa.
• An application for a temporary residence card is submitted online through the Enter Hungary electronic system, a service provided by the Immigration Department. It is required to attach the required documents in scanned form.
• After registration of the application, the foreigner will receive a notification about the need to pay the fee, take a digital photo, submit a signature sample and fingerprints, if he has not previously undergone such procedures. This should be done within 2 weeks. Only after that, the immigration department will review the documents.
• The finished document for a residence permit (plastic card) is sent by mail to the address indicated when applying.

Terms of review

The standard period for reviewing a residence permit application sent through the Enter Hungary system is 21 days. If additional documents are required, the registration period can be extended up to 60 days.

When considering an application through employment, the decision–making period is 70 days. The exception is obtaining a residence permit for investments, since they must be issued within a 3-month period, and an investor’s visa is issued for six months. In this case, the receipt of the document depends on the speed of making investments.

Living conditions with a residence permit

A foreigner retains the right to a residence permit if he stays in the country for more than 183 days a year. It is absolutely necessary to have a residence permit (registration) and always carry the document with you. When changing your place of residence, you must send a notification to the immigration department via Enter Hungary.

Those who have obtained a residence permit based on employment, family reunification, or the establishment of an enterprise have the right to work. Only children under the age of 16 receive free medical care, as well as employees whose salaries are deducted from health insurance contributions.

Extension of residence permit

Temporary residence cards are valid for up to 5 years (depending on the reason for their receipt), and can be extended for another 5 years. To do this, an application is submitted through the Enter Hungary electronic service.

Obtaining permanent residence and citizenship

Foreigners who have been living in Hungary for at least 3 years on the basis of a temporary permit are given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence. Not all types of accommodation are counted in the required period, for example, studies, remote work, and medical treatment are not counted. The application for permanent residence is submitted in person through the local office of the immigration service or online through Enter Hungary.

Hungarian citizenship can be obtained after 8 years of permanent residence in the country, leaving it for no more than two years. It is issued by the Hungarian Interior Ministry after passing the exam. At the same time, renunciation of citizenship of another State is not required. A Hungarian passport allows you to visit more than 170 countries of the world without a visa and enjoy all civil rights, including participation in elections.