Residence in Hungary

A third-country national may apply for the issue of a visa entitling him/her to receive a residence permit entitling him/her to stay in Hungary for more than ninety (90) days (hereinafter referred to as „permanent„) within one hundred and eighty days (180) prior to entry, without submitting a separate application, in his/her application for the issue of a residence permit.

This document only entitles the holder to reside in Hungary. It becomes invalid upon entry and exit from the country. The holder must return it to the issuing authority upon leaving the country.

A Temporary Residence Certification can be applied for by:

• Those who have already submitted an application for a residence permit and the permit has not yet been issued, but their previous residence permit has expired or they are required to have a further residence permit by law.
• The person staying in Hungary is unable to leave the country after the expiry of his/her residence permit for humanitarian or work-related or vis maior reasons.
• Those who do not have a Hungarian residence permit due to the withholding of their travel documents.

Validity period: 3 months, which can be extended on an occasional basis.

A third-country national may be granted guest self-employed residence permit if the purpose of his/her stay is:

• to pursue an activity as a self-employed person for remuneration, or
• to act as a manager of a company, cooperative or other legal person established for gainful purposes.

If the third-country national is acting as an executive officer of the company, the purpose of the stay for the purpose of self-employment as a guest is considered to be justified if:

• the business enterprise has been legally employing at least 5 Hungarian nationals or persons enjoying the right of free movement and residence on a full-time basis for at least 6 months continuously and without interruption, or
• the residence of the applicant third-country national in the territory of Hungary is indispensable for the operation of the company and it is likely, based on the detailed declaration of the economic activity attached to the application, that the company will generate income that will also ensure the applicant’s livelihood.

In the case of the employment of the managing director, the managing director must also be a member of the company.

If you wish to perform actual work in the company beyond the scope of activities of an executive officer, you must apply for a residence permit for employment purposes or a Hungarian Card for highly qualified workers.

Important to know!
If you already have a residence permit for guest self-employment , you cannot apply for a residence permit for employment purposes or a Hungarian Card in Hungary!

Period of validity: up to 1 year, renewable for a maximum of 2 years for the same purpose only, with the provision that the residence permit may not be renewed for a period exceeding 3 years from the date of its first issue.
If you would like to stay in Hungary as a self-employed guest beyond the above-mentioned period, you may apply for a residence permit in Hungary up to 40 days before the expiry of the validity period of your residence permit.

A foreign worker may be granted a residence permit for seasonal employment if:

• the purpose of your stay is to carry out statutory seasonal work.

Period of validity: up to 6 months, with the possibility of extension for a period not exceeding 6 months within 12 months. A residence permit issued for seasonal employment may not be issued for a period exceeding 6 months within 12 months and may not be renewed after 6 months.

A residence permit for the purpose of investment may be issued to a foreign worker whose:

• purpose is to carry out, based on an employment relationship, actual work for or under the direction of another person for consideration in order to carry out an investment,
• employer has concluded an agreement or contract with the Minister for Foreign Economic Affairs, acting on behalf of the Government, or has accepted its offer of support for the realization of this investment,
• employer has a statutory prior group work permit (an official promise to employ a certain number of guest workers for a certain period in order to carry out a project).

Period of validity: until the investment is completed, up to a maximum of 3 years, with the exception that the period of validity of the permit may not exceed the period specified in the prior group employment authorization.

A third-country national may be granted residence permit for employment purposes if the purpose of his/her stay is:

• to carry out actual work for or under the direction of another person for remuneration based on an employment relationship.
• to be employed in Hungary based on an employment relationship with an employer established in a third country in order to fulfil an agreement with a domestic employer (in which case the domestic employer is deemed to be the employer.)

As a general rule, the employer must have a valid labor requirement.

Period of validity: up to 2 years, renewable for a maximum of 1 year, with provided that it may not be renewed for a period exceeding 3 years from the date of first issued.

Residence permit for guest workers can be obtained by individuals,

• whose purpose of residence is to perform actual work in Hungary for remuneration, either for or under the direction and supervision of others, based on an employment agreement.
• anyone whose employer is a registered preferential employer or a registered qualified lender,
• who is a national of a third country as defined by a decree of the Minister responsible for the employment of third-country nationals in Hungary, issued with the approval of the Defense Council, and
• whose employment is in an occupation which is not excluded by the Minister responsible for employment policy in his decree.

Period of validity: up to 2 years, extendable for a maximum of 1 year, with the condition that the residence permit for guest workers cannot be extended for a period exceeding 3 years from the initial issuance.

• wishes to perform actual work for or under the direction of another person, for remuneration, based on an employment relationship, or
• as the owner or manager of a company or as the owner or manager of another legal person, he/she carries out actual work in addition to the activities covered by this activity or,
• who is employed in Hungary based on an employment relationship with an employer established in a third country in order to fulfil an agreement with a domestic employer (BUT! the companies party to the agreement do not belong to the same group of companies) or,
• and, in the above cases, possesses a degree or higher professional qualification specified by the Minister responsible for higher education.

• Certificate of qualification (diploma) with certified translation (OFFI)

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit that entitles its highly qualified holder to reside and work in highly qualified employment in the territory of a Member State.

EU Blue Card shall be granted to a third-country national:

• who desires to work in a position requiring higher professional qualifications, and is in possession of higher professional qualifications required to perform his/her job, or has professional experience for the specified period of time, or
• who is in possession of EU Blue Card issued by a Member State and has already legally resided in that Member State for at least 12 months or has resided 6 months in a second Member State.

• Certificate of qualification (diploma) with certified translation (OFFI)

• EU Blue Card procedure fee for national applications: HUF 38.000
• EU Blue Card procedure fee for domestic applications – Enter Hungary: HUF 26.000

Period of validity: entitles the holder to reside in Hungary for a fixed term of up to 4 years, renewable for a maximum of 4 years at a time.

Important to know!

• The validity period of the document must not exceed the validity period of the applicant’s travel document.
• The monthly remuneration may not be less than one and a half times the average gross monthly earnings of the national economy in the second year preceding the year in question, as published by the Central Statistical Office (approx. HUF 605,000 gross, 2024).

A third-country national who applies for an intra-corporate transfer residence permit is entitled to it in two cases:

• If he/she is living outside the territory of the Member States of the European Union at the time of applying for a residence permit and from a company outside the EU is transferred to a company in a Member State.
• If he/she already holds a residence permit (long-term mobility permit) issued by a Member State of the European Union for the purpose of intra-corporate transfer.

If the applicant can enter Hungary without a visa and does not have a residence permit, he/she is entitled to apply for a residence permit in Hungary during his/her legal stay.

The application must be submitted at the latest 20 days before the start of the long-term mobility or 20 days before the expiry of the legal stay in Hungary of not more than 90 days in possession of a residence permit issued by another Member State for the purpose of intra-corporate transfer.

The employer may apply for the issue or renewal of a residence permit for intra-corporate transfer, provided that the employee agrees in writing and that one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

• He/she has not yet entered Hungary.
• He/she has entered Hungary without a visa, is staying legally and does not have a residence permit.
• He/she holds a valid intra-corporate transfer residence permit (or long-term mobility permit) and wishes to extend it.

Specific documents required for the permit:

• A contract of employment or a letter of appointment certifying that the applicant has been employed by the company for 3 months.
• Proof that the companies belong to the same company or group.
• Evidence of higher education or professional qualifications.
• A statement from the Hungarian host organization that the employee has relevant experience.

Period of validity:

• For management or expert: maximum 3 years, renewable, but not exceeding 3 years from the date of first issue.
• For trainees: up to 1 year.

• wishes to reside in Hungary for the purpose of carrying out scientific research based on a hosting agreement with a research organization accredited by law, and
• whom the research organization has given a written undertaking to reimburse the costs incurred in connection with the expulsion of the researcher if the researcher stays for longer than the duration of the authorized stay unless the researcher has the necessary financial resources.

• Researcher: a third-country national holding a doctorate or an appropriate higher education qualification giving access to doctoral programs, who has entered and resides in the territory of a Member State and has been selected by a research organization to carry out a research activity for which such qualification is normally required.

Corporate Card can be obtained by individuals if the purpose of his/her stay is:

• to act as a manager of a company, cooperative or other legal person established for gainful purposes,
• to carry out actual work in addition to the activity covered by the previous point, or
• to carry out actual work for or under the direction of another person for remuneration on the basis of an employment relationship, and
• an officer or employee of a legal entity that is an employer as defined in the Government Decree or an entrepreneur who has concluded a settlement agreement with the employer.

Period of validity: entitles the holder to reside in Hungary for a fixed term of up to 4 years, renewable for a maximum of 4 years at a time.

Important to know!
During the period of validity of the Corporate Card and after its expiry, no other residence permit may be applied for in Hungary.

A third-country national may be granted National Card if:

• He/she is Serbian or Ukrainian citizen and
• the purpose of his/her stay is to carry out actual work for or under the direction of another person, including temporary agency work, based on his/her employment relationship for remuneration.

Period of validity: It entitles the holder to stay in Hungary for a fixed period of more than 90 days within 180 days, but not more than 2 years, with the possibility of extending it for a maximum of 3 years at a time.

• establishes or has established a learning relationship with a public education institution registered in Hungary as operating in the public education information system, or a full-time school education or a full-time work schedule, or wishes to reside in Hungary in the framework of full-time studies at a state-recognized higher education institution or a foreign higher education institution operating in Hungary in order to pursue studies or to participate in preparatory studies organized by the higher education institution,
• proves that he/she has the language skills needed to continue your studies,
• paid the fees charged by the public education or higher education institution,
• certifies that the conditions set out in points (a), (c) and (d) and points (f) to (i) of paragraph (1) of Article 17 of Hungarian Act XC of 2023 are fulfilled, and
• has declared a genuine domestic address as his/her place of accommodation in Hungary.

• have sufficient language skills to pursue their studies,
• has paid the fees charged by the establishment of general or higher education.

A third-country national student may be granted a residence permit for seeking a job or starting a business if he or she:

• holds a valid residence permit forpursuingstudies or student mobility and proves that he/she has successfully completed his/her studies, fulfils the conditions set out in points (a) and (f) to (i) of paragraph (1) of Article 17 of Hungarian Act XC of 2023, and the job or business he/she wishes to start is suitable for the level of studies completed.

Validity period: up to 9 months, with the proviso that the permit cannot be renewed.

A residence permit for training may be issued to third-country nationals who:

• meets the conditions set out in points (a) and (c) to (i) of paragraph (1) of Article 17 of Hungarian Act XC of 2023, and
• is participating in a scholarship course in Hungary provided by the Government or a Ministry.

Validity period: up to 1 year, not renewable for the same purpose. The third-country national may apply for an extension of the residence permit for study purposes only.

A third-country national who can prove that he or she is:

• wishes to stay in Hungary based on an approved traineeship contract with a host organization for the purpose of carrying out a traineeship, and the host organization has undertaken in writing to reimburse the costs incurred by the trainee in connection with his/her expulsion if the trainee stays for longer than the authorized period of stay, unless the trainee has the necessary financial resources,
• have obtained the higher education qualification required for the traineeship within the 2 years preceding the submission of the application or are studying for the higher education qualification required for the traineeship, and
• have the necessary language skills to carry out the traineeship.

Period of validity: Up to 6 months, with the proviso that the permit cannot be renewed.

• meets the conditions set out in points (a) and (c) to (i) of paragraph (1) of Article 17 of Hungarian Act XC of 2023, and
• as a person entitled to diplomatic or other privileges and immunities under international law, or as a member of their family,
• as a member of an official delegation of a foreign state or public body or international organization,
• as a journalist,
• in the framework of an international treaty, international cultural, educational, scientific cooperation or an international governmental aid program for study, education, scientific, training, or further training purposes,
• wishes to stay in Hungary as a member of the staff of a scientific, educational, or cultural institution operating in Hungary based on an international treaty or as a person visiting Hungary in the course of the activities of such an institution.

A residence permit for family reunification may be issued to a third-country national who is the family member of:

• a person holding a residence permit,
• a person holding an immigration, permanent residence, temporary residence, national permanent residence, or EC permanent residence permit,
• a person holding a temporary residence card, national residence card or EU residence card,
• a residence card or permanent residence card in accordance with the Residence Act, or a person with a permanent residence card, or
• Hungarian citizen
• the person recognized as a refugee, and
• an unaccompanied minor recognized as a refugee:
  • parent of the unaccompanied minor
  • a guardian of the unaccompanied minor in the absence of a parent

Period of validity: up to 3 years, renewable up to 3 years at a time:

• up to 4 years, which may be extended by up to 4 years on each occasion if the family member holds an EU Blue Card or a Company Card,
• up to 5 years, which may be extended for a maximum of 5 years at a time, if the family member is a Hungarian citizen or holds an EC residence permit or an EU residence card issued under Section 87(1)(b) of Hungarian Act XC of 2023,

up to 10 years, which may be extended by up to 10 years at a time if the family member holds a residence permit for a foreign investor.

A White Card is a residence permit whose holder is in a verified employment relationship in a country outside Hungary and performs his/her work from Hungary using advanced digital technology or holds a share in a company with a verified profit in a country outside Hungary and performs his/her work or manages his/her business from Hungary using advanced digital technology.

A White Card can be issued to a third-country national who:

• has a certified employment relationship in a country outside Hungary and performs his or her work from Hungary using an advanced digital technology solution, or has an ownership share in a company with a certified profit in a country outside Hungary and performs his or her work or manages his or her company from Hungary using an advanced digital technology solution,
• meets the conditions set out in points (a) and (c) to (i) of paragraph (1) of Article 17 of Hungarian Act XC of 2023 and does not have any of the grounds for exclusion set out in paragraph (3), and
• does not work in Hungary and does not hold a share in a Hungarian enterprise.