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Residency Guide to Hungary

Looking for guidance on obtaining residency in Hungary? Discover the steps involved and read advice from expats, nomads, and others already in Hungary.
|-Residency Guide to Hungary

Obtaining a residency visa in Hungary is not always easy, but our Guide to Residency in Hungary gives newcomers an overview of the steps involved and advice from others who have already navigated the process.

  • Gather the necessary documents for residency status in Hungary. These documents include a valid passport, proof of health insurance, proof of financial means, and a valid visa.
  • Apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Office in Hungary. This can be done in person or online.
  • Apply for a Tax Number.
    • Visit the local Tax Office in Hungary.
    • Fill out the application form and provide the necessary documents.
    • Pay the applicable fee.
  • Register with the local municipality. This can be done in person or online.
  • Open a bank account in Hungary. This can be done in person or online.
  • Apply for a Social Security Number.
    • Visit the local Social Security Office in Hungary.
    • Fill out the application form and provide the necessary documents.
    • Pay the applicable fee.
  • Apply for a work permit, if necessary.
    • Visit the local Employment Office in Hungary.
    • Fill out the application form and provide the necessary documents.
    • Pay the applicable fee.

What tips do expats have about residency and visas in Hungary?

“Most like US citizens can stay 90 days w/o a visa. This is plenty of time to secure a year or longer (temp) residency. All included it is less than $100 USD. Must however provide proof of income/pension/savings and proof of health insurance,” said one expat living in Budapest.

“There are agencies to help you with papers. Coming over the one thing you can save a bit of money on is translating your documents (birth, marriage, divorce) into Hungarian and have the embassy in the US sign and accept them by a notary. Having things officially translated and notarized here is very expensive because only ONE source is acceptable to authorities,” wrote a member in Budapest.

“The rules changed about my citizenship rights while we were en route. We expected to have no problems with that because we’d been married a very long time but now I have to be a resident for 5 years and pass a test before citizenship is granted. The documentation was not an easy road and would not have been possible if my husband was not fluent in Hungarian. We had some challenges getting his Hungarian passport too but we were all set within the first year,” commented one expat who made the move to Nagykanizsa.

“In regards to residency of course it helps if you have Hungarian ancestry for citizenship, but I suggest an immigration lawyer or agency to manage a retirement residency,” remarked one expat living in Budapest.

“If you plan to stay in Hungary for a while, you will need to apply for a residence permit. Depending on the purpose of your stay, you may need to apply for a long-term visa or a residence permit. You will need to provide documents such as a valid passport, proof of financial means, proof of accommodation, and a valid health insurance policy. Additionally, you may need to provide a criminal record certificate and a statement of purpose,” wrote one member in Hungary.

“Getting a residence permit can be a bit of a tricky situation, but again, with a good immigration lawyer. It is managable despite having to deal with the long lines at the immigration office which has been a bit chaotic due to the influx of refugees from Ukraine,” remarked one expat who made the move to Budapest.

“The process is quite straight forward although it can take a few weeks for residency cards to be processed,” commented one expat living in Budapest, Hungary.

“In order to visit Hungary, foreign nationals must obtain a visa prior to their arrival. The process of applying for a visa involves submitting an application form, a valid passport, a passport-sized photograph, and proof of sufficient funds to cover the duration of the stay. Depending on the purpose of the visit, additional documents may be required. In order to obtain residency in Hungary, foreign nationals must submit an application to the Immigration Office. The application must include a valid passport, a passport-sized photograph, proof of sufficient funds to cover the duration of the stay, and proof of employment or other legal source of income. Depending on the purpose of the stay, additional documents may be required. Once the application is approved, the foreign national will be issued a residence permit,” mentioned one expat living in Hungary.

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

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