Residence permit for non EU citizens
If you are not an EU citizen, you will need to apply for a residence permit at your local immigration office before your visa expires. In the first year, you will receive a visa at the consulate, with which you can travel to Hungary. However, this visa is only valid for 30 days from the date of entry into the Schengen area. During these 30 days, you must visit the Hungarian immigration office to arrange registration of the address and obtain a final residence permit in Schengen. If you are not an EU citizen, you can get a residence permit in Hungary from the Hungarian Immigration Office for the second year. This entire procedure can last up to 30 days, during which you must confirm your residence and work through an employment contract or work permit.
EU blue card
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit issued by one of the EU countries in accordance with the EU employment program.
To apply for a blue card, the applicant must:
- have a valid employment contract or a mandatory job offer for highly qualified work for a period of at least 1 year
- meet the minimum threshold wage in the member state concerned
- for regulated professions:
- provide documents which are confirmed compliance with the requirements of national legislation
- for unregulated professions:
- provide documents which are confirmed the relevant higher professional qualifications
- present a valid travel document, visa or visa application (if necessary), and a valid residence permit or national long-term visa (if necessary)
- present a document which are confirmed the availability of health insurance (or proof that he has applied).
Furthermore, in the member state's view, the applicant should not pose a threat to public order. They may also be required to provide their address in that member state.
—
What should be the salary to get a blue card?
The annual gross salary resulting from the monthly or annual salary specified in the employment contract or mandatory job offer must be equal to or higher than the relevant salary threshold determined by the member state.
—
Some member states apply the labor market test (LMT). This is a mechanism that aims to ensure that migrant workers are allowed only after employers unsuccessfully search for national employees, EU citizens (in EU member states this also means EEA employees) or third-country nationals who legally reside and have access to the labor market in accordance with national law.
—
What is the validity period of the Blue Card?
In Hungary, the EU Blue Card is issued for a period from one to four years. If the employment contract is smaller, an EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the contract plus three months. The EU blue card can be extended for four years.
—
How much will it cost to apply for a blue card?
Initial Blue Card fee: 38 000 HUF. The upgrade will cost 35 000 HUF. For more information follow the link.
—
How long will it take to issue a blue card?
The national law provides that the maximum processing time for issuing a blue card in Hungary is 90 days.
Permanent residence
For non-EU citizens
In the first year, you will receive a visa at the consulate, with which you can travel to Hungary. This visa is valid for 30 days from the date of entry into the Schengen area. During this period, you will need to contact the Hungarian immigration office in person to obtain a final residence permit in Schengen and arrange for registration of the address.
In the second year, non-EU citizens can obtain a residence permit from the Hungarian Immigration Authority. You need to confirm your place of work (work permit and employment contract) and housing (namely lease agreement).
—
Who can get an immigration card?
An immigration card can be obtained by a person who:
- has been permanently residing in Hungary for at least 3 years
- wasn’t absent from Hungary for more than 90 days a year and now lives in Hungary.
- The following individuals can apply for an immigration card as early as one year later:
- People of Hungarian origin or those who have/had Hungarian relatives
- People who are married to a Hungarian citizen or foreigner who have a Hungarian Immigration Card (who have been married for 24 months).
—
What does a permanent residence permit allow?
- You can get a job in Hungary
- You have the right to unlimited entry and long-term stay in the country.
Temporary residence permit
Currently, only citizens of New Zealand, Taiwan, Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Korea and Japan, as well as residents of Hong Kong, have a temporary residence permit.
A temporary residence permit may be issued to a citizen of a third country:
- which suits the conditions defined by the regulations on the functioning of the working leave program, and can confirm this implementation with the relevant documents
- which isn’t subject to expulsion or exclusion and is not considered a threat to the public safety or health or national security of Hungary
- for those who have not been issued a warning about refusal of entry and residence.
—
What is the procedure for obtaining a temporary residence permit?
- To obtain a temporary residence permit, the applicant must appear in person if he is unable to appear for health reasons
- The applicant must submit the completed form along with all other required documents and pay the processing fee
- Applicants aged 6 years and older will be photographed and fingerprinted before the permit is issued.
- Applications for a residence permit, with exceptions defined by law, are submitted to a consular official or other places authorized to accept applications for a residence permit that are valid in the applicant's country of permanent residence or citizenship
- If the regional directorate provides the applicant with a residence permit, a residence visa can also be issued at the same time, of course, everything will depend on the decision of the regional director
- The applicant may ask the police department for foreigners to send him a residence permit by mail or pick up the document in person at the regional directorate
- If the application is rejected by the authorities, the applicant may file an objection with the body that made the decision of the first instance within 8 days from the date of notification of the decision. The administrative services fee for appeals is HUF 5,500.
—
What documents do you need to submit to obtain a temporary place of residence?
- A birth certificate
- Adoption certificate (if any)
- Marriage certificate (if any)
- Certificate of kinship with an EEA citizen
- Certificate of financial support; certificate of health insurance
- The proof of residence.
—
What is the processing time for a temporary residence application?
The decision on a residence permit is made by the competent authority within 21 days.
—
What is the validity period of a temporary residence permit?
The temporary residence permit is valid for 1 year.
—
EEA citizens must report their place of residence to the Regional Office of jurisdiction. The client must personally report to the competent authority to obtain a registration certificate.
Naturalization and acquisition of citizenship
You can get Hungarian citizenship by naturalization. The procedure is different in each individual case.
—
What is naturalization?
Naturalization is the last step in the process of integration into the Hungarian way of life. This gives you the right to vote and run.
Since Hungary recognizes dual citizenship, applicants for a Hungarian passport do not risk losing their original citizenship, provided that the country of Origin also allows dual citizenship.
—
There is a regular naturalization procedure and a simplified naturalization procedure for people who are already members of a Hungarian family.
Regular naturalization
What are the conditions for obtaining citizenship through regular naturalization?
- People may apply for naturalization as a Hungarian citizen after 8 years of continuous residence in Hungary if they:
- they have no criminal record at all
- have a stable lifestyle
- have a good character
- passed the test on basic constitutional knowledge.
- Individuals can apply for naturalization after 5 years of residence in Hungary if they:
- born in Hungary
- or lived in Hungary until the age of 18
- or are stateless persons.
- Individuals can apply for naturalization after 3 years of residence in Hungary if they:
- spouses of Hungarian citizens who have been married for three years (or are widows or widowers)
- parents of minor children of a Hungarian citizen
- people who are adopted by Hungarian citizens
- or recognized as refugees.
- Individuals may apply for naturalization if they:
- spouses of Hungarian citizens who have been married for at least ten years
- or spouses of Hungarian citizens who have been married for at least five years and have a child together
- they can provide proof of proficiency in Hungarian.
Applicants over the age of 60, people with limited legal capacity and persons with a Hungarian language diploma (from a Hungarian institution) may be exempt from the constitutional training requirement.
—
How long does the procedure take?
It is assumed that the application review time is 3 months, but usually the decision is made 6-8 months after the application is submitted.
Simplified naturalization
A simplified naturalization procedure is the process of acquiring Hungarian citizenship on the basis of a Hungarian ancestor or marriage to a Hungarian citizen, if, among other things, the applicant has at least an average level of knowledge of the Hungarian language.
—
Who can apply?
An applicant may lodge a simplified naturalization application if
his / her ancestor was a Hungarian citizen or probably of Hungarian descent
or has been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least ten years
or was married to a Hungarian citizen for five years and had children
confirms knowledge of the Hungarian language (this is checked by the body that accepts the application)
according to Hungarian law, he/she has no criminal record and no criminal proceedings have been opened against the applicant
his / her naturalization does not violate the public and national security of Hungary.
—
What is the method of applying for simplified naturalization?
The application must be submitted in person after making an appointment.
An adult applicant (over the age of 18) can apply in person. Under the age of 18, the application can be submitted by a legal representative on behalf of a minor applicant.
Important: all applicants, regardless of age (namely everyone who applies for Hungarian citizenship) must be present when applying.
For applicants under the age of 18, a statement of consent from both parents must be attached (namely, both parents must appear at the time of application). If only one of the parents is present at the time of submitting the application, the application must be accompanied by an application for the consent of the absent parent, certified by a notary or the Hungarian consulate. If the parents are divorced or one of the parents is under guardianship, you must attach documents confirming these situations.
—
For more information about the documents that need to be submitted, follow the link.
—
What is the duration of the procedure?
The process usually lasts 3 months, which can be extended by 60 days. The application review period does not include any additional time required, for example, to verify additional documents that the authorities require from the applicant.
—
How much does it cost?
The procedure is free of charge. Expenses that may be: authentication of submitted original documents (translations / copies) - if they must be certified by the consulate.
Eligibility for residence permit in Hungary for foreign investors
Non-EU nationals, as well as their spouses and children under 18 years of age, can apply for a residence permit in Hungary by investing in one of the following options:
1. Real estate investment fund
- Acquisition of investment certificates issued by a real estate fund registered with the National Bank of Hungary for a minimum amount of EUR 250,000
- Conditions:
- At least 40% of the fund's assets must be invested in Hungarian residential real estate.
- Investments must be held for at least five years.
- The fund managers must have a financial license and comply with the fund management policy.
- Fund managers must have a facility security certificate or be registered with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
2. Acquisition of real estate (note: effective from January 1, 2025)
- Acquisition of residential real estate in Hungary with a value of at least EUR 500,000.
- Conditions:
- The property must be exclusively residential and free from disputes, encumbrances and claims.
- A five-year ban on sale or encumbrance must be registered in the land registry.
- The main applicant must have a minimum share of ownership of EUR 500,000.
- The property transfer tax is 4% based on the market value.
- Rental income is subject to 15% personal income tax.
3. Donation to a Hungarian public fund
At least EUR 1 million to a higher education institution run by a non-governmental organization.
Application process and deadlines
- Obtain a guest investor visa. Declare your investment intention when applying for a visa, although no actual investment is required at this stage.
- After obtaining the visa, the applicant must come to Hungary and complete their investment within three months and apply for a residence permit.
- The residence permit application with proof of investment must be submitted at the immigration office or via the Enter Hungary electronic platform within 93 days. Once all the requirements are met, no further travel to Hungary is required.
- The application processing time is approximately 21 business days.
- Obtain a temporary residence permit valid for 10 years. The permit can be extended for another 10 years provided that the investment is maintained.
Please note: the spouse and children of the main applicant who meet the requirements will receive a long-term residence permit valid for 10 years with the possibility of extension for another 10 years, provided that the investment is maintained.
Advantages of obtaining a residence permit in Hungary through investment
- A quick way to obtain a residence permit in Europe.
- No requirements for a minimum period of stay
- The permit covers spouse and children under 18 years of age.
The right to obtain Hungarian citizenship
After three years of residence in the country with a temporary residence permit, investors can apply for permanent residence, and after eight years, they are eligible for citizenship. Starting from January 1, 2025, a Hungarian culture test will be required for both permanent residence and citizenship.
Hungary