Moving to Hungary allows an expat to enjoy life in one of the EU countries, get a job with a high level of payment, a prestigious education and high-quality medical care. Find out what methods of moving to Hungary are available to a foreigner in 2024

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Hungary is an attractive country for expats from Morocco, Uzbekistan, Nepal and other countries of the world to move to because it can offer a high standard of living, decent wages and a strong social sphere. There are many ways to obtain a residence permit in Hungary, the most common of which are investment, business establishment, employment and family reunification.

The main ways to obtain a residence permit in Hungary are discussed later in this article.

Residence permit for foreign investors - Golden visa of Hungary

From July 1, 2024, the "Golden Visa" program resumed operation in Hungary. From now on, a foreigner can get a residence permit in the country if he invests at least 250,000 euros in the state's economy.

The residence permit is valid for 10 years, and it can also be extended for another 10 years.

Available attachment options:

1. Purchase of a share of a real estate fund for at least 250,000 euros;

2. Purchase of residential real estate for 500,000 euros;

3. A donation of at least EUR 1,000,000 to a Hungarian higher education institution.

Requirements for applicants:

- be over 18 years old;

- not to be a citizen of the EU and the EEA;

- have medical insurance;

- have a legitimate source of income.

An investor can move to Hungary together with his family: spouse, minor children, parents who are financially dependent on the investor or the investor's spouse.

White map of Hungary for digital nomads

The Hungarian White Card, also known as the digital nomad visa, is intended for individuals who wish to live and work remotely in Hungary for up to 1 year. They can be employees of foreign companies or entrepreneurs who manage a business. Freelancers and self-employed workers are not considered digital nomads in Hungary.

A resident with a white card cannot apply for permanent residence in Hungary.

Requirements for applicants to obtain a White Card of Hungary

1. Get a job - a company or business cannot be registered and work in Hungary.

2. Have an income of at least 3,000 euros per month.

3. Live in Hungary. This means that the white card holder must stay in the country for more than 90 days in any 180 period. Leaving Hungary for travel is allowed.

4. Do not engage in profitable activities in Hungary and do not hold shares in a Hungarian company.

A resident with a White Card cannot add a family member to the program.

Employment permit for employees

Several types of residence permits are approved in Hungary: the most common are the Hungarian work visa and the EU blue card. The work visa is intended for a wide range of professionals, while the Blue Card is intended for highly skilled professionals with higher salaries.

A work visa is issued for 4 months, and as soon as the worker enters Hungary with the visa, he applies for a residence permit. Usually the permit is valid for 1 year and can be extended.

Blue Card is issued for 1-4 years with the possibility of extension.

Requirements for applicants for work permits in Hungary

The main requirement for obtaining a permit is to sign an employment contract with a Hungarian company. For this, a potential employee must confirm his qualifications and language skills and find a job.

An employee who intends to obtain an EU Blue Card must have a salary that is 50% higher than the average salary in Hungary (around 2,500 euros per month on average).

On the basis of a work permit, you can move with your family.

Residence permit in Hungary for foreign students

 Foreigners who plan to study in Hungary for more than three months must obtain a residence permit. It allows you to study at a high school, college, university, or other secondary or higher education institution. Also, the basis for issuing a permit is a preparatory course organized by the university.

Requirements for applicants to obtain a residence permit based on studies in Hungary

To obtain a residence permit as a student, a foreigner must meet several criteria:

- be admitted to an accredited institution as a full-time student;

- confirm knowledge of the language in accordance with the requirements of the curriculum;

- have a passport valid for the period of study;

- have appropriate accommodation;

- have sufficient financial resources;

- have medical insurance.

The permit is valid for students for the duration of their studies, if it does not exceed 2 years. When the period of study is more than 2 years, the permit can be extended.

A student with a permit can work in Hungary for up to 24 hours a week during the semester. Holidays and breaks – 66 working days per year.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

Residence permit in Hungary based on marriage

The wife of a resident or citizen of Hungary receives a residence permit through marriage, which must be registered in advance. The couple applies for permission on the basis of family reunification.

The wife submits an application at the nearest consulate, paying a fee of 60 euros.

Family reunification in Hungary

A non-EU citizen living in Hungary can bring non-EU family members with them. This applies to both temporary and permanent residents of Hungary.

The following family members have the right to receive a residence permit:

- minor children of the main applicant or his wife;

- parents who are dependent on the main applicant or spouse;

- brothers and sisters or direct relatives of the main applicant or spouse, if they cannot provide for themselves due to their health.

A family member must submit an application with confirmation of family ties to the nearest consulate. The commission is 60 euros.

Residence permit for interns and volunteers

Students who completed an internship in a Hungarian company and foreigners who participate in a social or humanitarian project of a non-governmental organization receive a residence permit for the duration of their stay. Interns and volunteers must provide documents confirming their participation in the project or activity.

Residence permit for refugees in Hungary

A foreigner forced to leave his country due to persecution or risk of serious harm can apply for asylum in Hungary. To obtain permission for refugee status, they apply to the Asylum Department of the Regional Directorate immediately after entering Hungary. Their family members can also be recognized as refugees.

Hungary has many ways to obtain a residence permit, so choose the best one for you depending on the purpose of your trip and embark on a mysterious journey.

We will remind you! Expats who plan to live in Hungary must have a residence permit, which is divided into temporary and permanent. We have already told you how to get a document and what changes to the permit procedure Hungary will introduce in 2025.

Igor Usyk - Head of Legal Department at Visit World

To ensure a safe move to Hungary, I advise you to contact a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration abroad.

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