Visa

Since 21 December 2007, Hungary has been a member of the Schengen Area, and applies the Schengen legislation in full.
(At present, 26 states, 22 of the 28 member states of the European Union, as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are part of the Schengen Area.)

Significant changes subsequent to Hungary’s Schengen membership are:

  • visas and residence permits issued by one of the Schengen States are valid for Hungary too,
  • visas issued by Hungarian representations abroad and residence permits issued by Hungarian national authorities are also valid for the entire Schengen Area. 

The visa sticker, designed with the same appearance for all Schengen States, bears the words “valid for Schengen States”. The Schengen visa and entry regulations are only applicable for a stay not exceeding 90 days within a 180 days period. Rules relating to stays exceeding 90 days are laid down in the national law of the member states concerned.

Persons with the Right of Free Movement and Residence


Right of entry and residence for a period not exceeding 90 days
Citizens of the EEA (EU + Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland may enter the territory of Hungary with a valid travel document or personal identification document and have the right of residence for a period not exceeding 90 days from the date of entry.
Family members of the above mentioned citizens who are not citizens of EEA states but are citizens of third countries and family members of a Hungarian citizen or an EEA citizen may enter the territory of Hungary with a valid travel document and – unless otherwise prescribed by any directly applicable EU legislation or an international agreement – with a valid visa.

Right of residence for a period exceeding three months

Students who are EEA citizens can reside in Hungary for more than three months if they are enrolled at an education institution offering accredited programmes. Within ninety-three days from the time of entry, such students have to register at the regional directorate of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. At the time of registration, students should be able to present a certificate of admission issued by the education institution or any other document for the verification of their student status. The registration certificate has no expiry date, and is valid together with a valid travel document or personal identification document.
The spouse and children of students who satisfy the above-mentioned requirements shall have the right of residence for a period exceeding three months.

Third Country Nationals (Non-EU & EEA citizens)
 

Third country nationals are required to have a visa for entering the territory of Hungary and also for a stay of up to 90 days within a 180 days period if they come from a country that is under visa obligation according to the Schengen acquis. It is worth to check, if your country has a bilateral agreement with Hungary, because in this case there is no need of getting a visa. The visa application has to be submitted to the Hungarian Consulate in the country where the permanent or temporary residence of the applicant is located or in the country of the applicant’s nationality.

If third country nationals wish to stay longer than three months, they need to have a valid travel document, the necessary permits for return or continued travel and they should be able to verify the purpose of entry and stay. They should have both accommodation and enough financial resources to cover their costs plus a full healthcare insurance or sufficient financial resources necessary for taking out healthcare services. A residence permit authorizes third-country nationals to reside in Hungary for a period of minimum 90 days but not exceeding two years. The application for a residence permit should be submitted to the Hungarian Consulate in the country where the permanent or temporary residence of the applicant is located or in the country of the applicant’s nationality and will be judged by the competent Hungarian regional directorate. Those already residing in Hungary can submit their application directly to the competent regional directorate.

Students who are third-country nationals can obtain a residence permit if they have full time legal student relationship with a registered Hungarian public educational institution working in line with the public education information system. The same rules are applied in the case when third country nationals wish to stay in Hungary in order to carry on full time studies organized by a state-recognized higher education institution, or to participate in a preparatory course for studies organized by a state-recognized higher education institution and can prove to meet the language skill requirements.

Researchers can get a residence permit when their purpose of stay is to carry out a research project under a hosting agreement concluded with a research organization accredited in line with specific legislation.

For citizens of third countries, the Immigration Office issues a new biometric document, the EU Blue Card, a work permit and a residence permit enabling highly-skilled non-EU citizens to work and live EU-wide. The EU Blue Card is valid for a period of minimum 1 year and maximum 4 years. After 4 years, the card can be renewed for another 4 years. Blue Card holders are granted the same social and labour rights as the citizens of the receiving country.
Since 1st January 2014 as a result of law changes a single application procedure aims the authorization of the establishment of a legal employment relationship of the third-country nationals with a specific employer in the territory of Hungary on the basis of his application for more than ninety days.
The single permit is a residence permit, which entitles the third country national to establish residence and legal employment relationship with a specific employer in the territory of Hungary.

Cases of single application procedures:

  • In case the stay of the third country national submitting an application for residence permit for gainful activity aims the establishment of a legal employment relationship with a specific employer;
  • In case the third-country national intends to establish a legal employment relationship, and he/she submits a residence permit application for family reunification, or submits an application for EU Blue Card;
  • In case the third-country national intends to establish a legal employment relationship, and he/she is in possession of a residence permit issued for family reunification, or is in possession of an EU Blue Card.

Work permission for students from third countries:

Students from a third country carrying out regular studies in Hungary as part of a cooperation programme can pursue income earning activities full time in their term-time for a maximum of thirty hours weekly, and sixty-six working days beyond their term-time or during a period not exceeding ninety days.

National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing

1117 Budapest, Budafoki Street 60.     
http://www.bmbah.hu/index.php?lang=en (in Hungarian and English language)
Email address: migracio@oif.gov.hu     
Phone:
+36 1 463 9100 (Central Office)            
+36 1 463 9292 (Call Center - Mo-Thu: 8.00-16.00, Friday: 8.00-13.30)

Missions of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (embassies, consulates abroad)

https://konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu/en/embassies