- Affordable Cost of Living: Hungary has a lower cost of living than many Western European countries, with affordable housing and dining alternatives.
- Advantageous Location: Hungary’s central location in Europe makes it easier to travel and conduct business with other European countries.
- Quality Healthcare: The healthcare system in Hungary is well-regarded and generally accessible at a lower cost than many Western nations.
- Strong Economy: Hungary’s economy is thriving, offering opportunities in a variety of industries, including technology, manufacturing, and services.
- Education: Hungary offers a variety of prominent universities and educational institutes, which attract international students.
- Friendly community: The Hungarian people are known for their hospitality, making it easier for newcomers to settle in.
- Language Barrier: Hungarian is challenging for many foreigners, and English is not always widely spoken outside major cities.
- Economic Disparities: While the economy is growing, regional disparities remain, with some areas facing higher unemployment and lower wages.
- Lower Salaries: Compared to Western Europe, salaries in Hungary are generally lower, which can affect the standard of living and savings potential for expatriates.
Citizens of the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) do not require a work visa or permit for Hungary. However, non-EU and EEA nationals require both. Hungarian employers are responsible for the majority of the application process, including providing documents to the authorities.
EU Blue Card:
A highly skilled worker from any EU member country can get an EU Blue Card with a residence permit. To be eligible, they must prove 18 months of lawful stay in a member state.
Seasonal Employment Visa:
Individuals working in agriculture, horticulture, fishing, animal husbandry, etc, must hold a work permit and seasonal employment visa. The person can work for over 3 months but less than 6 months.
Schengen Business Visa:
Non-European citizens travelling to a Schengen country for short-term business purposes can get this visa for single or multiple entries. The person can stay for 90 days.
Working Schengen Visa:
Anyone travelling to Hungary for short-term employment opportunities.
Digital nomads and remote workers staying in Hungary for more than 90 days within 6 months must obtain a White Card visa if they work for a foreign company or manage a business remotely. The White Card prohibits income-generating activities in Hungary, requires you to remain on your company’s payroll outside Hungary, and disallows holding shares in a Hungarian company. Valid for one year and extendable to two years, the application process is similar to other visas. If you lack a Schengen visa exemption, get a single-entry Type D visa to enter Hungary and apply for the White Card within 30 days. This visa is for non-EU/EEA citizens, as EU/EEA citizens can work in Hungary without a permit.
In November 2023, the Hungarian government proposed a new residency permit for investors, available from July 1, 2024, exclusively for non-EU and non-EEA citizens. Investors can choose from three options: purchasing residential property, investing in local real estate funds, or donating to an institution of higher learning, with a minimum investment of €250,000. The Golden Visa residence permit is valid for 10 years and can be extended once for the same period. Previously, investors could obtain temporary residency by purchasing real estate for at least €155,000, and until 2017, there was a permanent residency by investment program.
The Guest Investor Visa allows entry into Hungary for up to 6 months to apply for a residence permit by investment. It permits stays of up to 90 days within 180 days and allows multiple entries. To be eligible, the investor must:
- Provide written confirmation of their intention to meet the investment conditions, benefiting Hungary’s national economic interests.
- Have health insurance or sufficient funds to cover medical expenses.
- Show proof of funds for travel and living expenses for their stay.
- Confirm the investment capital comes from a legitimate source and is sufficient for the investment.
- Not be subject to deportation or pose a threat to Hungary’s national policy, social security, national security, or public healthcare.
- Be a non-EU and non-EEA citizen.
The investment must be made within 93 days of first entering Hungary with the Guest Investor Visa, which becomes invalid once a 10-year residence permit is issued.
- Employers must fulfil a number of procedures before obtaining work permits for each employee. To encourage jobless Hungarian citizens to apply, post a job advertisement in the Hungarian Labour Office for a period of fifteen days. Next, send a legitimate manpower request to the labour centre’s regional branch. There are quotas for foreign workers in Hungary, and the total number of work permits you are able to issue to foreign nationals cannot surpass the average number of workers that companies requested in the preceding year.
- Employers can then proceed according to the streamlined or general process. After the employer applies, the labour centre will decide whether or not you can obtain a work permit in the final 10 to 30 days. The labour centre will supply you with a resolution after it is approved.
- To apply for a Hungary Guest Investor Visa and residence by investment, the investor should provide:
- Passport with at least 12 months validity
- Two 3×4 cm photos taken within the last month
- Health insurance
- Proof of legitimate income
- Written confirmation of the intention to meet investment conditions
- Bank statement showing cash balance
- CV for each family member over 18
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate if applicable
- Completed residence permit form for residency application
- When applying for a residence permit, additional documents proving fulfilment of investment conditions are required, such as:
- Share certificate for real estate fund units
- Purchase and sale agreement for real estate
- Certificate from the institution of higher learning if donating
Step 1: Get a job offer
Step 2: Fill out the application form
Step 3: Complete the document checklist
Step 4: Submit the application
Step 5: Await an answer
Work Visa Processing Time
The Migration Department of Hungary may take up to three months or longer to process your work visa application. Upon approval, you must provide a resolution detailing the employer’s information, workplace details, job description, work activities, and employment terms.
Step 1: Preliminary due diligence
Immigrant Invest conducts a confidential preliminary check of an investor to identify and minimize the risk of denial, carried out by Certified Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officers who are experts in due diligence across various countries.
Step 2: Document preparation
Immigrant Invest lawyers provide a document list for the Guest Investor Visa application; the investor submits the originals, and the lawyers handle translation and notarization.
Step 3: Guest Investor Visa Application
The Guest Investor Visa is valid for up to 6 months, during which the investor must visit Hungary, meet the investment requirements, and apply for a residence permit.
Step 4: Travelling to Hungary and fulfilling investment condition
Upon arriving in Hungary on the Guest Investor Visa, the applicant must fulfil the investment condition within 3 months by purchasing fund units, real estate, or donating to a higher learning institution. If opting for fund units or a donation, securing a residential property is necessary to establish a registration address for obtaining a residence permit.
Step 5: Applying for Hungarian RP
Once the investment condition is met, the investor can apply for a residence permit in person at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing or online via the Enter Hungary platform, with online applications required if a legal representative is involved; processing takes several days, after which the investor can schedule an appointment with a migration office online if approved.
Step 6: Submitting biometrics and getting a residence permit card
At the scheduled time, the investor visits the migration office to provide their passport, and original documents, submit biometrics, and have their photo taken for the residence permit card, mailed to them within 21 days.
Step 7: Extending residence permit
Hungary’s residency by investment is valid for 10 years and can be extended once for an additional 10 years. To extend, the investor must prove the investments are still valid; if the property value drops below €500,000 or is sold, a new qualifying property must be purchased.
- Employment: €110
- Blue Card: €110
- Seasonal Employment: €110
- Private Business: €110