Visas for Hungary

All foreigners require a passport valid for at least three months and issued within the last 10 years to enter Hungary. Hungary is part of the Schengen area, and citizens of EU and EEA states don’t need a visa to enter the country; all they need is either their passport or European identity card.

Citizens of a select number of non-EU countries, including the US, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and Brazil, do not need a visa, but those who do need a visa for Hungary have to apply for a Schengen visa. As a Schengen Area member since 2007, Hungary follows EU-wide visa policies, which means the process is generally well-established but can be quite competitive during peak seasons, with appointment slots filling up months in advance.

Visitor visas for Hungary

Schengen visas allow visitors to stay in Hungary for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. These visas work across all 29 Schengen countries, so you’re not restricted to Hungary alone. To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need to gather the required documents, complete the visa application form and submit it to the Hungarian consulate or embassy in your home country before you travel. You’ll need the following documents:

• Valid passport (issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least three months beyond departure)
• Completed application form in capital letters
• Two recent passport-style photographs
• Proof of travel health insurance covering the entire Schengen area
• Proof of return flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation with booking references
• Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of your trip (bank statements from the last three months)

Processing time can vary, so apply well before your departure date. The standard processing time is 15 calendar days, although this can extend to 45 days during busy periods or if additional documentation is needed. Summer months (June-August) see the longest delays, with some sources recommending you apply at least eight weeks in advance during peak season.

If applying for a Schengen visa to travel to Hungary for business purposes, you’ll usually need to include a letter of invitation from the Hungarian business party and a letter from your local employer stating your duties in Hungary. The business visa still restricts you to business activities – you can’t undertake employment.

In some cases, applicants may be asked to provide additional documents at the discretion of the Hungarian embassy or consulate. It’s common to be asked for proof of employment and residence in their home country to indicate that they will return home after their trip.

Once granted the Schengen visa, it is still best for expats to bring their documents with them on their trip; in some cases, the border officers may request them. All applications require an in-person appointment where you’ll submit documents and provide biometric data (fingerprints).

Long-stay visas for Hungary

Foreigners intending to stay in the country for longer than 90 days need to secure a long-stay visa for Hungary. Depending on the purpose of your stay in Hungary, you can apply for a work, study, family reunification, working holiday, or digital nomad long-stay visa.

You should apply for a long-stay visa before entering the country. Successful non-EU applicants will be granted a single-entry visa to collect their residence permit. The long-stay visa is typically valid for up to one year, although you must apply for a residence permit within 30 to 93 days of arrival (depending on your nationality and visa-free status). Processing times range from 21 to 70 days, significantly longer than short-stay visas, so apply early.

Residence permits for Hungary

After arriving in Hungary on a long-stay visa, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit within 30 days. The permit allows you to apply for address registration, which is renewable and valid for a year. Long-term resident status is granted for both EU and non-EU nationals after five years of continuous stay in an EU country. This residence permit will be valid for three years and is renewable for another three years.

For EU/EEA nationals and other nationalities that do not need a visa to enter Hungary, a residence permit can be applied for at the Office of Immigration and Nationality in Hungary after arrival. This should be done within the first 93 days of being in the country. Upon the issuing of a residence permit, EU citizens will be given a registration card, and an address card will be posted to them.

The Registration Card is only valid if presented with your Address Card and passport. The documentation required to secure a residence permit depends on the purpose of your stay in Hungary.

Hungary offers multiple residence permit types following the 2024 immigration reforms. These include permits for employment, study, family reunification, self-employment, investment (the Golden Visa), and for digital nomads. Processing times for residence permits are generally 30 days, although study permits can be processed within 15 days.

From 2025, new applicants for permanent residency must pass a Hungarian culture and history exam conducted in Hungarian. The exam consists of 12 questions about Hungarian and European culture, to be completed within 60 minutes.

Once you have a valid residence permit and card, you can apply for tax and social security cards. You’ll need a work and residence permit to secure employment in Hungary. Benefits include visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and after three years of continuous residency, you become eligible for permanent residence.

Work Permits for Hungary

Useful links

• National Directorate-General for Aliens and Policing
• EnterHungary Portal

Visa requirements can change at short notice, and expats should contact their respective embassy or consulate for the latest details.