EuropeSelect the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Hungary.
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan). Valid 3 years for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We apply on your behalf end-to-end. Fees illustrative.
Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism: up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare your forms and documents; you attend the consulate/VFS appointment to submit biometrics. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Transit Visa
Required by some nationalities to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering. Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
Short-stay visa for business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations): up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare forms and documents; you submit at the consulate/VFS. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Not yet researched
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
For stays over 90 days to study. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. We guide you; submission is in person. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Student Visa
For full-time students admitted to accredited Hungarian higher-education institutions, registered schools, or university preparatory courses; applicants must show the language skills needed for the course. Issued for 1–3 years (matched to the course) and extendable in-country via Enter Hungary; students may work up to 30 hours/week during term and full-time up to 90 days/year outside term. Graduates can switch to a 9-month job-search/business-start permit; student years do not count toward the national residence card.
Internship / Trainee Visa
For trainees with a traineeship contract at a government-approved host organisation who hold a higher-education degree obtained within the last 2 years or are currently enrolled in a degree programme. Issued for the traineeship duration, maximum 6 months, and cannot be extended; holders cannot switch to other residence permits in-country. The host must commit to covering potential return costs.
Not yet researched
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
Residence permit for third-country nationals who work remotely for a foreign employer or own a profitable foreign company managed from Hungary; no gainful activity in Hungary or shareholding in a Hungarian company is allowed. Requires verified net income of at least EUR 3,000 per month for the 6 months before entry, maintained during the stay. Valid up to 1 year, extendable once for 1 more year; it does not lead to the national residence card (permanent residence). Fee: EUR 110 at consulates, HUF 26,000 via Enter Hungary.
Self-Employment Visa
For third-country nationals pursuing independent gainful activity in Hungary (sole traders) or acting as chief executive of their own Hungarian business. Initial validity up to 1 year, extendable to a maximum of 3 years total, with a regular reporting obligation; family reunification is blocked for the first year and the route does not lead to the national residence card. Applicants must prove sufficient funds for subsistence, accommodation, healthcare and return travel.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Post-study/post-research bridge permit: graduates of Hungarian institutions and researchers who completed their research may stay to seek employment matching their qualification level or to start a business. Valid 9 months, non-extendable and non-renewable; applications are made in-country via Enter Hungary at least 15 days before the current permit expires. Hungary has no separate startup visa — this is the only named business-start route besides guest self-employment.
Skilled Work Visa
For stays over 90 days to work. Requires employer sponsorship / a work permit before you can apply, so eligibility is conditional. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Skilled Work Visa
General single-permit work route under the 2024 immigration law (Act XC of 2023) for third-country nationals with a Hungarian employment contract; tied to the sponsoring employer. Valid up to 2 years, extendable to a maximum of 3 years in total; holders cannot obtain the national residence card (permanent residence) and family reunification is restricted. Employer applications go through the Enter Hungary platform (HUF 26,000; EUR 110 at consulates).
Skilled Work Visa
For highly qualified third-country workers with tertiary education (or equivalent experience) and an employment contract of at least 6 months. The 2026 gross monthly salary threshold is HUF 1,001,048 (reduced threshold HUF 800,838 for designated shortage/healthcare occupations). Issued for up to 4 years and renewable; Blue Card time counts toward the EU residence card (EU long-term residence) after 5 years. Fee HUF 39,000 in person / HUF 26,000 via Enter Hungary / EUR 110 at consulates.
Seasonal Work Visa
For guest workers in legally designated seasonal sectors: plant production, forestry, animal breeding and fishery. Issued for up to 6 months, extendable by a further 6 months within a 12-month period; employment is tied to the sponsoring employer and the permit lapses shortly after the job ends. Expedited 15-day processing is available for compliant repeat seasonal workers.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
For managers and specialists (university degree or vocational training plus experience) and graduate trainees transferred from a third-country entity to a Hungarian host within the same corporate group, after at least 3 months of prior group employment. Managers/specialists: up to 3 years total; trainees: up to 1 year; long-term EU mobility permits are available for ICT holders from other member states. Does not lead to the national residence card.
Not yet researched
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Relaunched golden visa (July 2024): invest at least EUR 250,000 in investment fund units of a real-estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank, or donate at least EUR 1,000,000 to a Hungarian public higher-education institution. Applicants first obtain a guest investor visa (EUR 110) at a consulate, then apply for the residence permit within 30 days of entry; the permit is valid 10 years and extendable once for another 10, with unrestricted work rights and family reunification on matching 10-year terms. Holders are exempt from the national residence card route but enjoy near-permanent status directly.
Residence by Real Estate
The direct residential real-estate route of the 2024 golden-visa relaunch was scrapped in January 2025 before it ever opened (it had been postponed from its planned 1 January 2025 start). Only the EUR 250,000 fund and EUR 1,000,000 donation options operate.
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
Hungary's flexible 'other purpose' permit — previously used by financially independent persons, retirees and language students — was abolished by the new immigration law (Act XC of 2023) effective 1 January 2024. Hungary now has no passive-income/retirement or standalone language-study residence route.
Not yet researched
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Working Holiday Visa
Hungary issues a temporary residence permit to working-holidaymakers under bilateral agreements with 10 partners: Australia (quota 500/yr), Argentina (200), Chile (200), Hong Kong (200), Japan (200), South Korea (100), Ecuador (100), Colombia (100), Taiwan (100) and New Zealand (100). Duration follows each agreement (typically 12 months); the permit cannot be extended and applications are refused once the annual quota is exhausted. Applicants must show funds, accommodation, insurance and a passport valid at least 1 year.
Not yet researched
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
For spouses (including registered partners) and minor children of Hungarian citizens and of third-country nationals holding residence permits, national/EU residence cards or refugee status. Generally valid up to 3 years (renewable +3); 4 years for family of EU Blue Card/Corporate (Hungarian) Card holders and 10 years for family of guest investors. Under the 2024 law, guest workers, seasonal workers, trainees, students and White Card holders cannot sponsor family members; work requires the combined single-application procedure (70-day processing).
Ancestry / Repatriation
Since 2010, any non-Hungarian whose ancestor was a Hungarian citizen (no generational limit, covering pre-Trianon Hungary) or who plausibly has Hungarian origin can be naturalized without residing in Hungary, provided they demonstrate sufficient Hungarian language ability in an interview, have a clean criminal record and pose no security risk. Applications are filed with any Hungarian registrar or consulate and decided by the President of the Republic; spouses married to a Hungarian citizen for 10 years (or 5 with a common child) may also use the preferential route. Citizenship grants full EU rights; a passport is applied for separately afterwards.
Not yet researched
Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
Privileged work-residence permit introduced by the 2024 immigration law for third-country nationals in occupations requiring higher professional qualifications listed by ministerial decree, plus professional athletes, coaches, performers and film-industry workers. Valid up to 3 years and extendable by 3 years; unlike ordinary employment permits, Hungarian Card holders keep access to family reunification and the national residence card (permanent residence). Approval lapses if the holder does not enter Hungary within 3 months.
Long-Term Residence Permit
Hungary's national settlement status under the 2024 law: requires at least 3 years of continuous lawful residence (1 year for dependent ascendants; preferential rules for spouses of citizens), proof of subsistence and accommodation, and — since 1 January 2025 — passing the Hungarian cultural knowledge exam. Holders of employment, seasonal, student, trainee and White Card permits are excluded from this route. The card is valid 10 years and renewable for further 10-year periods.
Permanent Residence
EU long-term resident status after 5 years of lawful continuous residence in Hungary (with favourable cumulation rules for EU Blue Card holders), requiring stable resources, accommodation, health insurance and the Hungarian cultural knowledge exam certificate. Students, seasonal workers and temporary-protection beneficiaries are excluded. The card is valid up to 10 years and extendable via the Enter Hungary platform; status confers EU-wide long-term-resident mobility rights.
Not yet researched
Data verified against official sources — see how.
Completed application form
Complete the official visa or residence application form for your destination. Most consulates now use an online portal where you fill in the form, upload documents and book an appointment; print and sign the confirmation page.
| Issued by | Destination consulate / immigration portal |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Usually free (the visa fee is separate) |
| Typical time | 30–60 minutes to complete |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Passport
Apply for or renew your passport at your country's passport authority (often the foreign-affairs or interior ministry, a passport office or designated post office). Most visa portals want a clear colour scan of the bio-data page; keep the passport valid at least 6 months beyond your trip with two blank pages.
| Issued by | National passport authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $20–$150 |
| Typical time | 1–6 weeks (expedited often available) |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Passport photo
Have a recent passport photo taken at a pharmacy, photo booth or photographer, or use a compliant online photo tool. The common size is 35×45 mm with a plain light background, neutral expression and no glasses; the US and a few others require 2×2 in (51×51 mm). Get 2–4 prints plus a digital copy.
| Issued by | Any photographer or photo booth (ICAO 9303 standard) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $5–$15 |
| Typical time | Same day |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Travel medical insurance
Buy a travel-medical insurance policy covering your whole trip and every destination country, then print the certificate. For the Schengen Area the EU Visa Code requires at least €30,000 of cover for medical emergencies and repatriation, valid across all member states.
| Issued by | Any approved insurer |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $10–$60 per trip |
| Typical time | Immediate |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of accommodation
Show where you will stay: a hotel booking, a signed tenancy/lease, a host's invitation with their address, or an address-registration document. For longer stays a registered rental contract is usually expected.
| Issued by | Landlord / host / municipality |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Return / onward ticket
Provide a flight reservation or an onward/return ticket itinerary. Many travellers use a held reservation (not a paid ticket) from an airline, travel agent or flight-itinerary service so they are not committed before the visa is granted.
| Issued by | Airline / travel agent |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$30 for a reservation |
| Typical time | Same day |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of sufficient funds
Show you can support your stay using bank statements, a salary or pension certificate, a sponsorship/affidavit of support, or evidence of savings or income that meets the published minimum for the visa. Combine several documents if one is not enough.
| Issued by | Your bank / employer / sponsor |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$20 |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Admission or student status certificate
Once you are accepted, request an admission/acceptance letter or certificate of enrolment from the school or university's admissions or registrar office. It should confirm the programme, the dates and that tuition is arranged.
| Issued by | School / university (admissions office) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Usually free |
| Typical time | A few days–2 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of language proficiency
Take the required language test (e.g. IELTS or TOEFL for English, DELF/TCF for French, Goethe or telc for German, or a national integration exam) at an accredited test centre and collect the certificate. Book early, as test slots fill up.
| Issued by | Accredited test provider |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $100–$300 |
| Typical time | 2–6 weeks including results |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of remote work
Gather evidence that you work remotely for clients or an employer outside the destination: your employment or client contracts stating remote work, recent invoices or payslips, and a letter from the employer confirming you may work from abroad.
| Issued by | Employer / clients |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | A few days |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of business activity
Get an up-to-date extract from the commercial/companies register (chamber of commerce or trade registry) showing your company's registration, or your trade or professional licence. Many registries issue this online for a small fee.
| Issued by | Commercial register / chamber of commerce |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of purpose
Write a signed cover or motivation letter explaining the purpose of your trip or application, your plans and your ties to your home country, addressed to the consulate. You prepare this yourself.
| Issued by | Self-prepared |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | Same day |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Employment contract or preliminary agreement
Obtain a signed copy of your employment contract from your employer's HR. It should show the parties, job title, salary, duration and signatures; some consulates want it stamped or, for work visas, registered with the labour authority.
| Issued by | Employer / labour authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | Same day–1 week |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of higher qualification
Use your original diploma or degree certificate; for a replacement or official copy, ask the issuing institution's registrar. For use abroad it usually needs to be apostilled or legalised and translated.
| Issued by | Issuing institution / education ministry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 (plus apostille) |
| Typical time | Days–weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of salary meeting threshold
Ask your employer's HR or payroll department for your most recent payslips (usually the last three) or a salary certificate stating your role, start date and gross/net pay.
| Issued by | Employer (HR / payroll) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Free |
| Typical time | Same day–a few days |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of corporate relationship
Prove the family link with civil documents — marriage and birth certificates connecting you to the relative, a family or household register, or, for unmarried partners, evidence of cohabitation (joint lease, bills, photos). Civil documents often need an apostille and translation.
| Issued by | Civil registry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Varies |
| Typical time | Days–weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Guest investor visa
Obtain a national ID card or a citizenship/nationality certificate from your civil-registry or interior ministry. For ancestry- or origin-based routes, request the birth, naturalisation or archive records that prove the qualifying lineage.
| Issued by | Civil registry / interior ministry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–several weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of investment
Provide documentary proof of the qualifying investment: a bank confirmation of the deposit or transfer, share or title certificates, an escrow or blocked-account statement, or a notarised purchase contract, depending on the programme's rules.
| Issued by | Bank / notary / company registry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Varies |
| Typical time | 1–4 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Proof of working-holiday eligibility
This is a destination- or programme-specific supporting document. Follow the exact instruction on the official consulate or immigration checklist for your visa; if it is unclear, contact the consulate or visa application centre for guidance on how to obtain it.
| Issued by | Destination consulate / immigration authority |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | Varies |
| Typical time | Varies |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Sponsor's status document
Have your sponsor sign a letter or affidavit of support undertaking to cover your costs, attaching their ID and proof of funds or income. Some countries require a notarised affidavit or an official guarantee form.
| Issued by | Sponsor (sometimes notarised) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | Days |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Applicant's birth certificate
Order a certified copy of your birth certificate from the civil-registry/vital-records office where you were born (often available online). For foreign use it usually needs an apostille or legalisation and a translation.
| Issued by | Civil registry / vital records |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $10–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–3 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Marriage certificate
Order a certified copy of your marriage (or divorce) certificate from the civil registry that recorded it. For foreign use add an apostille or legalisation and a certified translation.
| Issued by | Civil registry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | $10–$50 |
| Typical time | Same day–3 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
Criminal record certificate
Request a criminal-record certificate from your country's police or justice/interior ministry — many issue it through a national online portal, sometimes requiring fingerprints. For foreign use it usually must be apostilled or legalised and translated, and most consulates accept one issued within the last 3–6 months.
| Issued by | National police / justice ministry |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | free–$50 |
| Typical time | A few days–4 weeks |
Verified 11 Jun 2026
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