INFORMATION

on

residence permit for official purposes

1. 1)Which third-country nationals are eligible to be granted a residence permit for official purposes?

A residence permit for official purposes may be granted to a third-country national who wishes to reside in the territory of Hungary

• ·as a person enjoying diplomatic or other privileges and immunities under international law, or as a member of his/her family, or
• ·as a member of an official delegation of a foreign state, public body or an international organisation,
• ·as a press correspondent,
• ·for study, educational, scientific, training or training purposes within the framework of an international treaty or international cultural, educational, scientific cooperation or governmental international aid programme,
• ·as a member of the staff of a scientific, educational or cultural institution operating in Hungary under an international treaty or as a person visiting the country to participate in the activity of such an institution.

Please note that the Minister responsible for foreign policy makes decision  on applications of persons enjoying diplomatic or other privileges and immunities under international law, their family members, persons visiting diplomatic missions or consular posts in the territory of Hungary, the members of international organisations, and persons whose entry is in the interest of foreign policy.

Definition of third-country nationals:

• ·Non-Hungarian national who is not a person with the right of free movement and residence, i.e. who is not an EEA national,
  
• ·a stateless persons.

qualify as third-country nationals.

1. 2)Where can clients submit their applications?

1. I.Application for the issuance of a residence permit

1. a)Application submission outside the territory of Hungary

If you are not a holder of a residence permit and your entry into Hungary does not constitute a visa-exempt travel, your application for the issuance of a residence permit is to be submitted outside the territory of Hungary. 

You may submit an application before a diplomatic or consular foreign mission of Hungary in the country of your nationality or your habitual place of residence. Please be advised to contact the competent foreign mission of Hungary to inquire for further information, if there are any other places authorised to receive applications for a residence permit. Such application receiving places are constituted by e.g. honorary consuls, trade representations, and external service providers.  

If there are not any consulates or other types of places receiving application in the country of your nationality or your habitual place of residence, in exceptional cases, you may submit an application in a country where you are staying legally provided that you provide proof of the reasons of your exceptional application submission.

Submitting an application for a visa separately is not required, as an application for the issuance of a residence permit comprises an application for a visa entitling its holder to collect a residence permit.

1. b)Application submission within the territory of Hungary

If you are allowed to enter the territory of Hungary visa-free due to your nationality, and you are not a holder of a residence permit, you may submit an application for a residence permit within the territory of Hungary as well.

Application submission in the territory of Hungary is available:

• ·by electronic means via the electronic information system and procedure initiation platform of“Enter Hungary”, which is available by clicking here, or
• ·in person, before the competent regional directorate of NDGAP as per your place of accommodation. Contact details of the regional directorates and further information are available by clicking here.

Please note that application submission is available only via the Enter Hungary platform if your attorney-in-fact is a legal representative or a legal person.

1. II.Application for the extension of a residence permit

Submission of applications for the extension of a residence permit is only available within the territory of Hungary, via the platform of Enter Hungary, which is available by clicking here.

Please be informed that the extension of the residence permit is only possible if

-         you are a holder of a valid residence permit at the time of application submission,

-         you resided within the territory of Hungary with your residence permit at least 90 days in any 180-day period.

Please note that an application for the extension of a residence permit is to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the date of expiry of the issued residence permit.

1. 3)Additional information on application submission

For submission of an application in person, applicants are required to complete the application form correctly in full and to submit the completed document with their signature. The form is available by clicking here and the appendix here.

For submission of an application via the platform of Enter Hungary, the full and correct completion of the electronic application form is required, which is available on the platform. The platform of Enter Hungary is available by clicking here.

For the purpose of the issuance of a residence permit comprising biometric data, a facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant will be taken.

An application submitted via the platform of Enter Hungary is deemed to have been received by the immigration authority, if the administrative service fee has been paid, and the facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant is taken and signature specimen of the applicant is recorded within 15 days from the date of receipt. The immigration authority will send out a notification when your application is deemed to have been received.

1. 4)Administrative service fee for the procedure

For information on administrative service fees for procedures, please click here.

1. 5)What are the mandatory attachments/enclosures of an application?

For the approval of your application for a residence permit, the applicant is required to meet conditions for entry and residence in Hungary, during the procedures mandatory attachments/enclosures may serve as proof of meeting the set conditions.

Please make sure completion of the attachments/enclosures in full and check all documents before submission, supporting the soonest possible processing and examination of your application.

Documents in proof of the purpose of residence

The following documents may serve as proof of the purpose of residence:

• ·a document proving diplomatic or other privileges and immunities under international law, and, in case of a family member, a document proving the family relationship,
• ·a certificate or declaration issued by a foreign state or public body, an international organisation or a scientific, academic, educational or cultural institution operating in Hungary,
• ·with any other credible evidence.

Documents in proof of means of subsistence in Hungary

One of the following documents must be submitted as proof that the applicant has sufficient resources, i.e. (s)he can cover costs related to his/her subsistence, accommodation, return/onward travel (i.e. exit from Hungary) and healthcare services from legally acquired income and savings:

• ·a certificate from a credit institution under the applicant’s name (e.g. a bank account statement, an account statement on savings or stocks and bonds, bank balance statement),
• ·a notarised declaration by a family member of the applicant's undertaking to provide care and maintenance for the applicant, and a document proving his/her capacity for the care and maintenance,
• ·a document on regular income issued by the employer or the tax authority,
• ·with any other credible evidence.

Documents proving that the applicant has a place of accommodation in Hungary

One of the following documents must be submitted as proof that the applicant is the owner of a residential property suitable for habitation, or (s)he has legal title to use such a real estate

• ·a residential lease contract,
• ·a document on accommodation by courtesy,
• ·a document in proof of ownership of the residential property,
• ·a document in proof of the reservation of accommodation and payment for it.

Documents proving that the applicant has health insurance

Documentary evidence must be submitted as proof that the applicant has access to comprehensive health insurance services covering all healthcare services or that (s)he can cover the costs of such services.

An applicant meets this condition in the following cases:

• ·(s)he qualifies as a person with health insurance services under social security,
• ·(s)he has access to the Hungarian health insurance services within the framework of an international convention/treaty or agreement,
• ·(s)he can cover the costs of his/her healthcare services based on documents in proof of his/her means of subsistence available in Hungary.

Documents proving that the applicant meets the conditions of exit (i.e. conditions to a return/onward travel)

Meeting the conditions of exit may be proved by:

• ·a valid passport,
• ·having a valid ticket/valid tickets for the relevant travel or the amount of money to cover the costs of the travel.

Other required documents

• ·Attaching/enclosing 1 facial photograph to/with the application is required.

In case of an extension, attaching/enclosing documents on unchanged conditions again is not required.

1. 6)Time period of procedural administration

Time period for procedural administration: 21 days.

In addition to mandatory attachments/enclosures, NDGAP may request the submission of further documents for clarification of facts of the case or implement other procedural conducts.

The period for remedying deficiencies (e.g. submission of missing documents) and for the implementation of various other procedural conducts is not comprised in the time period of the procedural administration.

1. 7)Receiving the residence permit document

If you submitted your application for a residence permit before a foreign diplomatic or consular mission of Hungary and the regional directorate approves your application for a residence permit, it shall constitute approval for the issuance of an entry visa entitling its holder to receive a residence permit, of which the competent Hungarian consulate shall be notified by the regional directorate.

The entry visa entitling its holder to receive a residence permit shall be issued by the competent consulate officer.

Please note that type D visas entitling their holder to receive their residence permits issued to third-country nationals are single-entry visas authorising a stay of not more than 30 days and are valid for 3 months.

Please note that if you do not enter the territory of Hungary within 3 months from the date of approval of the issuance of your residence permit and do not start your approved residence, the approved residence permit becomes invalid and the approval of your accrued right of entry and residence ceases.

A residence permit document shall be delivered by way of post to the address indicated as place of delivery in the application form.

Please note that receiving your document before NDGAP’s regional directorate in person is only allowed, if you prove that you are not in a position to receive the document at the address indicated as place of delivery in your application.

Furthermore, please note that if the Minister responsible for foreign policy  makes a decision  on the application, the applicant must appear in person at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to receive the residence permit and to register the accommodation in Hungary.

1. 8)How long is the validity period of the permit?

The validity period of the document shall be determined in accordance with the duration of the official activity, but may not exceed 3 years. The validity period under appropriate conditions may be extended on occasion with the duration of the official service or training, but not exceeding 3 years.

Please note that the authority shall determine the date of expiry of the residence permit in a way that the third-country national’s travel document shall be valid at least for another 3 months after the date of expiry of the approved residence.

1. 9)Further information

• ·Appeal

In case of refusal, the decision may be appealed within 8 days of delivery, submitted to the authority of first instance, or at the Hungarian diplomatic or consular foreign mission where the application was submitted.

Please note that the authority shall dismiss the appeal without any examination as to merits in the following cases:

-  the appeal is received after the deadline,

-  the appeal is not submitted by an authorised person,

-  the applicant introduces and refers to new facts of the case, of which (s)he was aware before the decision was adopted,

-  the appeal is submitted without indicating its grounds or cause.

For information on reporting obligations, please click here.

INFORMATION

on

residence permit for the purpose of traineeship

1. 1)Which third-country national is eligible to granted a residence permit for the purpose of traineeship?

A residence permit for the purpose of traineeship may be issued to a third-country national:

• ·who wishes to reside in the territory of Hungary for the purpose of traineeship based on an traineeship contract concluded with an approved organization hosting trainees, and
• ·the host organization provides a written commitment for reimbursing the costs of expulsion in cases when the trainee stays longer in the territory of Hungary past the period authorised – if the trainee does not have the necessary financial resources,
• ·who is able to provide evidence of having obtained a higher education degree required for the pursuit of traineeship within the two years preceding the date of application or who is pursuing studies that leads to a higher education degree relevant to the traineeship;

Applicants must have the necessary language skills to complete the traineeship.

Definition of third-country nationals:

• ·Non-Hungarian nationals who are not persons with the right of free movement and residence, i.e. who are not EEA nationals or family members of an EEA national, and
• ·stateless persons

qualify as third-country nationals.

A residence permit for the purpose of traineeship may not be issued to a person:

• ·who submitted an application for refugee status or temporary protection or subsidiary protection to the asylum authority;
• ·who has been granted refugee status or temporary protection or subsidiary protection in Hungary;
• ·a person with tolerated status;
• ·whose expulsion has been suspended for factual or legal reasons;
• ·who has the right of free movement and residence;
• ·who is a holder of an EC permanent residence permit certifying long-term residence status granted by any Member State of the European Union;
• ·who comes to the territory of the European Union as a trainee-employee in the context of an intra-corporate transfer;
• ·who is entered the territory of the European Union for the purpose of employment as highly qualified workers.

1. 2)Where the application may be submitted?

1. I.Application for the issuance of a residence permit

1. a)Application submission outside of Hungary

If you do not have a residence permit and your entry into Hungary does not constitute a visa-exempt travel, your application for the issuance of a residence permit is to be submitted outside of Hungary. 

You may submit an application before a diplomatic or consular foreign mission of Hungary in the country of your nationality or your habitual place of residence. Please be advised to contact the competent foreign mission of Hungary to inquire for further information, if there are any other places authorised to receive applications for a residence permit. Such application receiving places are constituted by e.g., honorary consuls, trade representations, and external service providers.  

If there are not any consulates or other types of places receiving application in the country of your nationality or your habitual place of residence, in exceptional cases, you may submit an application in a country where you are staying legally provided that you provide proof of the reasons of your exceptional application submission.

Submitting an application for a visa separately is not required, as an application for the issuance of a residence permit comprises an application for a visa entitling its holder to collect a residence permit

1. b)Application submission within the territory of Hungary

When can an application for the issuance of a residence permit be submitted within the territory of Hungary?

If you are allowed to enter the territory of Hungary visa-free due to your nationality, and you are not a holder of a residence permit, you may submit an application for a residence permit also within the territory of Hungary during your legal stay.

How can applications for a residence permit be submitted in Hungary?

Application submission in Hungary is available:

• ·by electronic means via the electronic information system and procedure initiation platform of “Enter Hungary”, which is available by clicking here, or
• ·in person, before the competent regional directorate of National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (hereinafter: NDGAP) as per you place of accommodation. Contact details of the regional directorates and further information are available by clicking here.

Please note that application submission is available only via the Enter Hungary platform if your authorised representative is a legal representative or a legal person.

1. II.Application for the extension of a residence permit

A residence permit for the purpose of a traineeship cannot be extended.

3) Additional information on application submission

For submission of an application in person, applicants are required to complete the application form correctly in full and to submit the completed document with their signature. The form is available by clicking here and the appendix here.

For submission of an application via the platform of Enter Hungary, the full and correct completion of the electronic application form is required, which is available on the platform. The platform of Enter Hungary is available by clicking here.

For the purpose of the issuance of a residence permit comprising biometric data, a facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant will be taken.

An application submitted via the platform of Enter Hungary is deemed to have been received by the immigration authority, if the administrative service fee has been paid, and the facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant is taken and signature specimen of the applicant is recorded within 15 days from the date of receipt. The immigration authority will send out a notification when your application is deemed to have been received.

4) Administrative service fee for the procedure

For information on administrative service fees for procedures, please click here.

5) What are the mandatory attachments/enclosures of an application?

For the approval of your application for a residence permit, the applicant is required to meet conditions for entry and residence in Hungary, during the procedures mandatory attachments/enclosures may serve as proof of meeting the set conditions.

Please make sure completion of the attachments/enclosures in full and check all documents before submission, supporting the soonest possible processing and examination of your application.

Documents in proof of the purpose of residence

The following documents may serve as proof of the purpose of your residence:

• ·a traineeship contract with the host organisation,
• ·a diploma of higher education or a certificate of active student status issued by a higher education institution, and
• ·a certificate of language proficiency or a certificate/diploma of foreign language studies, or other credible means of proof.

The traineeship contract must include:

• ·a description of the traineeship programme, including the educational objective or learning components,
• ·the duration of the traineeship programme,
• ·the conditions for the placement of the trainee and the supervision of the traineeship,
• ·the number of practical hours,
• ·a description of the legal relationship between the trainee and the host organisation, and
• ·a declaration that the host organisation will be responsible for the third-country national's subsistence and accommodation costs for the entire duration of the applicant’s stay in the territory of Hungary.

Documents in proof of means of subsistence in Hungary

One of the following documents must be submitted as proof that the applicant has sufficient financial resources, i.e. (s)he can cover costs related to his/her subsistence, accommodation, return/onward travel (i.e. exit from the territory of Hungary) and healthcare services from legally acquired income and savings:

• ·a certificate from a credit institution under the applicant’s name (e.g. a bank account statement, an account statement on savings or stocks and bonds, bank balance statement),
• ·a notarised declaration made by a member of the applicant's family undertaking to provide for the maintenance and support of the applicant and a document certifying the ability of the person providing support,
• ·a certificate regarding the award/payment of the scholarship.

Documents proving that the applicant has a place of accommodation in the territory of Hungary

A real Hungarian address must be declared as accommodation on the application form. For the notification no separate document is required.

Documents proving that the applicant has health insurance

Documentary evidence must be submitted as proof that the applicant has access to comprehensive health insurance services covering all healthcare services or that (s)he can cover the costs of such services.

An applicant meets this condition in the following cases:

• ·(s)he qualifies as a person with health insurance services under social security,
• ·(s)he has access to the Hungarian health insurance services within the framework of an international convention/treaty or agreement,
• ·(s)he can cover the costs of his/her healthcare services based on documents in proof of his/her means of subsistence available in Hungary.

Documents proving that the applicant meets the conditions of exit (i.e. conditions to a return/onward travel)

Meeting the conditions of exit may be proved by:

• ·a valid passport,
• ·having a valid ticket for the relevant travel or the amount of money to cover the costs of the travel.

Other required documents

• ·Attaching/enclosing 1 facial photograph.

6) Time period of procedural administration

Time period for procedural administration: 21 days.

In addition to mandatory attachments/enclosures, NDGAP may request the submission of further documents for clarification of facts of the case and/or implement other procedural conducts.

The period for remedying deficiencies (e.g., submission of missing documents) and for the implementation of various other procedural conducts is not comprised in the time period of the procedural administration. 

The authority acting on the application case adopts a decision as to merits within 60 days from the date of the submission of the application.

7) Receiving the residence permit document

If you submitted your application for a residence permit before a foreign diplomatic or consular mission of Hungary and the regional directorate approves your application for a residence permit, it shall constitute approval for the issuance of an entry visa entitling its holder to receive a residence permit, of which the competent Hungarian consulate shall be notified by the regional directorate.

The entry visa entitling its holder to receive a residence permit shall be issued by the competent consulate officer.

Please note that type D visas entitling their holder to receive their residence permits issued to third-country nationals are single-entry visas authorising a stay of not more than 30 days and are valid for 3 months.

Please note that if you do not enter the territory of Hungary within 3 months from the date of approval of the issuance of your residence permit and do not start your approved residence, the approved residence permit becomes invalid and the approval of your accrued right of entry and residence ceases.

A residence permit document shall be delivered by way of post to the address indicated as place of delivery in the application form.

Please note that receiving your document before NDGAP’s regional directorate in person is only allowed, if you prove that you are not in a position to receive the document at the address indicated as place of delivery in your application.

8) How long is the validity period of the permit?

The validity period of the residence permit issued for the traineeship purposes is based on the duration of the traineeship, but may not exceed 6 months, which cannot be extended.

Please note that the authority shall determine the date of expiry of the residence permit in a way that the third-country national’s travel document shall be valid at least for another 3 months after the date of expiry of the approved residence.

9) Further information

• ·Submitting an application for a residence permit for another purpose within the territory of Hungary

During the validity period of a residence permit and after its date of expiry, application for the issuance of a residence permit under another legal title is not allowed in Hungary.

• ·Family reunification

Family members of a third-country national who is a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of traineeship or an applicant for a residence permit for the purpose of traineeship may not be granted a residence permit for family reunification.

• ·Long-term residence

Third-country national who is a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of traineeship may not be granted a national residence card.

• ·Appeal

In case of refusal, the decision may be appealed within 8 days of delivery, submitted to the authority of first instance, or at the Hungarian diplomatic or consular foreign mission where the application was submitted.

Please note that the authority shall dismiss the appeal without any examination as to merits in the following cases:

-  the appeal is received after the deadline,

-  the appeal is not submitted by an authorised person,

-  the applicant introduces and refers to new facts of the case, of which (s)he was aware before the decision was adopted,

-  the appeal is submitted without indicating its grounds or cause.

For information on reporting obligations, please click here.

INFORMATION

on

White Card – residency for digital nomads

1) Which third-country nationals are eligible to be granted a White Card?

A White Card shall be granted to a third-country national who

• ·has a verified employment relationship in a country other than Hungary and performs his/her work from Hungary using an advanced digital technology solution, or
• ·owns a share in a company with a verified profit in a country other than Hungary and performs his/her work or manages his/her company from Hungary using an advanced digital technology solution.

Please note that a White Card shall be only granted to a third country national who does not pursue any gainful activity in Hungary and does not hold a share in a Hungarian company.

Definition of third-country nationals:

• ·Non-Hungarian nationals who are not persons with the right of free movement and residence, i.e. who are not EEA nationals or family members of an EEA national, and
• ·stateless persons

qualify as third-country nationals.

A White Card shall not be granted to a person:

• ·who fulfils the conditions for the issuance of a residence permit for guest self-employment, guest investor, employment for the purpose of investment, employment, guest workers, for the issuance of a National Card, Hungarian Card, or Corporate Card,
• ·who is in possession of a residence permit for the purpose of studies or who is participating in a short-term supervised traineeship as part of their studies,
• ·who is posting on the territory of Hungary,
• ·who applied for refugee status, for temporary or subsidiary protection in Hungary,
• ·who has been granted refugee status, temporary or subsidiary protection in Hungary,
• ·with tolerated status,
• ·whose expulsion has been suspended,
• ·holding an EC residence permit or an EU residence card,
• ·who arrives in the territory of the European Union in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer,
• ·who are admitted to the European Union for the purpose of employment as highly qualified workers.

1. 2)Where can applications be submitted?

1. I.Application for the issuance of a residence permit

1. a)Application submission outside of Hungary

If you do not have a residence permit and your entry into Hungary does not constitute a visa-exempt travel, your application for the issuance of a residence permit is to be submitted outside of Hungary. 

You may submit an application before a diplomatic or consular foreign mission of Hungary in the country of your nationality or your habitual place of residence. Please be advised to contact the competent foreign mission of Hungary to inquire for further information, if there are any other places authorised to receive applications for a residence permit. Such application receiving places are constituted by e.g., honorary consuls, trade representations, and external service providers

If there are not any consulates or other types of places receiving application in the country of your nationality or your habitual place of residence, in exceptional cases, you may submit an application in a country where you are staying legally provided that you provide proof of the reasons of your exceptional application submission.

Submitting an application for a visa separately is not required, as an application for the issuance of a residence permit comprises an application for a visa entitling its holder to collect a residence permit.

1. b)Application submission within the territory of Hungary

When can an application for the issuance of a residence permit be submitted within the territory of Hungary?

A third country national holding the citizenship of a visa-free country who does not have a residence permit, can apply for a residence permit in Hungary during their legal residence.

How can applications for a residence permit be submitted in Hungary?

Application submission in Hungary is available:

• ·by electronic means via the platform of Enter Hungary, which is available by clicking here. or
• ·in person, at the competent regional directorate of National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (hereinafter: NDGAP) as per the applicant’s place of accommodation. Contact details of the regional directorates and further information are available by here.

Please note that application submission is available only via the Enter Hungary platform if your attorney-in-fact is a legal representative or a legal person.

1. II.Application for the extension of a residence permit

The application for extension of the residence permit may only be submitted in Hungary via the Enter Hungary platform, which you can access by clicking here.

Please note that a residence permit can only be extended once for the same purpose.

Please be informed that the extension of the residence permit is only possible if

• ·you are a holder of a valid residence permit at the time of application submission,
• ·you resided within the territory of Hungary with your residence permit at least 90 days within any 180-days prior to the submission of the application for a residence permit.

Please note that an application for the extension of a residence permit must be submitted not later than 30 days before the expiry date of the permit.

1. 3)Additional information on application submission

If submitted in person, the application form must be filled in accurately and signed by the applicant. The form is available by clicking here and the appendix here.

For submisiion of an application via the platform of Enter Hungary, the full and correct completion of the electronic application form is required. The Enter Hungary platform can be accessed by clicking here.

When submitting the application a facial photograph and for applicants over the age of six, fingerprints will be recorded for the purpose of issuing a residence document containing biometric data.

An application submitted via the platform of Enter Hungary is deemed to have been received by the immigration authority, if the administrative service fee has been paid, and the facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant is recorded and signature specimen of the applicant is recorded within 15 days from the date of receipt. The immigration authority will send out a notification when your application is deemed to have been received.

4) Administrative service fee for the procedure

For information on administrative service fees for procedures, please click here.

5) What are the mandatory attachments/enclosures of an application?

For the approval of your application for a residence permit, you are required to meet conditions for entry and residence in Hungary, during the procedures mandatory attachments/enclosures may serve as proof of meeting the set conditions.

Please make sure completion of the attachments/enclosures in full and check all documents before submission, supporting the soonest possible processing and examination of your application.

Documents in proof of the purpose of residence

The following documents may serve as proof of the purpose of residence:

a) In the case of employment in a country other than Hungary, a certified statement from your employer stating:

• ·the scope of the employer's activities,
• ·the provision on remote, electronic work and its authorised duration, and
• ·the duties and the position of the applicant.

Proof of the real and actual operation of the employer must be certified.

b) if the applicant runs a company with proven profits from Hungary, a document stating:

• ·the real and actual operation of the company,
• ·the job title and position held by the applicant in the company,
• ·the scope of the company's activities, and
• ·his/her ownership of shares in the company.

The real and actual operation of the company can be verified by:

• ·a document certifying the registration of the company by the public authorities,
• ·an authentic instrument or a certificate from the tax authorities proving regular income or profit,
• ·other credible means.

Documents in proof of means of subsistence in Hungary

The third-country national is considered to have sufficient resources to cover his/her subsistence if the third-country national's monthly legal income is equal to or exceeds EUR 3,000 net for at least 6 months prior to entry.

Please note that the applicant must have this amount of income throughout the period of stay in Hungary.

The requirement of subsistence may be verified by:

• ·bank statement for the previous 6 months,
• ·a certificate evidencing regular income issued by the employer or by the tax authority.

Documents proving that the applicant has a place of accommodation in Hungary

Ownership or right of use shall be proven of a property suitable for housing by providing one of the following documents:

• ·a residential lease contract,
• ·a document on accommodation by courtesy,
• ·a document in proof of ownership,
• ·documentary evidence to verify the reservation of accommodation and payment.

Documents proving that the applicant has health insurance

Documentary evidence must be submitted as proof that the applicant has access to comprehensive health insurance services covering all healthcare services or that (s)he can cover the costs of such services.

An applicant meets this condition in the following cases:

• ·(s)he qualifies as a person with health insurance services under social security,
• ·(s)he has access to the Hungarian health insurance services within the framework of an international convention/treaty or agreement,
• ·(s)he can cover the costs of his/her healthcare services based on documents in proof of his/her means of subsistence available in Hungary.

Documents proving that the applicant meets the conditions of exit (i.e. conditions to a return/onward travel)

Meeting the conditions of exit may be proved by:

• ·a valid passport,
• ·having a valid ticket/valid tickets for the relevant travel or the amount of money to cover the costs of the travel.

Other required documents

• ·Attaching/enclosing 1 facial photograph to/with the application is required. In case of an extension, attaching/enclosing documents on unchanged conditions again is not required.

6)  Time period of procedural administration

Time period for procedural administration: 21 days.

In addition to mandatory attachments/enclosures, NDGAP may request the submission of further documents for clarification of facts of the case or implement other procedural conducts.

The period for remedying deficiencies (e.g., submission of missing documents) and for the implementation of various other procedural conducts is not comprised in the time period of the procedural administration. 

The authority acting on the application case adopts a decision as to merits within 30 days from the date of the submission of the application.

7) Receiving the residence permit document

If you submitted your application for a residence permit at a foreign diplomatic or consular mission of Hungary and the regional directorate approves your application for a residence permit, it shall constitute approval for the issuance of an entry visa entitling its holder to receive a residence permit, of which the competent Hungarian consulate shall be notified by the regional directorate. The entry visa entitling its holder to receive a residence permit shall be issued by the competent consulate officer.

Please note that type D visas entitling their holder to receive their residence permits issued to third-country nationals are single-entry visas authorising a stay of not more than 30 days and are valid for 3 months.

Please note that if you do not enter the territory of Hungary within 3 months from the date of approval of the issuance of your residence permit and do not start your approved residence, the approved residence permit becomes invalid and the approval of your accrued right of entry and residence ceases.

A residence permit document shall be delivered by way of post to the address indicated as place of delivery in the application form.

Please note that receiving your document at NDGAP’s regional directorate in person is only allowed, if you prove that you are not in a position to receive the document at the address indicated as place of delivery in your application.

8) How long is the validity period of the permit?

Validity period of the document is maximised in 1 year, and it may be extended once for another year.

Please note that a residence permit can only be extended once for the same purpose.

Please note that the authority shall determine the date of expiry of the residence permit in a way that the third-country national’s travel document shall be valid at least for another 3 months after the date of expiry of the approved residence.

9) Further information

• ·Withdrawal of the residence permit

Please note that the NDGAP will revoke the residence permit if the applicant works for or on behalf of an employer in Hungary or acquires a share in a company in Hungary.

• ·Application for residence permit for other purpose

During the period of validity of the White Card and after its expiry, no other residence permit may be applied for other purpose.

• ·

Family members of a third-country national who is a holder of a White Card or or an applicant for a White Card shall not be granted a residence permit for family reunification.

• ·Long-term residence

Third-country nationals who are holders of a White Card may not be granted a national residence card.

• ·Appeal

In case of refusal, the decision may be appealed within 8 days of notification, submitted to the authority of first instance, or at the Hungarian diplomatic or consular foreign mission where the application was submitted.

Please note that the authority shall dismiss the appeal without any examination as to merits in the following cases:

-  the appeal is received after the deadline,

-  the appeal is not submitted by an authorised person,

-  the applicant introduces and refers to new facts of the case, of which (s)he was aware before the decision was adopted,

-  the appeal is submitted without indicating its grounds or cause.

For information on reporting obligations, please click here.

Information

on

EU residence card

1) Which third-country nationals are entitled for EU residence card?

EU residence card shall be granted to a third-country national:

• ·who resided legally in the territory of Hungary at least for 5 years before the date of submitting an application, or
• ·who holds an EU Blue Card and

-         who has legally resided in the territory of Hungary continuously for at least two years before preceding the submission of the application, and

-         who has legally resided in the territory of a Member State of the European Union continuously for at least five years holding an EU Blue Card, residence permit issued for the purpose of research or study.

In case any of the above mentioned criteria are met, an EU residence card may be issued to a third-country national who(se):

• ·accommodation and subsistence in the territory of Hungary is insured,
• ·has comprehensive healthcare insurance or sufficient financial resources for healthcare services,
• ·is not subject to any of the following grounds for exclusion:

-         residence in the territory of Hungary constitutes a threat to public security or national security,

-         subject to expulsion or exclusion from the territory of Hungary, or for whom an alert has been issued in the SIS,

-         supplied false information or untrue facts in the interest of obtaining the card, or misled the competent authority,

-         has criminal record and not been exempted from the legal consequences related to that.

Please be informed that an EU residence card may not be granted to a third-country national who:

• ·is residing in the territory of Hungary in order to pursue studies in an institution of higher education or vocational training,
• ·is residing in the territory of Hungary for the purpose of seasonal employment or voluntary service activities,
• ·is residing in the territory of Hungary under diplomatic or other personal immunity,
• ·applied for refugee status, any subsidiary form of protection or temporary protection to the asylum authority, pending a final decision on the application,
• ·is a person with tolerated status,
• ·has been recognised by the asylum authority or court, or by any Member State of the European Union as a refugee or who has been granted any subsidiary form of protection, on the basis of such status, if refugee status or subsidiary protection is no longer available,
• ·is a beneficiary of temporary protection.

Definition of third-country nationals:

• ·non-Hungarian nationals who are not persons with the right of free movement and residence, i.e. who are not EEA nationals or family members of an EEA national, and
• ·stateless persons

qualify as third-country nationals.

A third-country national holding an EU residence card is entitled to stay for undetermined period of time in the territory of Hungary.

2) How can the application be submitted?

Application for the issuance or extension of the EU residence card can be submitted only via the platform of Enter Hungary which is available by clicking here[b2] .

An application submitted via the platform of Enter Hungary is deemed to have been received by the immigration authority, if the administrative service fee has been paid, and the facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant is taken and signature specimen of the applicant is recorded within 15 days from the date of receipt. The immigration authority will send out a notification when your application is deemed to have been received.

3) Administrative service fee

For information on administrative service fees for procedures, please click here. 

4) What are the supporting documents mandatory to submit with the application?

Please make sure completion of the attachments/enclosures is in full and check all documents before submission, supporting the soonest possible processing and examination of the application.

The following documents must be attached to/enclosed with the application:

• ·birth certificate,
• ·marriage certificate, if the applicant is married,
• ·the applicant’s certificate of divorce if the marriage was dissolved,
• ·in the case of a minor applicant, an authentic document according to the minor's personal right stating that there are no legal obstacles to the minor's long-term stay,
• ·documents in proof of means of subsistence and a accommodation in Hungary, and in proof of having access to comprehensive health insurance services.

With the exception of documents certifying the means of subsistence, residence, and entitlement to full healthcare in Hungary, applicant may be exempted from attaching the above documents if the acquisition of the document would be impossible or disproportionately difficult due to reasons other than the third-country national's fault. In this case, the document is replaced by the applicant's statement.

Documents in proof of means of subsistence in Hungary

One of the following documents must be submitted as proof that the applicant has sufficient resources:

• ·a certificate from a credit institution under the applicant’s name (e.g. a bank account statement, an account statement on savings)
• ·an authentic instrument or private document with full probative force certifying the existence of property, property right and assets in Hungary which ensure the applicant's subsistence,
• ·employer's or tax authority's certificate of regular income in Hungary,
• ·a certificate of regular income from abroad issued by a Hungarian credit institution,
• ·a notarised declaration by a family member living in Hungary that he/she will provide for and support the applicant, and a document certifying the ability of the person providing support,
• ·other credible document.

Documents proving that the applicant has a place of accommodation in Hungary

One of the following documents must be submitted as proof that the applicant is the owner of a residential property suitable for habitation, or (s)he has legal title to use such a real estate:

• ·a document proving ownership of the property,
• ·a residential lease contract,
• ·a notarised declaration by a family member living in Hungary guaranteeing the applicant's residence.

The document certifying the conditions of residence is not required to be attached/enclosed if the applicant has already included it in the procedure for issuing or extending the residence permit and the third-country national's declared place of residence has not changed.

Documents proving that the applicant has health insurance

Documentary evidence must be submitted as proof that the applicant has access to comprehensive health insurance services covering all healthcare services or that (s)he can cover the costs of such services.

An applicant meets this condition in the following cases:

• ·(s)he qualifies as a person with health insurance services under social security,
• ·(s)he has access to the Hungarian health insurance services within the framework of an international convention/treaty or agreement,
• ·(s)he can cover the costs of his/her healthcare services based on documents in proof of his/her means of subsistence available in Hungary.

Other required documents

• ·1 facial photograph,
• ·valid travel document (or, if you have held more than one travel document during your uninterrupted legal stay in Hungary, a copy of each travel document).

Please note that an authentic instrument issued abroad or a private document authenticated by a foreign court, administrative authority, notary or other person vested with public authority - unless otherwise provided by law, international treaty or reciprocal practice - has the evidentiary effect under Hungarian law only if it has been subject to diplomatic apostille by the Hungarian diplomatic mission authority of the state where it was issued.

Please also note that documents issued in a language other than Hungarian may only be accepted if accompanied by a certified Hungarian translation.

Please be advised that marriage certificates submitted by a third-country family member of a Hungarian citizen may be accepted only after domestic registration.

5) Time period of procedural administration

Time period for procedural administration: 70 days.

The child born in Hungary of a third-country national with long-term residence status will be issued a national residence card as soon as possible but within 5 days the latest.

In addition to mandatory attachments/enclosures, NDGAP may request the submission of further documents for clarification of facts of the case or implement other procedural conducts.

The period for remedying deficiencies (e.g., submission of missing documents) and for the implementation of various other procedural conducts is not comprised in the time period of the procedural administration. 

6) Receiving the residence permit document

A residence permit card document shall be delivered by way of post to the address indicated as place of delivery in the application form.

Please note that receiving your document before NDGAP’s regional directorate in person is only allowed, if you prove that you are not in a position to receive the document at the address indicated as place of delivery in your application.

7) How long is the validity period of the permit?

The document is valid for a maximum period of 10 years, which may be extended by a further 10 years at your request.

8) Further information

• ·Notification of change of residence

If you are a holder of an EU residence card, you are obliged to notify the change of your place of residence to the district (metropolitan district) office of the government office of the capital and county where you have your new place of residence.

The change of residence does not entail the replacement of the residence card.

Notification of a change of residence is evidenced by the address card issued by the notary, which must therefore be kept together with the residence card document and handed over to the authorised authority for inspection.

• ·Appeal

In case of refusal, the decision may be appealed within 15 days of delivery, submitted to the authority of first instance.

Please note that the authority shall dismiss the appeal without any examination as to merits in the following cases:

-  the appeal is received after the deadline,

-  the appeal is not submitted by an authorised person,

-  the applicant introduces and refers to new facts of the case, of which (s)he was aware before the decision was adopted,

-  the appeal is submitted without indicating its grounds or cause.

For information on reporting obligations, please click here.