can i travel to ireland with hungarian residence permit

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Permission to enter Ireland

Introduction, eea, uk and swiss nationals and permissionto enter ireland, non-eea nationals and permission to enter ireland, being refused permission to enter ireland, if you are granted permission to enter.

Ireland has rules and laws about who can enter the country. If you are a citizen of a country that is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the UK, you must have permission to enter Ireland.

You get permission to enter Ireland from an immigration officer at the airport or ferry port where you enter Ireland. If you enter Ireland through Northern Ireland, you must get permission to enter after your arrival. You may also need to apply for and be granted a visa to enter Ireland (see ‘Non-EEA nationals and permission to enter Ireland’ below).

An immigration officer can refuse permission for you to enter Ireland, even if you have a visa or residence permission in Ireland.

Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area . This means that you must have a national passport or national identity card to enter Ireland from the EEA.

Travel with a child aged under 18: Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has published advice for people travelling to Ireland with a minor who is not their child or who has a different surname .

EEA and Swiss citizens must have a passport or national identity card to enter Ireland.

EEA, and Swiss citizens have the right to move freely in the EEA, and you can only be refused permission to enter Ireland in very limited situations:

• You are suffering from a serious contagious disease which poses a serious threat to the population
• Your past behaviour, including any criminal convictions you may have, is deemed to pose a substantial risk to public security or public policy

UK citizens can travel freely to Ireland as part of the Common Travel Area .

You do not have to register with the immigration authorities as EEA and Swiss nationals have specific rights to live and work in Ireland.

If you are travelling with family members who are not citizens of the EEA, UK or Switzerland, they need to have permission to enter and may have to apply for a visa.

If you are a national of any other country (other than the United Kingdom ), you must get permission to enter when you arrive in Ireland.

You may have to get a visa before you can travel to Ireland. A visa is a type of preclearance that allows you to travel to Ireland. You still have to get permission to enter Ireland at your port of entry to the State even if you have a valid visa.

Preclearance

If you do not need a visa to enter Ireland, you have to get pre-clearance before you travel to Ireland if you are moving here because:

• You plan to practice as a minister of religion
• You are a volunteer
• You are the de facto partner of an Irish citizen (this means you are in a relationship with an Irish citizen that is like a marriage, but you are not married to them)
• You are the de facto partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder
• You are joining or accompanying a UK national family member

If your preclearance application is successful, you will be granted a letter of approval or preclearance letter. This must be presented to the immigration officer at border control when you arrival in Ireland. An Immigration Officer at border control can refuse you entry even if you have a preclearance letter and visa.

Preparing for entering Ireland

You must have a passport or recognised travel document if you are coming from a country outside the EEA. You may also need to have a visa.

You should have proof of the reasons you are coming to Ireland. The documents you need depend on the purpose of your trip. If you are visiting Ireland for a short period, you should have:

• Proof that you have money to support yourself and your dependents
• Proof of where you are staying while you are in Ireland
• A return ticket to go back to the country where you normally live
• Proof that you are working or studying in your home country, or have other important things (for example, family commitments) to return to

If you plan to travel to the UK as well, you must have permission to enter the UK before you come to Ireland.

If you are moving to Ireland, you have to show that you meet the requirements for your reasons for moving here. Some examples of the reasons for travelling to Ireland are:

• If you plan to study in Ireland
• If you are joining your Irish spouse
• If you are joining your Irish partner
• If you are joining your EU family member
• If you have an employment permit

The immigration officer may refuse your permission to enter Ireland if the immigration officer believes:

• You are not in a position to support yourself and any dependants arriving with you
• You intend to take up employment and you do not have a permit
• You suffer from certain specified conditions - these include TB, other infectious diseases, drug addiction and profound mental disturbance (this is defined as “manifest conditions of psychotic disturbance with agitation, delirium, hallucinations or confusion”)
• You have been convicted of an offence which carries a penalty of a year’s imprisonment or more
• You are obliged to have a visa and you do not have one
• You are the subject of a deportation order, an exclusion order or similar order
• You do not have a valid passport
• You intend to travel to Great Britain or Northern Ireland and you do not have a right to enter there
• Your entry or presence in Ireland could pose a threat to national security or be contrary to public policy
• You have come to Ireland for a different reason than you have given the immigration officer

If you are refused permission to enter you must be given the reasons in writing.

What happens if I am refused entry to Ireland?

If you are refused permission to enter Ireland, you may be detained in prison .

If your solicitor thinks that the refusal was unlawful, they may apply to court for an injunction to stop you from being deported. This is a type of court order that prevents the deportation from going ahead while the court decides if the refusal was lawful.

You may be deported back to the country where you normally live.

This information is for citizens of countries outside the EEA, Switzerland and the UK.

You may be given permission to enter but with conditions attached. For example, you may only be allowed to stay for a stated period. The immigration officer will stamp your passport with information about the conditions of your stay.

The immigration officer may grant you a visitor permission which allows you to stay for a maximum of 3 months. In certain unforeseen circumstances, this visitor permission may be extended .

If you want to stay in Ireland for longer than this, you must apply for permission to remain by registering with your immigration office.

However, visa-required nationals who have entered Ireland on a C (or ‘short stay’) visa cannot extend their permission to remain, unless they were granted a C visa to join an EEA family member. They must leave and apply for a D visa from outside Ireland if they want to return.

Contact your local immigration office .

If you are living in Dublin, Kildare, Meath or Wicklow contact the Burgh Quay Registration Office.

Burgh Quay Registration Office

Department of Justice 13/14 Burgh Quay Dublin 2 D02 XK70 Ireland

Immigrant Council of Ireland

2 St Andrew Street Dublin 2 Ireland

Nasc Migrant and Refugee Rights

34 Paul Street Cork T12 W14H

Related documents

• Back to Work Enterprise Allowance If you are getting certain social welfare payments, there are supports to help you become self-employed. Find out about the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme. 1838.3357
• Bringing my non-EEA partner to Ireland to get married Outlines how to bring your non-EEA, UK or Swiss partner to Ireland to get married. 1791.9532
• Visa requirements for entering Ireland Citizens of certain countries need a valid Irish entry visa before they arrive in Ireland. Find out whether you need a visa to enter Ireland. 1715.4285

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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Hungarian residency options for non-EU citizens

Hungary offers various favorable residency options to non-EU citizens who want to live and work in the European Union. Beside the high living standards, low living costs, excellent infrastructure and good public safety, relatively simple and quick residency procedures make Hungary an ideal destination for anyone moving to Europe.

Residency options in Hungary

The Hungarian residence permit is issued based on your plans in Hungary. The procedure will be slightly different in each case, and different supporting documents will be required. The application procedure usually takes 2-3 months (sometimes more, depending on the workload of the Immigration Office), so make sure to apply in time.

Below you can find a list of the most popular residency options in Hungary. Click the links to learn more about each, or fill in the form below the article to tell us about your plans and ask for a free initial consultation.

• Business immigration

Do you have a business of your own? Or are you planning to set up a business in the EU? Look no further. Hungary offers 9% corporate tax (the lowest in the EU), and easy company formation in just 4-5 business days. You also get an EU VAT number immediately without further ado, so once you set up your corporate bank account, you can start trading both on the local and the international level. You as the managing director will be eligible for Hungarian residency based on your business activity , and you can even move your family here. Initially you will need a health insurance of your own, but once you start paying contributions in Hungary, you will receive full healthcare coverage. Read more here.

A popular variation of this option is real estate residency , where you can set up a company, buy real estate in Hungary, and rent it for a steady income . Since renting property is a stable business, you and your family members can become eligible for Hungarian residency based on the property management done by the company. Read more here.

Do you already have your own business outside Hungary? Many businesses can be operated remotely, so these days more and more people decide to become digital nomads and travel the world while performing work online. With the white card, you can get Hungarian residency while working for a non-Hungarian entity , and get visa-free access to the Schengen zone for an entire year (after which you can renew your permit once). The drawback is that you will need your own private health insurance, and that based on the white card your family members cannot apply for residency with family unification. Read more here.

• Work permit

Have you been offered a job at a Hungarian company ? That’s great! Now you will need a combined residency and work permit, usually simply referred to as a work permit, before you can move here and start working. The application must include a written agreement between the future employer and employee , and the employer must also be involved in the application, since they must submit a labor demand to the local Labor Department . Once you start working, you receive full healthcare coverage, and you can move your family to Hungary with family unification. Read more here.

If you are already working for the same employer, and now you are being sent to work at their Hungarian subsidiary, there is another, slightly simplified procedure also available to you called intra-corporate transfer . However, in this case you remain insured in your country of origin. Read more here.

Student residency

Are you planning to study at a Hungarian university or college? Many institutions for higher education offer courses in foreign languages, especially in English . Some of the most popular fields include medicine, veterinary medicine, engineering, and business. Once accepted, you can apply for student residency for the duration of your studies . The residence permit is normally given for 1 or 2 years, but it can be extended until you get your degree. While you are here, you will need a health insurance of your own, and for the application you must prove you have the necessary funds to finance your stay in Hungary. Read more here.

Family unification

If a family member of yours is already living and/or working in Hungary, you can join them through family unification. This is available to the spouse and underage children (under 18) of the main applicant (the family member already in Hungary). Residency based on family unification does not give you healthcare coverage, so you will have to have private health insurance. It does not let you enter employment in Hungary either, however, you can start a business of your own , or you can switch to a work permit once you have found an employer. Read more here .

Other reason

If your plans do not match any of the above listed Hungarian residency options, you can still get residency. You will have to indicate that you are applying based on this “other” reason , and you will be required to prove you have sufficient funds to provide for yourself in the long run in Hungary. This must include a private health insurance and long-term accommodation.

Choose the residency option that fits your plans

The Helpers Team has more than 15 years of experience with handling residency applications for various nationalities. We have profound insight on all the Hungarian residency options available, and we can support you all the way, until your residency is granted.

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• select the right option,
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Home » Hungarian residence permit

Hungarian residence permit

Hungary offers residence permits to foreign citizens, including non-EU nationals, who wish to work, study or live in the country. Acquiring a Hungarian residence permit comes with many advantages, for example, traveling visa-free in the Schengen area and being eligible for Hungarian state health insurance. Learn more about getting a Hungarian residence permit!

1. Who needs a Hungarian residence permit?

Every non-Hungarian citizen who stays in Hungary for more than 90 days is required to acquire a Hungarian residence permit except for EU and EEA nationals.

If the stay of EU and EEA nationals surpasses 90 days, then Address Card and Registration Card are needed.

Hungary is a full member of the European Union, and the residence permit issued by the Hungarian authorities is valid for the entire Schengen Area. It signifies a zone of 29 European countries that have officially abolished all passports and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.

The 26 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

2. What are the benefits of acquiring a Hungarian residence permit?

Acquiring a Hungarian residence permit comes with several benefits. The advantages are as follows:

• Visa-free traveling in the Schengen Area : Are you looking for a quick, safe, and cost-efficient way to acquire an EU residence permit? Would you like to travel to 26 European countries without the hassles of obtaining different travel documents? Anyone with a Hungary residence permit has the right to travel in the Schengen area visa-free.
• Access to Hungarian state health insurance : Anyone with a temporary or permanent Hungarian residence permit is entitled to receive medical care in public health care institutions. In most cases, medical care in Hungary is free of charge.
• Low living costs : Hungary’s price level index for final household consumption expenditure is 33.7% lower than the EU27 average. Hungarian living and business cost a favorable compared to Western European countries.
• Central European location : Hungary is located in the Central European region and has two major airports along with a highly developed highway network.
• Prestigious universities : Are you looking for affordable, high-quality higher education opportunities? Hungarian is a popular destination among international students because of the low tuition fee, excellent education quality, and diverse scholarship options.

3. What types of residency permits are available in Hungary?

Hungary issues different types of residency permits and licenses based on individual circumstances. The most important Hungarian residence permits include:

• Residence permit for employment
• Residence permit for Guest Investors (Golden Visa)
• Residence permit for Guest Self-Employed (business visa via company formation)
• Residence permit for family unification
• Residence permit for research
• Residence permit to study
• Residence permit for voluntary and social activities
• Resident permit for medical treatments
• Visas for seasonal workers

4. Can I get a residence permit based on my Hungarian investment?

Hungary has a dedicated Golden VISA or Guest Investor program which provides residence permits for all foreign investors on equal terms in one of the following cases.

• Obtaining investment units issued by a real estate fund registered with the National Bank of Hungary in a value of at least EUR 250 000.
• The acquisition of property worth at least EUR 500 000 in residential immovable property situated within Hungary territory.
• Making a monetary donation of at least EUR 1 000 000 to a higher education institution maintained by a public interest asset management foundation.

The foreign applicant becomes eligible for the residence permit in Hungary for 10 years in the case of completion of one of the above investments. This residence permit is a business immigration opportunity that is offered to the foreign investor. The investments would generate revenue for the investor as rental fee or the yield of the investment fund.

The investments shall be kept by the investor for at least 5 years. This Golden Visa is very popular among foreign investors because there is no requirement to stay in Hungary. The family members, but only the minor children and wife of the investor are also eligible for the Residence Permit for the same period. The Guest Investor Residence Permit can be renewed for further 10 years after its expiration. If the Guest Investor Residence Permit holders spend 3 years continuously in Hungary, they will be eligible for Permanent Residence Permit.

Required steps for the Golden VISA procedure:

• Submission of the Guest Investor Visa application
• Getting the Guest Investor Visa for 2 years.
• Traveling to Hungary within 2 years.
• Completion of the investment within 3 months from the date of the first entry to Hungary.
• Getting the Guest Investor Residence Permit for 10 years (including family members).
• Renewal of the Guest Investor Residence Permit permit for additional 10 years.

5. Hungarian residence permit processing time: How long will it take to process my application?

You shall submit your application to the Hungarian Consulate in your country of residence. Hungarian residence permit processing time is quite fast compared to some other EU members. The entire process takes 21 days as per the Hungarian immigration law. However due to the huge number of the submitted applications, sometimes it takes 60 days to get the final approval from the Immigration Office.

6. Which documents do I need to submit to apply for a residence permit in Hungary?

The following documents must be submitted to apply for residency in Hungary.

• Passport (It must be valid for at least 90 days after returning from Hungary.)
• Permit application form
• Passport size photo
• Evidence of the sufficient amount of funds (eg. bank statement)
• Proof of health insurance
• Declaration about investment in the case of Guest Investor Visa.

Keep in mind that different types of Hungarian residence permits require additional documents. These additional documents may include

• Birth certificate
• Deed of Adoption
• Confirmation of family ties to an EEA citizen
• Marriage certificate

8. What is the procedure for renewing my Hungarian residence permit?

At least a month before the expiry of the Hungarian residence permit, the renewal application must be submitted to the Immigration Office. Please note that the number of your stay in the Schengen Zone will be checked by the competent authority upon renewal (exemption for Guest Investors).

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Hungary Golden Visa

EUR 250,000 Guest Investor Residency

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is hungary golden visa.

The Hungarian Guest Investor (“Program”) allows third country nationals (non-European Union citizens) to acquire Hungary’s long term residency status in "national interest" for investing in EUR 250,000 Special Hungarian Government approved Real estate investment fund or EUR 500,000 Properties. The program is opening in Jul 1, 2024 opening restarted by hungarian government to revive economy.

Who can for the Hungary golden visa?

EU/EEA citizens including Swiss nationals cannot apply

Stateless people can apply, if you are in Hungary.

What investments open for Guest investors?

The Guest investor (GI) program has only 3 routes available..

Real Estate Fund Units - Acquisition of an investment fund share of at least EUR 250 000 issued by a real estate fund registered by the Hungarian National Bank.

Real Estate ownership - A residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, located in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Registry of Hungary under its parcel identification/topographical LOT number, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.

Public Donation - A financial donation in an amount of at least 1 000 000 EUR and for a purpose of educational, scientific research or artistic creation activities, to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission.

Where is Hungary and what is the local currency?

Hungary is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. The local currency used Hungarian Forint (HUF), which is approx 400 forints for 1 euro. The Hungarian capital Budapest is the th most popular tourist destination in Europe and over 2 million tourists visit every year. Lake balaton is very popular in summer. Budapest is a safe city to live and has very low crime rates. English is widely spoken. Hungary has less snowfall, warm climate not too cold (max -5 deg) in winter and not too hot (35 deg) liveable conditions in Central europe. The cost of living is only half of other big european cities such as Berlin, Vienna, Paris. Vienna is just 3 hours by high speed Railjet train from Budapest. Budapest Liszt ferenc airport terminal 2 is centrally located and has excellent connections to all major cities in Europe.

Is Hungary a schengen country?

Yes, Hungary signed the schengen agreement. The visas and residence permits issued by Hungary is valid in all schengen states, including Switzerland. The currency in Hungary is "Hungarian forint (HUF) which is approximately 400 forints for 1 euro.

Can i live and visit EU Schengen member states?

Yes,you can visit with a valid Hungarian ID card (residence permit card), you visit all schengen states for business or tourism purpose. You can also live in these countries for maximum 90 days in 6 month window period, under Schengen rules. You cannot work in other EU member states for this apply for a special work permit.

AT Austria BE Belgium BG Bulgaria CH Switzerland CY Cyprus CZ Czech Republic DE Germany DK Denmark EE Estonia EL Greece ES Spain FI Finland FR France HR Croatia HU Hungary IE Ireland IS Iceland IT Italy LI Liechtenstein LT Lithuania LU Luxembourg LV Latvia MT Malta NL Netherlands NO Norway PL Poland PT Portugal RO Romania SE Sweden SI Slovenia SK Slovakia Croatia Bulgaria BG;

You can also visit Non-Schengen EU member states with Hungarian residence card such as

Cyprus, Bosnia, Moldova, Montenegro, Georgia. You can also visit Turkey with e-visa using your Hungarian card.

Can i go to UK with the visa issued under hungarian residency bond scheme?

UK does not belong to Schengen zone, so if you are non-EU national, you will need a separate UK visa. Hungarian residence permit (ID card) is not valid to visit UK.

Is the Golden visa program accepting applications?

Yes, officially will open from July 1, 2024.

Law here: http://oif.gov.hu

Is financing possible under this scheme

Yes, it can be possible 

What documents are required to apply for golden visa?

• Passport copy
• Birth certificate *
• Original purchase certificate for 500,000 euros of real estate in Hungary or 250000 euros in RE fund approved by Magyar national bank.
• Travel and health insurance coverage (original must have sign and seal from the issuing company).
• Bank statements, salary certificates, any other proof of income (must be in original have sign and stamp of bank)
• Marriage certificate original * (for spouse)
• Business documents (if any)
• Document proving entitlement of social care services in Hungary.

*  Apostille seal

• If apostille is not available, then the documents must be legalized/notarized at hungarian consulate, by signing infront of the consular officer depending on the document.
•  All documents must have a copy, and originals must have seal/stamp with a signature to be accepted by the Hungarian consulate under hungarian law.  

What are the common reasons for refusal by the hungarian authorities?

The hungarian authorities will refuse your visa application, if you 

• Provide false or misleading or concealment of information in the application form.
• You are threat the public safety or national security of Hungary or EU member states;
• You are a subject of expulsion or entry and stay ban, as well as Schengen Information System SIS alert ordering entry and stay ban.
• who declares false data or untrue facts or who deceives the authority
• who has a criminal record in home country.
• If you fail background or diligence checks done by the Government.
• If you are from blacklisted countries.

What is the processing time?

21 working days by the Office of immigration but may take longer.  The time from applying at the embassy and receiving your visa will take 2 months or more.

How to renew the residence permit after expiry?

You can easily renew the residence permit after 5 years for another 5 years. You have to apply at the Office of Immigration of Nationality (OIN), 30 days prior to the expiry date.

Please also note that if you change your place of living, you have to notify OIN office immediately. 

Is the Government fee paid refundable?

No, it is a non-refundable payment once your application is approved.

What are the benefits available with hungarian residency?

• Lifetime EU permanent residency status
• Family and children get PR under family unification.
• Processing time 2 weeks
• No language tests. No health tests. No education requirement.
• Visa free movement in Schengen. Live in any EU Schengen country for 6 months maximum
• Work in Hungary
• Financing option possible for the entire investment.
• Risk free bond investment for 5 years in Euro currency
• Open to all country nationals

Does the Golden visa program grant lifetime permanent residency in Hungary? What is the validity period?

The person is granted permanent residence status under guest residency scheme, is entitled to stay in Hungary for an indefinite period, the validity period of the national permanent residence permit document is a maximum of 10 years, which can be extended by a maximum of 10 years case by case.

• Sign contract with immigration consultant (us). You must be in Hungary in person.
• We prepare initial application and do quick check on documents
• Pay full investment directly to bank account.
• Apply at Hungary OIF aliens policing office (visit only once for fingerprint) to receive your permit 90-120 days
• Family and children apply for hungarian residency at hungarian consulate, under "family unification" with the copy of your RP card
• Validity period of the document is maximised in 10 years, and it may be extended for another 10 years for the same purpose.
• You can naturalize for hungarian citizenship after 8 years of living (hungarian language needed)

When can i apply for permanent residence card in Hungary?

Real estate - a contract of sale and purchase, countersigned by a lawyer, concerning a residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, located in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Registry of Hungary under its parcel identification/topographical LOT number, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances;.

What are returns available with real estate investment fund?

Annual returns are possible 4-5%. The entire investment is refundable after 5 years. You have to maintain investment if you want to live in Hungary for more than 5 years.

The RE fund certificate from the real estate fund manager registered by the Hungarian National Bank or from the distributor of the investment fund share on the investment fund share of EUR 250 000 issued under the name of the third-country national. Please note that in this case you are required to have an investment fund share issued by a real estate fund for at least 5 years whose net asset value comprises minimum 40% of investments in residential real estate in Hungary and its real estate fund manager has at least a simplified site security certificate or is listed in the register under Act XXX of 2016 on Defence and Security Procurement.

What is the difference between "National Permanent Residence Permit" and "Permanent Residence Permit" issued by Hungary?

What are the eligibility conditions to apply  under the scheme.

• The main applicant must be over the age of 18.
• No criminal records.
• Spouse included
• Children under age of 18.
• Applicant not from Russia, Belarus or sanctioned country.
• No language, age, or working experience requirement.

What if the application is rejected by Hungarian authorities?

Please refer to Refund Policy. We provide partial refund of the costs.

Are there any residency requirements to live in Hungary?

Once granted the permanent residency, there is no residency obligation to live in Hungary. However they are free to enter and exit any schengen country. 

Is it possible to get Hungarian citizenship under this program?

Yes, you can get Hungarian citizenship and passport after 8 years of living by naturalizing. You will also need to pass Hungarian language test and take an oath.

Can i work under the golden visa scheme?

Yes, you or your family members are allowed to work under the scheme.

The residence permit for guest investor and the related residence permit for family reunification entitles its holder to perform actual work for or under the direction of others, for remuneration, under contract for employment relationship.

What is the real estate prices in in Budapest?

Hungary has the lowest property prices in Europe. In capital budapest, central location, costs EUR 7000 to 10000 per square meters.

Do i need to pay taxes in Hungary?

Only if you live more than 183 days per year, you become a tax resident. The hungarian tax authority (NAV) will issue you a tax id card, and it is recommend to have one.

Does Hungary permit dual citizenship?

What is the difference between "temporary residence permit" and "permanent residence permit" .

Temporary residence permit (TRP) has limited validity (say for 2,3,5 years), while Permanent settlement permit issued for 10 years with unlimited extensions.

Can EEA/EU citizens apply under this program?

No, this scheme is ONLY open for third country nationals outside EU.

What are the approval and success rates?

We have had 100%  succesful approval rates, as we do a quick due diligence on clients and let them know beforehand if they can get approved.

Are you authorized agent for the Hungarian Golden visa program?

Yes, we do consulting. We work with lawyers, fund managers and property developers in Hungary who have the necessary licenses..

Can US citizens apply under this program?

Yes, we welcome Americans to apply under this route and we also encourage real estate investment in Budapest.

What if my passport is expiring soon?

To apply for the golden visa program, we recommend your passport has to be valid for atleast 5 years. The Residence permit is granted to the length of the passport validity. As a general rule, when you travel, you must have atleast 6 months validity. 

Are we allowed to do business investment in Hungary?

The golden visa program allows three types of investment routes.. It does not have provisions for business investment.

What are the taxes in Hungary?

• Corporate tax 10%
• Personal income tax rates 16%

Does Hungary has double taxation treaties with other countries?

Yes, see here  http://en.nav.gov.hu/taxation/double_taxation_treaties

Can hungarian legal entities or companies buy real estate?

Yes, this is the best way to mitigate taxes. You can refer to information here by the information published by local tax authority.  http://en.nav.gov.hu/taxation/taxinfo/rent_of_real_estates.html

Is it possible to open bank account in Hungary?

Hungarian banks offer internet banking in english, and you can open multi currency accounts in Euros or HUF. You must appear in person at the bank, show your passport to open bank account.

What are the approximate living costs in Hungary?

The living costs in Hungary are much lower than in western Europe. General costs for a month are at least EUR 800, while apartment rentals start from EUR 500 / month, utilities not included, which come around EUR 100 / month. So all in all you will need about 2000 euros or 300,000 forints to live comfortably in Budapest. It is much cheaper to live in the countryside.

What services do you provide in Hungary?

• Company incorporation
• Housing and Accommodation (required for residency)
• Tax and EU VAT registration
• Bank account opening (possible only if you are in Hungary)
• Resident permits/visas for family members
• Accounting / Reporting to tax authorities
• Virtual office service and registered company seat
• Airport welcome service
• Translation of documents from English to Hungarian or vice versa.
• Personal assistance
• Emergency services
• Market research
• Business Invitation letters to our business partners

Can i visit your office for meetings?

Yes, we are happy to arrange meetings for you. Please contact us for prior appointments.

How are  the transport systems in Hungary?

Budapest has excellent public transport systems (bus, tram, metro) and taxi to airport takes about 50 minutes costs about 25 euros. There are trains and buses to the countryside towns but only in the daytime.  Lake balaton is about 135 kms from Budapest. 

What are some of the big summer events happening in Hungary?

In summer, hungary is full of festivals and events. In August, there is one week Sziget festival with 1 million visitors, Balaton festival (same month), Beer & Wine  festival in Castle hill (jun/jul), F1 Hungarian Grand Prix (July end) and tonnes of events happening every week end.

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Guide to all types of visas and residence permits in Hungary

In this article I will explain in brief all the visa and residence permit types in Hungary. This guide will help you mainly to know which type of permit you should apply to. Knowing this you will minimize the risk of applying to the wrong one and getting rejected, which in the future is not good for you as the rejection will be documented. A difficulty that you might encounter during the application process or indirectly with translations will be the language barrier. Important: this list does not contain permanent residence permits or citizenship. It only contains the temporary ones, in other words, primarily those for one to enter Hungary for the first time.

Note: if you are a citizen of a European Union member state or you are from the European Economic Area, then this list is not for you. The processes for you are different, and a bit simpler, although the language will remain to be a possible difficulty. If you are an EU citizen or EEA national and you are coming to work in Hungary, I have this guide for you: Work in Hungary: how EU citizens get the registration card .

Who can apply to the types of permits in this list?

All visas and permits you see in this guide are for people from outside of the European Union and from the European Economic Area. In other words, from a European point of view, a third-country national. That is the official term.

As this term is the one used officially in the Hungarian inmigration´s office´s website, I need to explain what it means in this context. It does not have anything to do with the term third world country. Third-country national refers to an individual who is moving to a foreign country and is processing his or her papers to legally work in that foreign country. Another way of calling an individual on that particular situation is foreign national. In the European Union (and in Hungary as a member state) you are a third-country national. Individuals from any EU member state or from the Economic European Area (EEA national) are referred in the official website as EEA national. I am explaining all this to you because it will be helpful when you will be submitting your application. One thing though, the United Kingdom is no longer a member state of the European Union, neither of the EEA, thus UK citizens in this context are third-country nationals.

Are you from a visa-free country?

Now that you are here I assume you are a third-country national. Here is another thing you should be very sure of before submitting any application. If you are from a visa-free country, which means you do not need visa to enter the European Union, most probably you will have 90 days to stay in the Schengen area, but within a period of 180 days. On those 90 days, you might be able to submit your application, but make sure that the application process period is less than the half of those 90 days. Otherwise, you might run out of time before getting your permit.

In case you are not from a visa-free country, in other words, you need visa to enter the Schengen area, in most cases you will get 30 days as a tourist and that will not be enough, so better apply from your country.

Note: this guide is only about all the different permit types, it does not include other details like costs.

Family reunification

In terms of family reunification visas or permits, there are two types. I will explain, but read through before making a decision.

Family reunification residence permit for a third-country national to reunite with an EU citizen (including Hungarians) or with an EEA national

This type of permit is for those third-country nationals who have a hungarian or european relative who lives in Hungary. The key is what is considered a family member. In this guide I explain more about this permit in detail: Hungary: Residence Permit for Family Reunification with European relatives

Family reunification residence permit for a third-country national to reunite with another third-country national who lives in Hungary

This is similar to the previous one, but in this case the third-country national reunites with another third-country national who already lives and work legally in Hungary and has a residence permit. In this guide I explain more about this permit in detail: Hungary: Residence Permit for Family Reunification with Third-country relatives

Residence permits for students

University studies.

This permit is for students who would like to study in Hungary full time during the day and face to face. This is not for people who want to participate in a course of a couple of months. It needs to be a higher education institute officially recognized by the Hungarian government. The main requirement will always be the admission letter. For more details check this other guide I wrote: Hungary: all types of visas or residence permits for students .

ERASMUS student mobility

This permit is for student mobility programs such as ERASMUS and the main requirement will be the scholarship and all other related official documents. For more details check this other guide I wrote: Hungary: all types of visas or residence permits for students .

Work permits

As you can see, there are many types of work permits, some of them can be very specific. Please read all of them, do not decide after reading one because you might be eligible for other one. Read all, understand the differences and then plan your application.

General Hungarian work permit

In most cases this permit will apply to you, but not in all cases. The main requirement will always be the employment contract. In fact, for most work permit types a contract will be the main requirement and it will need to be signed by the employer and the employee.

There will be occasions, when even if you will work for a multinational or even if you are a highly-skilled professional, this permit will apply to you. What defines what type you will go for, is the specific situation and also on the employer. If you are sure you need the general work permit, I have a guide for that here: Work in Hungary: guide to get the residence permit for work

Work permit for traineeship or internship

I do not think I need to explain much, if you come to Hungary for an internship, almost sure this will be the permit you need. Just to emphasis, again here the contract will be the main requirement. It will always need to be a company registered in Hungary. For more details check this other guide I wrote: Hungary: all types of visas or residence permits for students .

Job-search permit after you completed studies or research in Hungary

This type of work permit is for people who were already living in Hungary, either for studies or for research, but they would like to stay in the country working as employees or as entrepreneurs. For more details check this other guide I wrote: Hungary: all types of visas or residence permits for students .

Residence permit for freelancers

This permit is for already freelancers or for people who plan to be freelancers. If you are already one, its a bit simpler and you will have higher chance to get the permit. In case you are planning to be one, the requirements will be way more rigorous, especially – but not only – the business plan. Here is a guide for more information about it: Hungarian Freelance Residence Permit or Freelance Visa .

Intra-corporate transfer expat work permit

This permit is specific for professional who work for a multinational in their home country, but that company decides to transfer them to their Hungarian office for a project for example. Here the key to the permit is the transfer from company ABC with operations in e.g. Panama to the same company ABC with operations in Hungary decided by the company. You need to have evidence of such transfer.

If you live in your country, you apply to a multinational from your country and they recruit you, then that will be a general work permit. The same applies for when the multinational contacts you and you get hired.

Highly-skilled professionals work permit (Blue card)

This permit is for highly-skilled professionals and it is called EU blue card, but not because you are a highly-skilled professional, this permit will be for you. What defines if you should apply for this permit is whether your skills are in shortage in Hungary, but not only that. The company that is hiring you needs those skills. If this does not takes place, at least in paper, most probably you will need to apply to the general work permit.

Seasonal agriculture employment permit

This permit is specific for seasonal agricultural workers who come to Hungary for no more than 6 or no more than 12 months to work.

Digital nomad visa (white card)

This visa is called in many countries the white card, and that is no different here in Hungary. It is only available for digital nomads and to apply you will need to be already one for at least 6 months, and with a steady income. Here is a guide for more information about it .

Working holiday visa

This visa is for people from specific countries who would like to work or study in Hungary for a period of 1 year. The specific countries are: New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Chile and Argentina.

Volunteering visa

This is for people who would like to do volunteering service in Hungary and the main requirement, similarly to the work permit, will be a signed volunteering contract with the given organization.

Permits for research

Short-term research visa.

This permit is for research of a period of no more than six months.

Long-term research visa

This permit is for research of a period of no more than one or two years.

General research residence permit

This permit is for research of a period of between one and five years.

Residence permit for medical treatment

And lastly, this permit is for those who come to Hungary for medical treatment. Such a treatment will be provided for a period of more than 90 days but less than 2 years.

If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments section.

All the information from this article was taken from the official website of the Hungarian authorities.

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Have a good day, Renato

Source: Residence in Hungary (bmbah.hu)

Renato Calcagno

Important information on the validity of residence permits and on returning to Hungary

In view of the pandemic situation, the residence permits that expired after November 4, 2020 are valid until the end of the health emergency situation in Hungary, but only in the case of those students who are physically in Hungary.

 If you are in Hungary: If your residence permit has expired or is due to expire during the summer, make sure to renew it before you leave Hungary to return home for the summer. If you leave with a residence permit that has expired or is due to expire before you return to Hungary, you will have to apply for a student visa to be able to return. Immigration Office info is available here (Client Service II. – Szegedi ut – Client Care Office) – please read all the info that follows the contact info and opening hours! If you were at home in the spring semester and studied online: If your residence permit has expired or is due to expire before your return to Hungary, you will only be able to return with a student visa.