Hungary EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens staying more than 90 days within 180 days in Hungary obtain a registration certificate, issued immediately on application and valid indefinitely. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU states, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (EEA citizens) may live in Hungary. ^{11 1 8 9}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid national ID card or passport. ¹
• The certificate is for stays over 90 days within any 180 days. ¹¹
• Beyond 3 months, workers and self-employed persons may stay while they work. ^{11 4}
• Beyond 3 months, persons not working need sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance. ^{11 3}
• Others show sufficient resources for the whole stay so as not to burden the social assistance system. ¹¹
• Others also show health insurance entitlement for the whole stay, or cover the costs themselves. ¹¹
• A valid national ID card or passport is needed. ²
• A valid travel document or ID card is attached, with proof of work, enrolment, resources or health insurance, and proof of address. ¹¹
• Apply in person at the regional directorate for your Hungarian address, or electronically via Enter Hungary. ¹¹
• The certificate is issued immediately when the conditions are shown; the administrative fee is HUF 1,000 (≈ $3). ¹¹
• Your first Hungarian address is declared in the same procedure, and the address card is sent by post. ¹¹
• The certificate is mailed to you after approval; you need not appear to collect it. ¹¹
• Permanent residence is available after 5 years of uninterrupted lawful stay in Hungary. ^{12 5}

Stay

• No time limit; a registration certificate is requested for stays over 90 days within 180 days and is valid indefinitely.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

EEA citizens may work in Hungary as employees or self-employed persons without a work permit; some public-authority posts may be reserved for nationals.

Family

Family members who are EU citizens register in the same way; non-EU family members apply for a residence card for an EEA citizen's family member.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Workers: residence rights · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Working abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. Free movement of EU nationals · European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion · checked 2026-10-10
9. Free movement of persons (Switzerland and the EU) · Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
10. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
11. EEA citizen registration certificate (Hungarian text) · National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary) · checked 2026-10-10
12. Permanent residence card for EEA citizens (Hungarian text) · National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary) · checked 2026-10-10