Hungary · Business / Startup
Hungary Guest self-employment
Income needed: HUF 7.7M+ a year ≈ $24k
Guest self-employment residence permit
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Guest self-employment is a business / startup route for Hungary. Applicants need income of HUF 7.7M+ a year ≈ $24k. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- HUF 7.7M+ a year ≈ $24k
- Government fees
- €110 ≈ $120 · +2 more
- Processing
- Up to 21 days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 3 government fees listed below; income to show HUF 7.7M+/yr ≈ $24k; decision: up to 21 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€110 ≈ $120 · +2 more
- EUR 110 (≈ $120)Procedural fee for a residence permit and entry visa when applying at a diplomatic mission.
- HUF 39,000 (≈ $120)Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for in person in Hungary.
- HUF 26,000 (≈ $80)Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for through the Enter Hungary platform in Hungary, and for extensions.
Shown, not spentHUF 7.7M+/yr ≈ $24k
- HUF 7,747,200 a year (≈ $23,700)For a registered self-employed applicant: annual income from self-employment above 24 times the minimum wage (24 x HUF 322,800 (≈ $990) from 1 January 2026 = HUF 7,747,200 (≈ $23,700)), shown by a tax authority certificate. Chief executives qualify instead by employing five Hungarian or free-movement staff, or by the business generating enough income.
RenewalRenewable, 3 years max
Extension is possible for up to 2 more years, never beyond 3 years in total from first issue.
Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count
Holders of a guest self-employment permit cannot obtain a national residence card.
ProcessingUp to 21 days
The authority has 21 days to process applications, not counting time to fix missing documents.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply at a Hungarian embassy or consulate; inside Hungary only if you are visa-free and apply for the first time, hold a permit nearing expiry, or have a job-seeking permit.
Presence rulesAt least 90 days
To extend you must have lived in Hungary at least 90 days in any 180-day period; apply between 90 and 30 days before expiry.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 3 years in total
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- Applicants are third-country nationals performing remunerated independent activity.
- Alternatively, applicants act as chief executive of a business organisation.
- Work in the company beyond chief-executive activity requires an employment-purpose permit or a Hungarian Card.
What you must show1
- Annual self-employment income exceeds 24 times the minimum wage, HUF 7,747,200 (≈ $23,700) from 2026.
When you become tax resident
How Hungary decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Foreign-source income
15% worldwide
Hungarian resident individuals pay a flat 15% personal income tax on all income, earned in Hungary or abroad; income taxable abroad under a double taxation convention (typically except dividends) is exempt in Hungary, and tax paid abroad on dividends is deductible from the 15% dividend tax.
All tax rules for Hungary Tax records checked
Full official text
For independent remunerated activity (self-employment) or chief-executive roles in a Hungarian business organisation. 1
What you must show and pay
- Income of over HUF 7,747,200 a year (≈ $23,700) · For a registered self-employed applicant: annual income from self-employment above 24 times the minimum wage (24 x HUF 322,800 (≈ $990) from 1 January 2026 = HUF 7,747,200 (≈ $23,700)), shown by a tax authority certificate. Chief executives qualify instead by employing five Hungarian or free-movement staff, or by the business generating enough income. 1 2
- A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120) · Procedural fee for a residence permit and entry visa when applying at a diplomatic mission. 1 3
- A fee of HUF 39,000 (≈ $120) · Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for in person in Hungary. 1 3
- A fee of HUF 26,000 (≈ $80) · Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for through the Enter Hungary platform in Hungary, and for extensions. 1 3
Requirements
- Applicants are third-country nationals performing remunerated independent activity. 1
- Alternatively, applicants act as chief executive of a business organisation. 1
- Work in the company beyond chief-executive activity requires an employment-purpose permit or a Hungarian Card. 1
- Annual self-employment income exceeds 24 times the minimum wage, HUF 7,747,200 (≈ $23,700) from 2026. 1 2
Stay
- Validity at most 1 year, extendable for the same purpose by up to 2 years, never exceeding 3 years from first issue.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Short-stay visa obligations depend on nationality; residence permit subtypes can impose nationality restrictions. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Independent remunerated activity or chief executive of a business entity; other work in the company needs an employment permit or Hungarian Card.
Family
Family reunification is available once the sponsor has held the guest self-employment permit for at least a year.
Official sources
- Residence permit for guest self-employment · National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) · checked 2026-10-10
- Minimum wages, fostered workers minimum wage, guaranteed minimum wage (HUF 322,800 from 1 January 2026) · Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · checked 2026-10-11
- Procedural fees · OIF · checked 2026-10-10
- National residence card · OIF · checked 2026-10-10
Guest self-employment and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest self-employment | Needs income of HUF 7.7M+ a year ≈ $24k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Business investor permit Greece | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Guest self-employment?
Income of over HUF 7,747,200 a year (≈ $23,700). For a registered self-employed applicant: annual income from self-employment above 24 times the minimum wage (24 x HUF 322,800 (≈ $990) from 1 January 2026 = HUF 7,747,200 (≈ $23,700)), shown by a tax authority certificate. A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120). Procedural fee for a residence permit and entry visa when applying at a diplomatic mission. A fee of HUF 39,000 (≈ $120). Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for in person in Hungary. A fee of HUF 26,000 (≈ $80). Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for through the Enter Hungary platform in Hungary, and for extensions.
How long can I stay on the Guest self-employment?
Validity at most 1 year, extendable for the same purpose by up to 2 years, never exceeding 3 years from first issue.
How long does the Guest self-employment take to process?
The authority has 21 days to process applications, not counting time to fix missing documents.
Can I work on the Guest self-employment?
Independent remunerated activity or chief executive of a business entity; other work in the company needs an employment permit or Hungarian Card.
Can I bring my family on the Guest self-employment?
Family reunification is available once the sponsor has held the guest self-employment permit for at least a year.
Who can apply for the Guest self-employment?
Short-stay visa obligations depend on nationality; residence permit subtypes can impose nationality restrictions. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Guest self-employment lead to permanent residence in Hungary?
Time on the Guest self-employment doesn't count toward permanent residence in Hungary.
How are Guest self-employment holders taxed in Hungary?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Guest self-employment. The standard rules apply: Hungarian resident individuals pay a flat 15% personal income tax on all income, earned in Hungary or abroad; income taxable abroad under a double taxation convention (typically except dividends) is exempt in Hungary, and tax paid abroad on dividends is deductible from the 15% dividend tax.
More in Hungary
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Residence permit for guest self-employment · National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) · checked 2026-10-10
- Minimum wages, fostered workers minimum wage, guaranteed minimum wage (HUF 322,800 from 1 January 2026) · Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) · checked 2026-10-11
- Procedural fees · OIF · checked 2026-10-10
- National residence card · OIF · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.