--- title: "Hungary Hungarian Card requirements 2026: 3-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/hungarian-card/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Hungary · Work # Hungary Hungarian Card **First stay:** 3 yrs Hungarian Card (employment of qualified workers) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 3 yrs (Validity at most 3 years, extendable for 3 years.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals (not EEA nationals or their family members).) - **Family:** Family can join (Spouse and minor children can apply for family reunification, and the employer can file the family application together with the Hungarian Card.) ## Key facts Hungarian Card is a work route for Hungary. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** €110 ≈ $120 · +2 more - **Processing:** Up to 70 days - **First stay:** 3 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: 3 government fees listed below; decision: up to 70 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. **Renewal: Renewable** The permit is valid up to 3 years and can be extended for 3 years, only inside Hungary via Enter Hungary. [OIF](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-hungarian-card) **Permanent residence: After 3 years of residence** A national residence card (long-term status) needs 3 years of legal, uninterrupted residence in Hungary before applying; it is withdrawn if you leave Hungary for more than 6 months. [OIF](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/national-residence-card) **Processing: Up to 70 days** The authority must decide within 70 days of submission. [OIF](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-hungarian-card) **Where to apply: Abroad or in-country** Apply at a Hungarian embassy or consulate; inside Hungary only if you are a visa-free national without a residence permit, via Enter Hungary or the regional directorate. [OIF](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-hungarian-card) **Presence rules: At 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. [OIF](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-hungarian-card) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Needs a job offer from an employer in Hungary - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Applicants do actual work under an employment contract, or as owner or managing director. - Applicants hold a qualification listed in the ministerial decree on higher education. - Alternatively, applicants are professional sportspersons, coaches, performers or registered film production workers. #### What you must show and pay - **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. ## 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Residence permit for employees, owner-managers and listed professions with qualifications specified by ministerial decree, sportspeople, performers and film workers. (source 1) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of EUR 110 (≈ $120) · Procedural fee for a residence permit and entry visa when applying at a diplomatic mission. (sources 1, 2) - A fee of HUF 39,000 (≈ $120) · Procedural fee for a residence permit applied for in person in Hungary. (sources 1, 2) - 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. (sources 1, 2) #### Requirements - Applicants do actual work under an employment contract, or as owner or managing director. (source 1) - Applicants hold a qualification listed in the ministerial decree on higher education. (source 1) - Alternatively, applicants are professional sportspersons, coaches, performers or registered film production workers. (source 1) #### Stay - Validity at most 3 years, extendable for 3 years. - Initial permitted stay: 36 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Third-country nationals (not EEA nationals or their family members). 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 Work in the contracted employment. #### Family Spouse and minor children can apply for family reunification, and the employer can file the family application together with the Hungarian Card. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Residence permit for Hungarian Card](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-hungarian-card) · OIF · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Procedural fees](https://oif.gov.hu/factsheets/procedural-fees) · OIF · checked 2026-10-10 3. [National residence card](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/national-residence-card) · OIF · checked 2026-10-10 ## Hungarian Card and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Hungarian Card | – | 3 yr, renewable | – | | [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/intra-corporate-transfer/) | – | 3 yr, renewable | – | | [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/researcher/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Guest worker permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/employment/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Hungarian Card? 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 Hungarian Card? Validity at most 3 years, extendable for 3 years. ### How long does the Hungarian Card take to process? The authority must decide within 70 days of submission. ### Can I work on the Hungarian Card? Work in the contracted employment. ### Can I bring my family on the Hungarian Card? Spouse and minor children can apply for family reunification, and the employer can file the family application together with the Hungarian Card. ### Who can apply for the Hungarian Card? Third-country nationals (not EEA nationals or their family members). 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 Hungarian Card lead to permanent residence in Hungary? Time on the Hungarian Card counts toward permanent residence in Hungary, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. ### How are Hungarian Card holders taxed in Hungary? No special regime in our records is tied to the Hungarian Card. 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 [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/working-holiday/) [White Card nomad permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/white-card/) [Guest self-employment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/guest-self/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/study/) [Hungarian simplified naturalisation](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/simplified-naturalisation-by-descent/) [Post-study job/business](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hungary/seek-job-or-business/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 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. 1. [Residence permit for Hungarian Card](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/residence-permit-for-hungarian-card) · OIF · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Procedural fees](https://oif.gov.hu/factsheets/procedural-fees) · OIF · checked 2026-10-10 3. [National residence card](https://www.oif.gov.hu/factsheets/national-residence-card) · OIF · checked 2026-10-10 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.