Relocation

Residence and permanent residence in Hungary

We choose the right ground for your residence permit, prepare the documents and guide you all the way to permanent status. In English, with an honest assessment of your chances before we start.

grounds for a residence permit

3 years

to a national permanent residence card

5 years

to an EU permanent residence card

21 days

processing time at OIF

Residence permit — temporary

Issued for a specific purpose: work, business, study, family, investment. Valid from 1 to 10 years, then renewed. If your purpose changes, you need a new ground.

Permanent residence — permanent status

A national card (nemzeti tartózkodási kártya) after 3 years or an EU permanent residence card after 5 years of legal residence. It is not tied to work or business and gives almost the same rights as citizens, except voting.

Grounds

On what grounds you can get a residence permit

A new immigration law came into force in Hungary in 2024. Many old options have changed, so we choose the ground together, taking into account your goals for the next 5–10 years.

Business

Residence permit for the director of your own company. 1 year + renewal up to 2 years.

Employment

Work permit, Hungarian Card for specialists, EU Blue Card.

Golden Visa

Investment from €250,000 in a real estate fund. Residence permit for 10 years.

White Card

For remote workers earning €3,000 or more per month from a company abroad. 1 year + 1 year.

Study

Residence permit for the period of study at a university, language school or doctoral programme.

Family reunification

For the spouse and children of someone who already lives in Hungary. Not available for all permit types.

Family of an EU citizen

A card for relatives of EU citizens; for EU citizens themselves — registration and an address card.

National Card for work

A special employment permit for citizens of certain countries, including Serbia, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

Comparison

Which ground suits you

The most important thing to know in advance: not every residence permit later allows you to get permanent status.

Ground

Validity

Family

Leads to permanent residence

White Card

1 year + 1 year

Business (guest self-employment)

1 year + up to 2 years

after 1 year

no national card

Golden Visa

10 years + 10 years

yes

checked individually

Study

for the study period

limited

depends on the situation

Employment

depends on the permit type

depends on the type

The conditions in each case depend on previous permits, citizenship and length of residence. We check everything before applying.

Permanent status

How to get permanent residence in Hungary

Since 2025, permanent status requires passing an exam on Hungarian culture. We prepare you for it with materials and a mock test. Exam preparation →

National card: 3 years of continuous legal residence in Hungary
EU permanent residence card: 5 years of continuous legal residence
Housing, income and health insurance
A written culture exam in Hungarian: 12 questions, 60 minutes, 16 out of 30 points needed
The exam takes place in Budapest; the fee is HUF 20,000 per attempt
There are three attempts: after three failures you are not admitted again
There is no exemption by age or education, only for children under 14 and in special cases
No Hungarian is needed for a temporary residence permit — the exam is only required for permanent residence
Time on the White Card, the guest self-employment permit and some work permits does not count towards the national card

Pricing

Prices

A fixed price for our work. All prices are + VAT 27%.

White Card (for remote workers)

890 € + VAT

Family reunification, per person

890 € + VAT

Student residence permit

790 € + VAT

EU citizen registration and address card

890 € + VAT

Family member residence card for EU citizens’ relatives

890 € + VAT

Residence permit renewal

from €590 + VAT

Permanent residence: national card or EU card

1 390 € + VAT

Consultation after the first free one, 1 hour

120 € + VAT

What every service includes

Free first consultation and choice of ground
Document list and check of every paper
Filling in forms and submitting the application
Appointments and accompaniment at the immigration authority
Answers to authority requests
Translation of letters from the immigration authority into English
Renewal reminder 3 months before expiry
Support via Telegram and WhatsApp

Paid separately: government fees, certified translations and apostilles, health insurance, rent. Residence permits for business, work and the Golden Visa are described on separate pages.

Citizens of Russia, Belarus and other CIS countries

Citizens of visa-required countries usually submit their first application at a Hungarian consulate abroad. Some grounds involve additional checks, and banks take longer to check clients from Russia and Belarus. We will tell you honestly which ground realistically works — before any payment.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a residence permit by buying an apartment?

No. Property on its own does not give the right to a residence permit in Hungary. An apartment helps to prove housing, but the ground must be work, business, study, family or investment through the Golden Visa.

Can I change my ground while already living in Hungary?

Not always. For example, from the guest self-employment permit and the White Card you cannot apply for another permit from within the country. That is why it is important to choose the right ground from the start.

When should I apply for renewal?

In advance: usually no later than 30 days before expiry. We start preparing 3 months ahead.

Do I need to know Hungarian?

Not for a residence permit. For permanent status, since 2025 you need to pass a written exam on Hungarian culture in Hungarian. It is not a language exam, but the questions and answers are in Hungarian, so you need to be able to read and write at least at a basic level. Those who applied for permanent residence before the end of 2024 did not need the exam. Exam preparation →

Can my family come with me?

It depends on the ground. Not on the White Card, only after a year on the guest self-employment permit, and immediately with the Golden Visa.

How long does a decision take?

The immigration authority reviews the application in 21 days, but pauses for additional document requests are not included. Including preparation, it usually takes 1–3 months.