How to Apply for an Intra-Corporate Transfer Permit in Hungary
The Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) permit allows multinational companies to temporarily transfer executives, specialists, and trainees from a non-EU branch to a Hungarian host entity within the same corporate group. Valid for up to 3 years for executives and specialists or 1 year for trainees, it supports EU-wide long-term mobility for transfers spanning more than one Member State.
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Eligibility Requirements
You May Qualify If:
- You are a third-country national residing outside the EU, being temporarily posted by a non-EU company to a Hungarian host entity within the same company or corporate group
- You fall into one of three ICT categories: executive employee, specialist, or trainee
- You have at least 3 months of continuous employment at the same company or group of companies immediately before the transfer
- You hold an ICT permit issued by another EU Member State and are seeking long-term mobility in Hungary
You Do NOT Qualify If:
- You are a researcher applying for a research residence permit
- You are a national of a country with free movement rights under EU or third-country agreements
- You are a posted worker under Directive 96/71/EC
- You are a private entrepreneur
- You are assigned through an employment agency or temporary staffing agency
- You are a full-time student or participating in supervised training as part of your studies
Critical Restrictions to Know
Before applying, understand these key limitations:
- Hungary Must Be the Primary Destination: The sending company must declare the planned ICT duration across all EU Member States. Hungary must be the country where the longest period of the transfer takes place
- Maximum Duration Is Fixed: Executive employees and specialists can hold the ICT permit for a maximum of 3 years from first issuance. Trainees are limited to 1 year from first issuance. These caps cannot be exceeded through extensions
- Corporate Group Requirement: The Hungarian host entity and the non-EU sending company must be part of the same company or corporate group. You must provide documented proof of this relationship
- Minimum Prior Employment: You must have been continuously employed at the same company or group of companies for at least 3 months immediately before the transfer date
- Passport Validity: Your passport must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry date of your ICT permit
ICT Permit Overview
| ⏳ Duration (Executives/Specialists) | Maximum 3 years from first issuance |
| ⏳ Duration (Trainees) | Maximum 1 year from first issuance |
| 🌍 Eligibility | Third-country nationals transferred within the same company or corporate group to a Hungarian host entity |
| 💰 Application Fee | EUR 110 (outside Hungary) | HUF 39,000 (in-person) | HUF 24,000 (online) |
| 🏥 Health Insurance | Required for the duration of the transfer |
| 💼 ICT Categories | Executive employees, specialists, trainees |
| ✈️ Type D Visa | Single entry, 30-day stay, 3-month validity |
| 📋 Prior Employment | Minimum 3 months continuous employment at the same company or group |
ICT transferee categories explained: Executive employees hold senior management positions. Specialists possess advanced knowledge essential to the host entity’s operations. Trainees hold a university degree and are transferred to develop professional skills and knowledge of the company’s techniques.
How to Apply
Applying from Outside Hungary
If you require a visa to enter Hungary, apply at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your home country or country of legal residence. You do not need to submit a separate visa application. Your ICT permit application automatically includes a visa application.
Note: Where no Hungarian consulate or embassy exists in your country, you may approach honorary consuls, trade representations, or authorized external service providers. If no application-receiving option exists in your country of nationality or habitual residence at all, you may apply from another country where you are legally staying, provided you can prove the reasons for the exceptional submission.
Applying from Inside Hungary
You can apply while in Hungary if:
- You entered Hungary visa-free and are within your legal period of stay
- You hold an ICT permit issued by another EU Member State (long-term mobility applicants)
Applications in Hungary can be submitted online via the Enter Hungary platform or in person at the NDGAP regional directorate based on your accommodation address.
Employer Submission
Your employer can submit the application through the Enter Hungary platform on your behalf with your written consent. This is permitted when one of the following applies: you have not yet entered Hungary, you entered visa-free and are legally staying without a residence permit, or you already hold a valid ICT permit and are applying for an extension. If the employer submits the application, the ICT permit card will be delivered to the employer’s registered address.
Long-Term Mobility
If you hold an ICT permit issued by another EU Member State, you can apply for long-term mobility in Hungary. You must submit your application at least 20 days before the planned start of mobility in Hungary, or at least 20 days before the end of your 90-day lawful stay period. Long-term mobility allows you to continue your intra-corporate transfer at the Hungarian host entity within the same corporate group.
Extensions
Extensions can only be submitted from inside Hungary via the Enter Hungary platform. To be eligible:
- You must hold a valid ICT permit at the time of application
- You must have resided in Hungary for at least 90 days in any 180-day period
- Apply no earlier than 90 days and no later than 30 days before your current permit expires
- Total duration cannot exceed 3 years (executives/specialists) or 1 year (trainees) from first issuance
Fee Rates
| Outside Hungary | EUR 110 |
| In-Person (within Hungary) | HUF 39,000 |
| Online via Enter Hungary | HUF 24,000 |
Document Checklist
You will need the following documents for your ICT permit application:
Must confirm at least 3 months of continuous prior employment at the same company or corporate group before the transfer
Documentation proving the Hungarian host entity and the third-country sending company are part of the same company or corporate group
Executive employees and specialists: proof of university degree or vocational training. Trainees: proof of university degree
Written confirmation from the Hungarian host entity that the transferee’s experience is necessary for the role being filled
Declaration by the sending (third-country) company of the planned ICT duration across all EU Member States. Hungary must be the country with the longest transfer period
Employment contract, bank statements, or income certificate demonstrating sufficient financial means for your stay
Declare a real Hungarian address on the application form. No separate accommodation document is required
You can satisfy this in one of three ways: you are covered by Hungarian social security, you have access to Hungarian healthcare under an international treaty, or you can cover healthcare costs from your documented financial means
Valid passport AND a return travel ticket OR sufficient funds to cover departure
1 recent facial photograph meeting official requirements
For extensions: If your conditions have not changed since your last application, you do not need to resubmit unchanged documents.
Important: All non-Hungarian/non-English documents require certified Hungarian translation and may need apostille authentication. The immigration authority may request additional documents during processing.
Step-by-Step Guide
Confirm Your ICT Category
Determine which of the three ICT categories applies to your transfer:
- Executive employee: Senior management position. Requires proof of university degree or vocational training qualification
- Specialist: Possesses advanced knowledge essential to the host entity’s operations. Requires proof of university degree or vocational training qualification
- Trainee: University graduate being transferred to develop professional skills. Requires proof of university degree. Maximum permit duration is 1 year
Verify the Corporate Group Relationship
Gather documentation proving the Hungarian host entity and your current (non-EU) employer are part of the same company or corporate group. This is a mandatory requirement. Prepare the ICT duration declaration from the sending company, confirming that Hungary will be the primary destination with the longest transfer period across all EU Member States involved.
Prepare Your Qualification and Employment Documents
Collect the following based on your ICT category:
- Employment contract or letter of assignment proving at least 3 months of continuous employment at the same company or group of companies
- University degree or vocational training certificate (executives and specialists need one of these; trainees need a university degree)
- Host entity statement confirming the experience required for the transfer role
All documents not in Hungarian or English must be accompanied by certified Hungarian translations. Documents issued abroad may require apostille authentication.
Gather All Supporting Documents
Collect every remaining item on the document checklist above:
- Proof of subsistence (employment contract, bank statements, or income certificate)
- Valid health insurance coverage for your time in Hungary
- A real Hungarian address to declare on the application form
- A recent facial photograph
- Proof of exit (passport AND travel ticket OR sufficient funds)
Submit Your Application
From outside Hungary (visa-required nationals):
- Apply at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your country
- No separate visa application is needed. The ICT permit application includes your visa request
- Pay the EUR 110 application fee
From inside Hungary (visa-free nationals or ICT holders from another EU state):
- Submit online via the Enter Hungary platform (HUF 24,000) OR
- Submit in person at the NDGAP regional directorate (HUF 39,000)
Via your employer:
- Your employer can submit the application through the Enter Hungary platform with your written consent
Provide Biometric Data
Visit the NDGAP regional directorate to provide your facial photograph, fingerprints, and signature specimen. If you applied online via Enter Hungary, you have 15 days from the receipt confirmation to complete this step. If you miss this 15-day window, your application is not officially considered received.
Await Processing
Standard processing: 21 days, with a final decision within 70 days under the single application procedure.
Important: Time spent requesting and receiving additional documents from you is not counted within these deadlines. Respond to any requests as quickly as possible to avoid delays.
Receive Your ICT Permit
If you applied from abroad:
- You will receive a Type D visa: single entry, authorizing a stay of up to 30 days, valid for 3 months from approval
- Enter Hungary within the 3-month validity period
- Your ICT permit card will be posted to your declared Hungarian address
If you applied in Hungary:
- Your ICT permit card will be delivered by post to your registered address
If your employer submitted the application:
- The card will be delivered to the employer’s registered address
Note: The permit is delivered by post. Collecting it in person at the NDGAP regional directorate is only allowed if you can prove you are unable to receive it at the delivery address on your application.
If refused: You have 8 days from delivery to file an appeal. Submit the appeal to the authority of first instance or the consular mission where you applied. Appeals are dismissed without review if received late, submitted by an unauthorized person, introducing new facts known before the decision, or submitted without stating grounds.
Processing Timeline
Standard processing begins. 21-day target, decision within 70 days maximum (single application procedure)
Single-entry visa, 30-day stay authorized, valid for 3 months from approval
For applicants who applied from abroad. Failure to enter within this period invalidates the application
Visit the NDGAP regional directorate. 15-day deadline for online applicants
Card mailed to your declared Hungarian address, or to the employer’s address if the employer submitted the application
Additional time not included in processing:
- Time spent requesting and receiving additional documents from applicant
- Time spent remedying deficiencies (for example, submitting missing documents)
- Time for other procedural actions
Not sure which permit fits your situation?
Book a one-hour consultation with a licensed immigration lawyer. €150, credited toward full service if you proceed.
Book ConsultationFrequently Asked Questions
What is an intra-corporate transfer?
An intra-corporate transfer is the temporary posting of a third-country national from a company based outside the EU to a host entity in Hungary that belongs to the same company or corporate group. The transferred person must be an executive employee, specialist, or trainee. The purpose is to allow multinational companies to move key personnel to their Hungarian operations for a defined period.
What are the three categories of ICT transferees?
The three categories are executive employees, specialists, and trainees. Executive employees hold senior management positions within the company. Specialists possess advanced knowledge that is essential to the host entity’s operations, products, or services. Trainees are university graduates who are transferred to develop professional skills and gain knowledge of the company’s techniques and methods. Executives and specialists must hold a university degree or vocational training qualification. Trainees must hold a university degree.
How long can I stay in Hungary on an ICT permit?
Executive employees and specialists can hold the ICT permit for a maximum of 3 years from first issuance. Trainees are limited to a maximum of 1 year from first issuance. These are hard caps. Extensions are possible within these limits, but the total duration cannot exceed them. Your passport must also remain valid for at least 3 months beyond the permit expiry date.
How do I prove the two companies belong to the same corporate group?
You need to submit documentation showing that the Hungarian host entity and the non-EU sending company are part of the same company or group of companies. This can include corporate ownership records, group structure charts, or official company documents that establish the link between the two entities. The sending company also provides a declaration of the planned transfer duration across all EU Member States, confirming that Hungary is the country with the longest transfer period. A licensed immigration lawyer can advise on which corporate documents best establish this relationship for your specific company structure.
What is long-term mobility and how does it work?
Long-term mobility allows ICT permit holders from another EU Member State to continue their transfer at a host entity in Hungary within the same corporate group. You must apply at least 20 days before your planned start date in Hungary, or at least 20 days before the end of your 90-day lawful stay period. The ICT permit from the other Member State must be valid at the time of application. Hungary must still be declared as the country with the longest transfer period across all EU Member States involved.
Can my employer submit the application for me?
Yes. Your employer can submit the application through the Enter Hungary platform with your written consent. This is allowed when you have not yet entered Hungary, when you entered visa-free and are legally staying without a residence permit, or when you already hold a valid ICT permit and are applying for an extension. If the employer submits, the permit card will be mailed to the employer’s registered address rather than your personal address.
Do I need to have worked at the company before the transfer?
Yes. You must have at least 3 months of continuous employment immediately before the transfer date. This employment can be at the same company or anywhere within the same group of companies. Your employment contract or letter of assignment must clearly demonstrate this continuous employment period.
What happens when my ICT permit expires?
If your permit is approaching expiry and you have not reached the maximum duration (3 years for executives/specialists, 1 year for trainees), you can apply for an extension via the Enter Hungary platform. You must apply between 90 and 30 days before the current permit expires. You must hold a valid permit at the time of application and have resided in Hungary for at least 90 days in any 180-day period. If you have reached the maximum duration, the transfer ends and you must depart Hungary.