Hungarian Card
Work permit for qualified professionals & executives. Expert support for obtaining your Hungarian Card residence permit with licensed immigration attorney assistance.
What Is the Hungarian Card?
The Hungarian Card is a residence permit that combines work authorization and residence rights for qualified professionals, business owners performing actual work, and specialized workers in Hungary.
It provides:
- Legal right to work in Hungary (employment or executive role)
- Residence authorization up to 3 years (extendable for 3 more years)
- Schengen Area travel access
- Path to long-term residence after qualifying period
- Family reunification eligibility (after 1 year)
- Single application procedure (residence + work combined)
Two main pathways
Employment: Work under employment contract requiring higher qualifications
Business ownership: Owners/managing directors performing actual work in their company
Important
This permit requires either specific professional qualifications OR work in designated fields (sports, arts, film).
Who This Is For
Path 1: Qualified Employee
Employment with higher professional qualifications:
- Job requires higher education or specialized professional qualification
- Hold qualification specified in ministerial decree
- Employment contract or preliminary agreement
- Work under direction of Hungarian employer
Path 2: Business Owner/Executive
Owner or managing director performing actual work:
- Own shares in Hungarian company, OR serve as managing director of Hungarian entity
- Plus: Actually perform work beyond just ownership/management duties
- Company must be operational and compliant
Path 3: Specialized Workers
Designated professional fields:
- Professional athletes or sports coaches
- Performers (actors, musicians, dancers, etc.)
- Filmmakers or film production company employees
Path 4: Third-Country Employment Agreement
Posted workers from foreign employers:
- Employed by company in your home country
- Agreement exists between your employer and Hungarian company
- Sent to Hungary to fulfill this agreement
- Must have higher professional qualifications
Not suitable for: Citizens of Philippines, Georgia, Armenia (see Employment Permit), workers without higher qualifications, digital nomads working remotely (see White Card), highest-paid professionals (see EU Blue Card).
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 ConsultationHow the Process Works
With a licensed Hungarian immigration attorney:
- Detailed assessment of your qualifications and employment/business role
- Review of your degree or professional certificates
- For business owners: Assessment of company operations and your role
- Verification your profession is covered by ministerial decree
- Guidance on single application procedure
- Discussion of extension paths and long-term residence
Consultation fee (€150) is credited toward full service if you proceed.
Once you decide to move forward:
- Your attorney prepares all required documentation
- Verifies qualifications meet government requirements
- For business owners: Reviews company documentation
- Submits application via appropriate channel
- Monitors fast 21-day processing (70 days for final decision)
- Coordinates Type D visa issuance (if applicable)
- Arranges residence card delivery
You remain in contact with both Hungary Visa (coordination) and your attorney (legal representation).
Single Application Procedure
Tip
Hungarian Card uses the “single application procedure” which combines residence permit and work authorization into one streamlined process. One application covers both residence and work rights, with faster processing and fewer administrative steps.
Key Requirements
Professional Qualification (Choose One)
Option 1: Specified Qualifications
- Professional qualification specified in ministerial decree for higher education
- Higher education degree matching your employment
Option 2: Professional Sports
- Professional athlete OR professional sports coach
Option 3: Performing Arts
- Professional performer (actor, musician, dancer, etc.)
Option 4: Film Industry
- Work for filmmaker OR employment with film production company registered with competent authority
For Employees
- Preliminary employment agreement OR valid employment contract
- Contract must require higher professional qualification
- Certificate of higher education or professional qualifications
- Exception: Sports/performing arts/film may not require education certificate
For Business Owners/Managing Directors
- Detailed statement of economic activity
- Enterprise contracts, assignment agreements
- Sales contracts, purchase agreements
- Tax authority certificate (no outstanding taxes, not in liquidation)
- Certificate of employee declaration compliance and tax payments
For Third-Country Employer Agreements
- Agreement between foreign employer and Hungarian employer
- Plus standard employment/qualification documents
Financial Requirements
- Sufficient means for subsistence, accommodation, return travel, healthcare
- Can be demonstrated through employment contract, bank statements, or employer certificates
Health Insurance
- Comprehensive health coverage in Hungary
- Via employment-based social security, international agreement, or private insurance
Travel Documents
- Valid passport (must exceed residence period by 3+ months)
Important Restrictions
Key limitations you should know
- Qualification Verification: Your education/professional qualifications will be thoroughly assessed. Must match requirements in government ministerial decree. Not all degrees automatically qualify.
- For Business Owners – “Actual Work” Requirement: Simply owning shares or being a managing director is NOT enough. You must perform actual work related to business operations. Company must be genuinely operational.
- Physical Presence Requirement: Must reside in Hungary at least 90 days in any 180-day period to extend. Extensions only available in Hungary via Enter Hungary platform.
- No Family Reunification (Initially): Cannot sponsor family during first year. After 1 year with valid permit, family reunification becomes available.
- Extension Path: Initial permit maximum 3 years. One extension for additional 3 years possible. Total maximum 6 years on Hungarian Card. Must then transition to different permit type or long-term residence.
For Business Owners: What “Actual Work” Means
This is a requirement that’s often misunderstood:
NOT Sufficient
- Just owning shares in the company
- Just having the title “managing director”
- Simply attending board meetings
- Passive investment only
What Qualifies as “Actual Work”
- Active day-to-day business operations
- Management of employees and business processes
- Sales, client relations, business development
- Product/service delivery
- Technical work related to business
- Strategic planning and implementation
You’ll Need to Prove
- Detailed statement of your economic activities
- Contracts showing your involvement
- Evidence of ongoing business operations
- Tax compliance of the company
- Employee declarations and payments
Your attorney will help assess if your role meets this standard before applying.
Extension & Long-Term Path
Extending Your Hungarian Card
- Initial permit: Up to 3 years
- Extension: Additional 3 years possible
- Must have resided 90+ days in any 180-day period
- Submit via Enter Hungary platform
After Maximum 6 Years
- Hungarian Card not extendable beyond total of 6 years
- Must transition to different permit type or apply for long-term residence
Path to Permanent Residence
- After 3 years of legal residence, can apply for National Residence Card (10-year permanent residence)
- Requires passing Hungarian cultural knowledge exam
- Provides indefinite residence rights
Family Reunification
- Available after 1 year with valid Hungarian Card
- Spouse and dependent children can join you
- Family members receive residence permit (maximum 3-year validity, extendable for 3 years)
Indicative Fees
Pricing
Legal Consultation: from €150
Full Hungarian Card Assistance: from €800
Consultation fee is fully credited toward the full service if you proceed. These figures are indicative and subject to change. Final pricing confirmed after case review.
Processing Timeline
- Fast-track processing → 21 days
- Final decision → within 70 days from submission
- Type D visa issued (for non-visa-free applicants) → valid 3 months, single entry, 30-day stay
- Entry to Hungary → must enter within 3 months of approval
- Biometrics → within 15 days of Enter Hungary submission (if in Hungary)
- Residence card delivery → by post to registered address
Total timeline: Approximately 1-2.5 months from submission to residence card.
Why Work With Us
Deep experience determining if degrees/credentials meet “higher professional” standards
For company owners, we help demonstrate “actual work” requirement
Understanding which professions qualify under government specifications
Specialized support for athletes, coaches, performers, and film professionals
We manage all administrative steps from qualification verification to final card delivery
Streamlined process combining residence and work authorization
What’s Not Included
Government fees
- HUF 26,000 (approx. €65) if submitting via Enter Hungary platform
- HUF 39,000 (approx. €98) if submitting in person in Hungary
- EUR 110 if applying at Hungarian consulate abroad
Additional costs paid directly by you
- Embassy or consular fees
- Document apostille/authentication
- Certified translations (Hungarian or English)
- Credential evaluation/recognition fees (if needed)
- Travel for biometrics (if applicable)
- Health insurance premiums
- Company registration costs (for new businesses)
Application Locations
Outside Hungary
- Required if: You are NOT visa-exempt for Hungary
- Where: Hungarian consulate in your country of nationality or habitual residence
- Process: Submit application → Type D visa issued → enter Hungary → receive residence card
Inside Hungary
- Only if: You are visa-exempt for Hungary AND you are currently in Hungary legally
- Where: Via Enter Hungary electronic platform or NDGAP regional office
Extensions
- All extensions via Enter Hungary platform only
- Submit between 90 and 30 days before current permit expires
- Must have resided 90+ days in any 180-day period
Disclaimer: Hungary Visa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. All legal services are provided by independent, licensed Hungarian immigration attorneys.