In the event of a residence exceeding 3 months, each EEA citizen must announce his/her residence to the Office of Immigration and Nationality and, these persons may only undertake work in Hungary in the possession of a work permit. We can assist you in obtaining the necessary documents and provide you personal assistance (with interpretation) during the whole administration procedure.

The regime of the issuance of Hungarian residence permits is regulated by the Government Decree No. 64/1994. If no international convention provides otherwise, foreign people may only enter Hungary with a residence visa (‘D’ type visa) if the purpose of the journey is work performance subject to permission or any other profit gaining activity. The visa application must be submitted personally, on the prescribed form to the Hungarian foreign representation body being competent under the permanent or habitual address of the foreign person concerned. The documents proving the purpose of the entrance and residence must be enclosed to the application. The applications for residence visa are ruled on by the Office of Immigration and Nationality.

The granting of the residence permit is subject to the condition of having a work permit. Foreign citizens may only undertake work in Hungary in possession of a work permit. The permit is issued by the county (metropolitan) labour centre being competent under the place of employment. Foreign nationals acknowledged as refugees and/or having immigration or establishment permit can be employed in Hungary without permission, since these persons enjoy the same labour status as the Hungarian citizens.

The administrative issues (mainly the residence permit and work permit issues) are arranged during lengthy procedures in Hungary and require numerous documents and certificates. We can assist you in obtaining the required documents, in filling in the forms accurately and, provide you personal assistance (with interpretation) during the whole administration procedure. We act personally vis-à-vis the authorities and keep contact with them. We keep you informed continuously of the current phase of your residence or work permit issue. We also pay attention to the subsequent deadlines and inform our customers in due time of the date when the arrangement of the extensions must be commenced.

The EU and EEA citizens receive registration certificate for an indefinite period. Upon submission of the application, the following documents must be enclosed:

• The form proving the purpose of residence.
• Duty stamp.
• If the purpose of residence is employment:
• Employment contract. If the salary is not indicated thereon, Hungarian bank account excerpt or salary certificate.
• European health insurance card.
• Proof of accommodation.
• If you rent a flat, the contract must be presented.
• If you live at relatives, a recipient declaration is required as signed by two witnesses of Hungarian nationality. If your relative rents the flat, the landlord must give his/her written consent to your reception.
• If the accommodation is provided by the company, an accommodation certificate is required as sealed by the employer.

• If the purpose of residence is the continuation of studies:
• Proof of the student relationship.
• Bank account excerpt.
• Health insurance.
• Proof of accommodation.

• If the purpose of residence is family unification:
• The family relationship must be proven.
• Birth certificate.
• Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance in the above mentioned ways.

• If the purpose of residence can be classified into the „other” category:
• Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance.

Upon submission of the application, the original version of each document must be presented and one copy must be submitted!

The foreign persons coming from third countries must meet the following conditions upon submission of the application for residence permit as well as during their residence:

• Passport being valid for a period of more than six months.
• Financial resources assuring subsistence in Hungary.
• Flat in Hungary.
• Financial resources necessary for continuation of the journey or returning.

The documents proving the purpose of the journey, the subsistence and the flat in Hungary and the conditions of travelling abroad must be enclosed to the application for the residence permit:

• Valid passport.
• Employment contract.

• Work permit.
• The certificate on the net salary issued by the employer.
• The certificate on the personal income tax issued by the Hungarian Tax Office (APEH).
• The land registry excerpt, not older than six months, of the flat in Hungary.
• In the event of a rented flat, the owner’s declaration on the legal title of the residence in the flat as signed by two witnesses and the document on the announcement of accommodation filled in by the owner.
• Two photos.
• Duty stamp.
• Health certificate.

In case the foreign person coming from a third country has a company, the following documents must also be enclosed:

• Company excerpt or court order, not older than 3 months.
• Specimen signature.
• Deed of Foundation, Articles of Association.
• Corporate bank account.
• APEH certificate.
• Lease contract.

Work permit

Employers may only employ foreign employees who are in possession of the following:

• Work permit.
• Visa or residence permit issued for work purposes.

Following Hungary’s accession to the European Union, the rules on the employment of foreign nationals have been completed with the special rules concerning the EU citizens:

The Government Decree No. 93/2004. (IV. 27.) provides that, under the principle of reciprocity, the nationals of the following old and new Member States, having opened their labour market to Hungarian nationals from 01 May 2006, may undertake work without a work permit:

• United Kingdom (England and Northern Ireland), Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece.
• The EU Member States having joined the EU contemporaneously with Hungary: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

The nationals of these countries need an announcement made by the employer on the commencement of the employment being exempt from permissions.

Based on reciprocity, the work permit must be granted irrespective of the situation in the labour market for the citizens of the EU and EEA Member States which have been granting the same treatment vis-à-vis Hungarian citizens since 01 May 2006: Belgium, Luxemburg, Denmark, Norway and France.

Third-country nationals need the following data to the application for the individual work permit:

• Data of the employer:
• Name, address.
• Tax number, social security number, registration number in the Official Classification of Business Activities (TEÁOR).
• Name of the authorized representative, name and phone number of the person in charge.
• Your data:
• Name, mother’s name.
• Place and date of birth.
• Family status, nationality.
• Educational level, professional qualification(s).
• Data of the activity to be performed / the work to be fulfilled:
• Designation.
• The professional qualification required for the performance of the activity.
• Detailed description of the activity to be performed.
• The place(s) of work.
• Weekly working hours.
• The expected starting and final date of employment.
• The expected amount of the personal basic salary / wage / remuneration / consideration.
• The reasons for and further conditions of the employment.
• If you have previously worked in Hungary, the data of the previous employer:
• Name and address of the previous employer.
• Your activity and scope of work performed during the previous employment in Hungary, the place of employment.
• Number and validity period of the previous work permit.
• Declarations of the employer.

According to the Decree of the Ministry of Social and Family Affairs No. 8/1999. (XI. 10.), the following annexes must be enclosed to the application:

• The authentic copy of the document proving the qualification gained abroad and, if it was issued in a foreign language, the authentic Hungarian translation thereof.
• The medical certificate on the health state of the foreign citizen and, if it was issued in a foreign language, the notarized copy and the authentic Hungarian translation thereof.