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The White Card program is designed for foreign professionals working remotely using digital technologies. This type of residence permit allows living in Hungary while continuing to work for international companies or conducting remote entrepreneurial activities.

Main Requirements
• Remote work – the applicant must work for a company registered outside Hungary or conduct entrepreneurial activities by providing services to clients from other countries.
• Minimum income – at least 3,000 euros per month.
• Health insurance – mandatory insurance covering expenses in Hungary for the entire stay.
• Accommodation – proof of residence in Hungary is required (rental agreement or ownership certificate).

Application Procedure
1. Application submission – through the Hungarian consulate in the country of residence or at the Immigration Department in Budapest.
2. Entry into Hungary – with a D visa if the application is submitted from outside the country.
3. Processing time – from 7 to 30 days.
4. Residence permit validity – 1 year with the possibility of renewal for another year.
5. Restrictions – family reunification is not available under this program (an exception is possible in the case of a child being born in Hungary. Obtaining a residence permit for the child requires submitting a separate application and is allowed only if certain requirements are met, including the parent's legal residence status, sufficient financial resources, and a valid legal basis for residing in the country.).

Applicant Categories and Required Documents
1. Employee

• Employment contract with a company registered outside Hungary (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Company registration documents (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Company financial statements for the last year (proof of commercial activity and use of digital technologies).
• Income documentation for the last 6 months (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Bank statement confirming account balance (original in Hungarian or English).
• Proof of remote work (original in Hungarian or English).
• Rental agreement or ownership certificate for housing (original in Hungarian or English).

2. Individual Entrepreneur (IE)

• IE registration document outside Hungary (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Contracts with clients from other countries (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Bank statement for the last 6 months (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Proof of qualifications and experience (diplomas, certificates – original in Hungarian or English).
• Proof of residence in Hungary (rental agreement or ownership certificate – original in Hungarian or English).

3. Freelancer

• Contracts with foreign clients (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Bank statement confirming income (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Proof of remote work (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Proof of sufficient financial reserves (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).
• Rental agreement or ownership certificate for housing (original in Hungarian or English, otherwise a notarized translation is required).

Taxation
The White Card residence permit does not oblige the applicant to pay taxes in Hungary. It is important to consider double taxation agreements with your country.

The National Card is a residence permit (RP) in Hungary that allows you to legally live and work in the country. This type of RP is available both for employment with an employer and for running a business through your own company. Let's look at the main requirements and nuances of the application process.

RP through Employer
If you want to obtain a National Card through employment, the following conditions must be met:
1. Employment contract (in Hungarian or English);
* A valid employment contract with a Hungarian employer must be provided.
2. Income level (bank statement, payroll)
* Income (salary) must be confirmed, sufficient to cover living expenses and comply with legal requirements.

Documents from the employer:
• Founding documents of the company;
• Company registration confirmation;
• Tax declarations and absence of debts;
• Letter confirming employment.

In some cases, the applicant must provide diplomas or certificates confirming professional qualifications.

RP through Opened Company
If you plan to obtain the National Card through your own business in Hungary, the following conditions must be met:

1. Company registration: The company must be registered in Hungary (Kft or Zrt).
2. It must be confirmed that the company is actively operating and has financial turnover (bank statements, accounting reports, contracts with partners and clients).

The following document package for the company must be provided:
• Founding documents;
• Company income (the company must provide the owner (director) with sufficient income for living in the country);
• Absence of debts (confirmation of no debts on taxes or other obligations).

To continue the application process for the National Card RP, the following documents must be prepared:
• Rental agreement for housing in Hungary or proof of property ownership.
• Medical insurance valid in Hungary.
• Bank statements confirming your financial stability.

The RP is valid for 2 years, and it can be extended for up to 3 years at a time for the same purpose.

Document review time is 70 – 90 days.

An ideal solution for freelancers and individual entrepreneurs who wish to run a business in Hungary and legally reside in the EU.
Foreign nationals who work independently for compensation (freelance, services, online activities) or CEOs and founders of registered commercial entities can obtain an RP.

The RP is valid for 1 year, with an extension up to a maximum of 3 years.
Extension is possible only:
• If you have stayed in Hungary for at least 90 days in the last 180 days, and you have no overdue reports.

Documents can be submitted outside of Hungary — through the consulate (if you are entering with a visa). In Hungary — if you have visa-free entry, or you already have a residence permit.

Required documents:
• Proof of income (from self-employment/freelance or business);
• Housing documents (rental agreement, proof of ownership);
• Medical insurance;
• Evidence of financial means to support yourself;
• Confirmation of the purpose of residence (activity declaration, contracts);
• Photo and biometric data.

Important to know:
• Mandatory regular reporting;
• Family reunification is not possible during the first year;
* The exception is when a foreign national holding a residence permit for self-employed guest status gives birth to a child in Hungary during the validity of the residence permit. In this case, the child will receive a residence permit issued for family reunification after notification of the birth within the legal deadline.
• The purpose of stay in Hungary cannot be changed to another while this type of RP is in effect;
• The "Self-Employed Guest" status does not provide the right to apply for national permanent residence (national PR) after three years of residence.
* However, if the conditions for legal and continuous residence in Hungary are met for five years, it is possible to apply for a permanent residence permit in the European Union (EU long-term resident).

Document review time is up to 30 days.

If you need assistance with document preparation, business registration, legal address rental, or accounting — we support clients at every stage of the RP process.

Book a consultation — and start your path to a legal and stable life in Europe.

Hungarian Residency for Guest Investors
Investments that meet national economic interest:
• Purchase of an investment fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank for a minimum of €250,000.
• A financial donation of at least €1,000,000 to support educational, scientific, or artistic projects at a Hungarian university managed by a public foundation.

Who is considered a third-country national?
Third-country nationals are individuals who:
• Are not Hungarian citizens and do not have the right to free movement and residence in the EU.
• Are not citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA).
• Are not family members of an EEA citizen.
• Are stateless persons.

How to apply for a residence permit?
1. Submitting a residence permit application
The application can only be submitted in Hungary.
Conditions for applying:
• You must be in Hungary with a guest investor visa or under a visa-free regime if your country allows it.
• If you already have a Hungarian residence permit but require a visa for entry, you must first obtain a guest investor visa.
• Application deadline: within 30 days of the first legal entry into Hungary.
You can submit your application:
• In person at the Hungarian Consulate in your country of residence.

2. Residence permit renewal
• Renewal is only possible in Hungary.
• The application must be submitted at least 30 days before the current residence permit expires.
• Renewal is possible if you hold a valid guest investor residence permit at the time of application.

Documents required for application
1. Proof of investment
• For investment fund purchase:
o Certificate from the fund management company registered with the Hungarian National Bank.
o Document proving that the investment is held in a blocked account for at least 5 years.
• For financial donation:
o Certificate from the university confirming the receipt of €1,000,000 for educational or scientific purposes.
2. Proof of residence in Hungary
• Rental agreement.
• Property ownership document.
• Proof of housing reservation and payment.
3. Proof of ability to leave the country
• Valid passport.
4. Photograph
• One photograph is required.

Application processing time
• 21 days.
• If additional documents are requested, the processing time may be extended.

Receiving the residence permit
• The residence permit document will be sent by mail to the specified residential address.
• Personal collection is only possible with a valid reason.

Validity period of the residence permit
• The initial residence permit is issued for 10 years.
• It can be extended for another 10 years.

Family reunification
• Family members (spouse, minor children) can apply for a residence permit for family reunification.
• Applications for family members can be submitted simultaneously with the main applicant's application or after obtaining the investor’s residence permit.
• The family residence permit will be issued for the duration of the main investor’s residence permit.
• Holders of a family reunification residence permit have the right to work in Hungary without additional permits.

Additional information
1. Investor obligations
If investment conditions change, the competent authority must be notified within 5 days.
2. Work and business opportunities
• The residence permit allows working as a self-employed professional or holding a managerial position.
• Employment under a labor contract is also permitted.

Students wishing to study in Hungary can apply for both paid and budget-funded spots with scholarships.
The application process begins in December-January and takes nearly 6 months.
This is because the student selection process is divided into 3 stages (each lasting 2 months).
At each stage, we help you prepare and submit all necessary documents as accurately as possible, making the student residence permit application process simple and clear so you can start your studies without extra worries.