Frequently Asked Questions

From the submission of the registration documents to the court, it takes no more than 3-5 business days to have your company registered. With this, Hungarian company formation is one of the fastest in the European Union. VAT registration is also immediate, so you can start working immediately, and take advantage of Hungary’s favorable 9% corporate tax.

No, you don’t. One of the advantages of incorporating a company in Hungary is that there is no obligation to deposit the share capital in the bank, and 100% of this capital can be spent immediately after incorporation on company-related expenses. The amount of the share capital is HUF 3,000,000 (ca. EUR 7,600). All related services (e.g. accounting services, registered office) can be deducted from the share capital. In some cases, a higher starting capital might be advisable, but most of our clients’ companies do fine with the minimum capital at the beginning.

Yes, you can set up a company via POA – we will require authentication (simple notary, apostille, authentication by a Hungarian consulate, or online identification, depending on where you are signing), and we can arrange the company registration without your presence. However, the director of the company has to travel to Budapest after the company registration at least for one day to open the bank account for the company. Alternatively, you can schedule a 3-4 business day long trip and complete the procedure during your stay.

No problem, we have lots of experience with international company structures. You can set up a subsidiary to any Hungarian or foreign company, in this case we will need:

• a company registration document that contains the parent company’s name, seat address, registration number, and the director(s) name(s) – this document needs to be apostilled or authenticated by a Hungarian Consulate and translated into Hungarian (the latter we can arrange).
• the details of the director of the parent company (date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, address)
• a POA from the director of the parent company (in case he/she is not going to be present in Budapest) – once we have all the details, we can draft this and send it to you – this document also needs to be Apostilled or authenticated by a Hungarian Consulate
• a POA from the director (and any shareholder) of the Hungarian subsidiary – this document also needs to be Apostilled or authenticated by a Hungarian Consulate

The company will automatically receive an EU VAT number as well as a local tax number upon registration – no need for further paperwork! Every Hungarian company is automatically eligible, so there is no application process. You can start trading with your new VAT number as soon as the company is registered.

If you order the accountancy service together with the registered seat and mail forwarding from Helpers Hungary, you can make sure that all the official enquiries will reach you and your accountant on time, and your company will never miss a deadline when it comes to administration. Furthermore, our combined packages include these services at a discount.

The client gate (or “Ügyfélkapu” in Hungarian) is an access point to e-Government, or the electronic administration in Hungary. It lets you take care of paperwork online or make appointments at public records offices. You must register your Hungarian company at the company gate through the client gate, which makes it essential for company opening. Read more here.

The company gate (or “Cégkapu” in Hungarian) is a web portal with an electronic storage place where official mail is always accessible. It is similar to the registered address of your company, and registration is also compulsory. If you have your accountancy at Helpers, we can take care of the registration for you, as your accountant may be authorized to view your official mail – especially letters from the tax authority. You can read more here.

Hungary is part of Europe’s Schengen zone, providing easy and document-free access to numerous European nations. The cost of living in Hungary is much lower than is true in most of Europe, and a business-friendly economic climate has led to a boom, especially in the nation’s major cities. Clean and efficient, modern Hungary is an excellent place to start a business and raise a family.

The invitation letter is part of the package if you order our services. Since it must describe the business relationship between you and Helpers, we can only provide it as an item of a full service, and we cannot provide it individually.

One director per company can get residency without a work permit if he/she has an active role in the running of the company and has the required qualifications/experience. The other directors will need a work permit to become employed with the company OR the company must have at least five Hungarian employees per additional director. Getting a work permit for the additional director is not a problem if he or she has some relevant qualifications to provide value for the company, and the work permit is a similar type of resident permit to a business permit. Please rely on the expertise of our consultants to figure out the best structure for your team and also for your families.

Until the launch of the real estate option for Hungary’s new golden visa program in 2025, owning property in itself does not qualify you for residency in Hungary. If you opt for business immigration, in the application process we have to show that you have some regular business activity in Hungary. If you wish to invest in property and get residency, the best option is to set up a company for property management and buy the property through this company. Alternatively, please have a look at the golden visa program and see if either of the available options are suitable for you.

No; it is understood that you are a businessperson and may need to travel a lot, especially if you have businesses elsewhere. However, bear in mind that the company’s activities or the proposals made in the business plan may require you to visit Hungary frequently or to spend significant amounts of time here. In line with this, most types of Hungarian residency involve a minimum stay requirement. Please discuss this with us in order to avoid jeopardizing your chances of renewal.

Having a physical office enables you to meet clients and represent your business even while you’re starting up. Our flexible solutions range from a single workstation to well-equipped meeting rooms, so you pay for only what you use.

Having a physical office will also contribute to the Hungarian bank account opening procedure, since it proves to the bank that you are committed to operating a viable company in the local market.

In Hungary, all companies must have accounting services through a licensed local accountant from the date of their incorporation. We are aware that some countries are more flexible or lenient in this regard, so we would like to ensure that our clients are aware of their obligations when setting up a company in this country, and can (with our assistance) run a compliant operation.

Invoices to buyers/clients can only be issued through a licensed invoicing software. Invoices issued in Excel, foreign invoicing programs or other means are not acceptable in Hungary. With a certified invoicing software, you’ll be able to issue invoices in Hungarian and English, in full compliance with the local regulations, and even in PDF format if you wish. Of course, we will assist you in acquiring the software and learning how to use it.

VAT is value added tax, also known as sales tax in some countries. In Hungary, VAT is 27%, and whenever you buy something in a shop for example, it is always already added to the price you see. When you start your company in Hungary (which will immediately receive an EU VAT number as well), and issue your own invoices towards your clients, you will charge VAT only towards individual (retail) buyers or corporate EU-based buyers who are not registered for VAT. However, if you are an international trader, you may not charge VAT at all.

The basic Hungarian business taxes are the following:

• local business tax: 2% on net revenues (meaning: your income minus any direct costs such as cost of goods or services that are re-sold)
• corporate tax (also known as profit tax): 9%; applies to profits after the deduction of all expenses including direct and general expenses
• dividend tax: the company’s taxed profits can be retained in the company’s budget or paid out to shareholders as dividend; in Hungary, dividend tax is 15% – however, this only applies to Hungarian residents; in the case of non-local residents, specific bilateral agreements between Hungary and your country of residence may apply. Dividend payments between companies are tax free.
• VAT (value added tax, or also known as sales tax in some countries) is 27%; whenever you buy something in a shop for example, it is always already added to the price you see. You will charge VAT only towards individual (retail) buyers or corporate EU-based buyers who are not registered for VAT, meaning that if you are an international trader, you may not charge VAT at all.

• fiscal year closing / reports due: May 31st for the previous fiscal year
• VAT declarations and payments: on the 20th of each month, for the preceding month or quarter (depending on how often the company declares VAT)
• payroll taxes & social contributions: on the 12th of each month, for the preceding month
• corporate tax advances: paid quarterly on the 20th of July, October, January and April, in 4 equal installments, calculated on the basis of the previous closed fiscal year

• submitting invoices and bank statements to the accountant: 5th of each month
• reporting sick leaves, salaries or bonuses: 1st of each month
• reporting any changes in the company’s operations (changes in ownership, owner’s or director’s personal data, bank accounts, activity, employees, etc.): within 5 working days

In Hungary, a registered seat is a legal business address. This is where government authorities will expect to find your company, therefore it is crucial that a competent person is there to handle any incoming mail or enquiry. It is best if the company’s seat address remains the same throughout your Hungarian operation, while you might want to move your shop or office location as your business grows.

The virtual office is a service that provides a legal physical address that serves as your company’s registered seat, complete with competent, Hungarian-speaking staff who are there to receive all mail, as well as deal with possible enquiries from the authorities. Moreover, our service contains administrative support besides the mail forwarding services: we open your letters, decide where each has to be forwarded, securely dispose of junk mail, and only email you when something requires your attention, providing a short English summary of the content of lengthy official letters written in Hungarian if necessary. This leaves you free to handle only those items that require your personal touch.

We forward your mails within 3 days (scan copies sent electronically). However, in many cases you will not have to deal with the mail at all – for example, we will forward all accounting-related paperwork and notices to your accountant directly, especially if the mail is in Hungarian.

You can, but only if your friend can guarantee that your company’s name and details will be displayed at his or her place in the manner dictated by law; that s/he will be able to represent your company if a tax inspector shows up (at times unannounced) to check up on the business; that s/he will know what to do with urgent mail from authorities that often require a response or action within just a few days; and that s/he will take responsibility (and offer you compensation) in case you miss an important deadline or inspection because s/he is away traveling. Otherwise, you are better off with a professional registered seat provider like Helpers’ partners.

No, it isn’t. The virtual office is where authorities expect to find you. They will always contact you in a written form, and letters can easily be forwarded to the person responsible (mostly your accountant). Authorities will never try to contact you via the phone. If you need someone to pick up the phone and answer questions on your or your company’s behalf, you will need to hire an assistant, who can always give up-to-date answers to callers.

Basically, you cannot work from there or schedule meetings with your partners, but it is possible to book a meeting room or a co-working space at our seat address partners (separate service).

First of all, we are the only provider in Hungary that specializes in working with foreign business owners in the small and medium-size sector. Our clients have a lot of special requirements: they usually do not speak Hungarian, are not very familiar with the local market, and they travel a lot – and at the same time, they are used to doing business in a convenient and professional way. Often the small company they set up in Hungary is only a part of a bigger international business venture, or else it may be a family business that is entirely new for them. With 20+ years’ experience working in this niche, we have become experts at finding great solutions for you.

Absolutely not. In fact, it is precisely start-ups and small businesses that can make ideal use of our flexible business solutions and business incubator options. Once the company is successful and grows, it can support its own internal structure with specialists and assistants covering every angle. At the beginning, however, it is crucial that the director should focus on the actual business – and leave the administration and daily operation to us.

The name, logo, or slogan of your business can distinguish your company from your competitors, and as such they are considered trademarks. Registering them prevents others from copying your trademark and lets customers recognize your brand. The process may take 6-12 months, but in the end your trademark will be registered retroactively, for the date your application was submitted. You can learn more about the trademark registration process here.

When transporting merchandise internationally, especially from outside the EU, you might be required to provide additional proof to the Customs Office for letting the shipment enter the country. This may include submitting the invoice based on which the delivery is being made. However, for that purpose, the invoice must be attested by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce – after which it will be referred to as a certified invoice or a commercial invoice.

A certificate of origin proves where goods were created or produced. It may be used for various customs related process in the country of destination, for tenders, insurance, or export financing, just to name a few purposes. It can be issued by the Chamber of Commerce based on various documents, including a certified invoice for the sale.

An apostille is an internationally recognized way of authentication. You are most probably to need an apostille when you are setting up a company in Hungary as a foreign investor through a power of attorney, without travelling to Hungary.  However, the method of attestation required will depend on your country of residence and on the purpose of the document. Our colleagues will always check what kind of attestation you need depending on your project, but you can already learn more here.

Hungary is part of Europe’s Schengen zone, providing easy and document-free access to numerous European nations. The cost of living in Hungary is much lower than is true in most of Europe, and a business-friendly economic climate has led to a boom, especially in the nation’s major cities. Clean and efficient, modern Hungary is an excellent place to start a business and raise a family.

If you are a citizen of an EEA member state, you do not need a residence permit to move to Hungary, but you need to register your stay in Hungary. If you are a third-country national, you will need a residence permit for a stay over 90 days.

There are several residency options available to third-country nationals in Hungary. Before application, you should consider your plans in Hungary, the job waiting for you, your qualifications, the intended length of your stay, and several other factors. If you need help, ask for our consultation service, and discuss your options with one of our experts.

Your passport must be valid at least 90 days longer than the permit you are applying for; this means that if your passport is close to expiring, you will need to renew it before we submit your residency application, otherwise your permit will only be issued up to the expiry date of your passport.

If you want to extend or renew your residence permit upon expiry, an application for renewal must be submitted at least 45 days before expiry. To make sure you have all the necessary documents ready on time, it makes sense to start working on your renewal at least 3 months before the expiration date of your existing permit.

Yes, it is possible. In 2024, Hungary introduced a new guest investor residence permit (commonly known as the golden visa), which has become the EU’s newest and most attractive investment-based immigration program. A residence permit can be obtained by purchasing residential real estate worth at least 500,000 euros. This option will be available starting January 1, 2025. You can read more about the program details here.

No; it is understood that you are a businessperson and may need to travel a lot, especially if you have businesses elsewhere. However, bear in mind that the company’s activities or the proposals made in the business plan may require you to visit Hungary frequently or to spend significant amounts of time here. Please discuss this with us, in order to avoid jeopardizing your chances of renewal.

Among the managing directors of a Hungarian company, only one can obtain a residence permit without a separate work permit if they actively participate in the company’s operations and possess the necessary qualifications or experience. For additional managing directors, a detailed justification of their presence in Hungary is required, and they may apply for a work permit or another suitable permit if the conditions are met.

Family unification is available only with certain types of residency. Consult our experts to see if you and your family members will be eligible, and to see what other options you have.

People looking for a family visa or a dependent visa often mean a residence permit that allows family members to accompany the main applicant to Hungary. The best-known dependent visa procedure is called “family unification”, where the spouse and the minor (less than 18 years old) children of the applicant can apply for residency based on the residency of the main applicant received.

It is quite easy for a foreigner holding a dependant visa to find employment, and then they can simply change the dependant visa for gainful activity resident permit. Alternatively your spouse can also decide to start a small business in Hungary – we are happy to assist with either.

Hungarian state health insurance provides comprehensive coverage in Hungary and basic coverage in the rest of the EU as well. This option is only available to Hungarian residents who pay for social security, so you will be eligible for state healthcare after you get your residency in Hungary. In the meantime, we can recommend you a comprehensive private health insurance plan that is not very expensive. You will also need this for your residency application.

Hungary is part of Europe’s Schengen zone, providing easy and document-free access to numerous European nations. The cost of living in Hungary is much lower than is true in most of Europe, and a business-friendly economic climate has led to a boom, especially in the nation’s major cities. Clean and efficient, modern Hungary is an excellent place to start a business and raise a family.

The invitation letter is part of the package if you order our services. Since it must describe the business relationship between you and Helpers, we can only provide it as an item of a full service, and we cannot provide it individually.

One director per company can get residency without a work permit if he/she has an active role in the running of the company and has the required qualifications/experience. The other directors will need a work permit to become employed with the company OR the company must have at least five Hungarian employees per additional director. Getting a work permit for the additional director is not a problem if he or she has some relevant qualifications to provide value for the company, and the work permit is a similar type of resident permit to a business permit. Please rely on the expertise of our consultants to figure out the best structure for your team and also for your families.

Until the launch of the real estate option for Hungary’s new golden visa program in 2025, owning property in itself does not qualify you for residency in Hungary. If you opt for business immigration, in the application process we have to show that you have some regular business activity in Hungary. If you wish to invest in property and get residency, the best option is to set up a company for property management and buy the property through this company. Alternatively, please have a look at the golden visa program and see if either of the available options are suitable for you.

No; it is understood that you are a businessperson and may need to travel a lot, especially if you have businesses elsewhere. However, bear in mind that the company’s activities or the proposals made in the business plan may require you to visit Hungary frequently or to spend significant amounts of time here. In line with this, most types of Hungarian residency involve a minimum stay requirement. Please discuss this with us in order to avoid jeopardizing your chances of renewal.

Having a physical office enables you to meet clients and represent your business even while you’re starting up. Our flexible solutions range from a single workstation to well-equipped meeting rooms, so you pay for only what you use.

Having a physical office will also contribute to the Hungarian bank account opening procedure, since it proves to the bank that you are committed to operating a viable company in the local market.

Normally we do not do job searches. Once you have found a job, we will happily handle your work permit and related paperwork.

Each employment-based residence permit sets out different conditions for eligibility. They cover qualifications, expected salary, and several other factors. If you need help determining which permit fits your conditions best, book a consultation with one of our experts.

An open work permit means a residence permit that lets you work wherever you want, meaning you can switch jobs without applying for a new permit. Hungarian work permits are not like that, however; they are tied to the job, so switching jobs requires a new application.

The only work-based residence permit that lets you switch employers without submitting a new residency application is the EU Blue Card, but only after 1 year. Otherwise this is an option only for permanent residency holders or guest investors.

You will need a personal tax number and social security number, so your employer can put you on payroll. You will also need a residence permit, but we will handle this jointly with the work permit application. Finally, if you are bringing along your family to Hungary, they will also need dependent visas.

Yes, every work permit can be renewed. The application must be submitted at least 45 days before expiry, and we suggest you start gathering the relevant documents at least 3 months in advance to make sure everything will be ready for submission.

The new immigration law that came into force in 2024 restructured the available work permit types. When a work permit issued according to the previous law is due for renewal, there is a chance it will no longer be available. In that case, the worker will need to choose one of the currently available residence permits, and apply for that.

Whether you have a particular candidate in mind, or you regularly work with an international team, we can help you with all aspects of employment – from acquiring a work permit and resident permit for your staff member to getting their tax number and social security number, doing their payroll, or even handling their relocation and assisting their family members with their visas.

The Hungarian passport is one of the top 10 passports in the world, providing visa-free access to more than 180 countries around the globe. As a Hungarian citizen, you will be able to live and work anywhere in the EU.

Expedited naturalization refers to the process of becoming a citizen and getting a passport sooner than you would otherwise be eligible to do so. It is also referred to as preferential, or in some cases, simplified naturalization. In Hungary, naturalization is normally an at least eight-year process. However, immediate family members of Hungarian citizens, anyone with Hungarian ancestry, and certain other categories of residents may qualify for an expedited naturalization process. Let us know if you are interested in this procedure – we’ll be happy to check if you’re eligible or take our online test now.

Foreigners who have children or spouses who are Hungarian citizens, or who were born in Hungarian territory can get Hungarian citizenship faster than the usual procedure. People with Hungarian ancestry can also request simplified naturalization. To find out if you’re eligible, please consult our experts!

Basically it depends on the grounds that you are using to apply for citizenship. In case of the usual procedure (based on at least 8 years spent in Hungary as a resident) there is a serious exam with questions about Hungarian history and culture, all in Hungarian. This requires proper preparation. In case of the expedited procedure (available to people with Hungarian ancestry) you only have to prove that you can talk basic colloquial Hungarian. In either case, we can provide assistance with getting ready for the exam or testing your current level.

The application period has started as of 1 July 2024. Since the program is very recent, the exact details are not yet clear. However, you can already apply for the 6-month guest investor visa, which is the first phase of obtaining the 10-year residence permit.

Your investment will have to be maintained for at least 5 years. You are allowed to divest after 5 years, but if you want to renew your residency upon expiry, you will be required to make another investment of the same type and worth.

No minimum stay requirement applies to golden visa investors. While other residence permits require that you spend at least half of your time in Hungary, with the golden visa, you remain eligible for renewal if you do not spend any time in Hungary.

Hungarian residents can enter visa-free any Schengen member state, and they can stay in that country for up to 90 days without any additional paperwork.

No, the Hungarian golden visa does not offer citizenship. Instead, the program grants investors 10+10 years of Hungarian residency. In the regular naturalization procedure, you need to hold a permanent address for at least 8 years, but other factors may reduce the waiting time. You can learn more about Hungarian citizenship here.

Since we are not a real estate agency, our sole interest lies in finding you the best deal (rather than trying to sell a particular property), so we are more than happy to help figure out the best option for you!

If you are from outside the EU, you will need a permit for buying real estate – but don’t worry, we will acquire this licence for you as part of our service. Read more here.

There are various issues to consider, including taxation, but we can help you calculate the costs for each option – you can buy as an individual, set up a Hungarian holding company, or (if the property is currently owned by a company) buy the current corporate owner. Discuss these options with us in advance, so you can make an informed decision!

Naturally, we are here to advise you – we can estimate the income and expense both for long-term and short-term rental, so you can make an informed decision.