Permanent residency in Hungary from 2025

If you are a third-country national with permanent residency in another EU member state and you want to move to Hungary now, watch out for our next article.

Permanent residency in Hungary

Third-country nationals can apply for either the National Residence Card or the EU Residence Card, which are very similar, but have slightly different conditions (see the table below). The main benefit of having either is that you will have extended rights in Hungary, namely:

• Up to 10 years of validity, regardless of passport expiry
• No need for a new work permit when changing jobs
• Address card and a Hungarian ID card

The extended validity (compared to the 1-3 years of validity for most other residency types) lets you plan ahead more, and offers you more comfort and stability in Europe. Moreover, the validity period of the permanent residency does not depend on the expiry date of your passport, unlike in the case of other types of residency.

You will have more freedom on the labor market, as you will not need a separate work permit to start a new job. No more waiting for the labor demand to be approved with the local Labor Department or the Immigration Office; you can start the employment relationship as soon as you agree with your employer.

Your Hungarian ID and address card will let you take advantage of more services in Hungary. Enroll in public healthcare (if you have not been included previously), choose a post-paid mobile phone service, find easier procedures for bank account opening, buy a car, get a loan or a mortgage, sign up for DÁP, or localize your driver’s license (in case you have not done it earlier).

Same as before, you will have the right to enter any Schengen country without a visa and stay there for 90 days within 180 days without a separate permit. If you want to travel, you will need both your passport and your permanent residence permit. As a Hungarian resident, you do not even need the ETIAS visa waiver or registration in the EES.

Conditions for permanent residency

The requirements for the two types of permanent residency can be summed up as follows. Make sure to read the explanation below.

Similarities:

For both types of permanent residency, you will need to prove that you have the following:

• long-term plans in Hungary (supported by a knowledge of local culture and traditions)
• long-term accommodation
• comprehensive health insurance
• appropriate funds or income

The fact that all of these conditions are met must be supported by appropriate documentation.

Main differences:

• How long you need to reside in Hungary before you can apply
• How much time you can spend away from Hungary
• Whether you need a certificate of good conduct
• Whether local connections are considered relevant
• Which types of residency are excluded

Good to know:

Under the 2024 immigration law, many types of residence permits do not make the holder eligible for the National Residence Card. However, if you have an “old” type of residence permit that is not excluded, you are still eligible, while most residents excluded from the National Residence Card may apply for the EU Residence Card, so you can still gain permanent residency in Hungary even though the waiting time is longer.

You can definitely apply for either type of permanent residency if you have one of the following:

• Hungarian Card
• EU Blue Card
• Intra-corporate transfer
• National Card

Additional requirements for the National Residence Card

Regarding the requirement for previous residency, it is worth mentioning that the 1-year requirement as a dependent ancestor in a family only includes families that have at least one Hungarian citizen or permanent resident.

Regarding the requirement for being married, the applicant must be married to someone who can stay in Hungary permanently, meaning a citizen, another permanent resident, or a refugee. At the time of the application, they must be married for at least 2 years.

When you are applying for the National Residence Card, you must submit a certificate of good conduct (or clear criminal record, it has a few names in English) that you have obtain from your home country – more precisely, from the country where you habitually resided before moving to Hungary. This certificate cannot be older than 6 months when you submit the application. Make sure to allocate time for acquiring it.

Application for the National Residence Card also requires proof that your presence in Hungary benefits Hungary. This can be supported by letters of recommendations written by Hungarian friends, colleagues, or business partners. Make sure to leave time for talking to these people about your situation, so they have time for writing appropriate letters.

Validity of your permanent residency

While both types of permanent residency are valid for up to 10 years, you might lose your eligibility if you stay away from Hungary or the EU for too long.

If you have a Hungarian National Card, it may be revoked if you stay away from Hungary for more than 6 months.

If you have an EU Residence Card, it may be revoked if you stay away either from Hungary or from the EU for a long time:

• If you leave the EU for more than a year
• If the card was based on an EU Blue Card and you leave the EU for more than 2 years
• If you leave Hungary for more than 6 years

If you are planning such an extended trip, make sure to consult one of our specialists well before your planned departure to see how you can maintain your permanent residency while you are away from Hungary.

Cultural exam

As a new requirement introduced from 2025, new applicants for Hungarian permanent residency must pass a cultural exam to prove they are planning for the long term in Hungary. The exam is not required for those who had the old permanent residency and are now switching for the new one, but there are no other exemptions.

The exam consists of a written test, where you have to answer 12 questions about Hungarian and European culture in under 60 minutes. The language of the test is Hungarian, and you can find some learning material here. For now, it seems that the exam can take place only in Budapest, so make sure you will be able to schedule a day off for the exam. You can learn more about the exam from the official info sheet here, or read our next article coming soon.

Let the Helpers Team help you

We at Helpers have 20 years of experience assisting foreigners living, working, and doing business in Hungary. After living for a few years in Hungary, many of our clients want to switch to permanent residency, and we are always happy to help them take this huge step of their immigration journey.

Whether you are just planning your first residence permit or you are ready to apply for permanent residency, we are here to tell you more about your options and guide you along the way. Just book a consultation with one of our experts.

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