UK citizens living in Hungary can apply for national permanent residency until the end the year. After that, they will need a resident permit or work permit just like every other third country national living and working in Hungary – which they are, thanks to Brexit.
After voting for Brexit in 2016, the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. Until the end of 2020, however, UK citizens living in Hungary were still treated as EU citizens, and were allowed to apply for an EU registration card – which is significantly easier and quicker to obtain than a residence permit or work permit.
Please note that if you are a UK citizen living in Hungary, your EU registration card (or your residency card or permanent residency card, whichever you have) will expire on 31 December 2021, so you will need another document to validate your stay in Hungary.
UK citizens are still in a preferential position. Even though you are a third-country national, you can apply for a Hungarian national permanent residence permit until the end of 2021. You can base your application on your prolonged stay in Hungary, which can be verified simply by your EU registration card.
If you do not have an EU registration card, you can still apply for a national permanent residence permit. You just have to verify that you have been living in Hungary recently. Normally you can do that by submitting your rental contract, your labor contract, or your bank statements as proof that you have been living and working in Hungary.
It is best to start the application procedure through the Enter Hungary website. However, your permit will contain your biometric data (meaning a picture of your face and your fingerprints), so at one point you will have to visit a government office in person to confirm your data.
Even if you are the only one in your family who is holding a job in Hungary, your family members are also eligible for the Hungarian national permanent residence permit. Your spouse and underage children can apply just like you.
The grace period ends on 31 December 2021. Starting from 1 January 2022, UK citizens living in Hungary will be treated as any other third-country national, which means that they will need a residence or work permit to stay and work in Hungary. Application for these documents involves more scrutiny, which means the application procedure is longer and more complex.
Since your existing EU registration card, residency card or permanent residency card will expire, you must apply for the Hungarian national permanent residence permit still in 2021 to avoid complications with your employer or with the authorities in the future.
Even if the application procedure for the Hungarian national permanent residence permit takes some time, it will be granted to you without issues if you apply still in 2021. Hand in your application as soon as possible, and take advantage of the preferential status UK citizens living in Hungary enjoy even after Brexit, but only until the end of the year.
Need help? Ask the experts! Helpers Hungary has more than 15 years of experience providing immigration and business assistance to foreigners living in Hungary, which includes handling various types of residency applications. Fill in the form below, and contact us today.
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