Interim Residence Card: another form of permanent residency in Hungary

If you are a third-country national already living in Hungary and looking for permanent residency, click here.

Is the Interim Residence Card relevant to you?

The Interim Residence Card is a type of permanent residency in Hungary, since it may be issued for up to 5 years regardless passport expiry, as opposed to other residence permits that are issued for 1-3 years. You are eligible if you meet the following conditions:

• You are a third-country national
• You currently live in an EU member state based on a long-term residence permit
• You are moving to Hungary for the long term

As a third-country national, you can normally receive long-term residency in Hungary only if you have been living here for some time. As a long-term EU resident, however, this waiting period of 3-5 years is waived, and you can apply straight away.

This type of residency is also available to family members. The only condition is that the family relationship must have existed in the EU member state of previous residency.

Conditions for the Interim Residence Card

You can apply for the interim Residence Card if you intend to come to Hungary for one of the following purposes:

• employment (excluding seasonal employment)
• doing business
• studies or vocational training
• family unification (if the family ties already existed during your EU residency, or if a child is born in Hungary to an Interim Residence Card holder)
• other certified purposes

When you submit your application, you will have to attach supporting documents to prove that you have:

• accommodation in Hungary
• funds to cover your costs in Hungary
• comprehensive healthcare insurance in Hungary
• a valid reason to stay in Hungary (depending on the purpose of your stay, e.g. employment contract, business documents, proof on enrolment at an educational institution, family ties)

When to apply?

Since you have long-term residency in an EU country, you are allowed to stay in Hungary for up to 90 days with your existing residence permit. To stay for longer than that, you will need a Hungarian residence permit.

The logical choice is the Interim Residence Card, since it will grant you extended rights in Hungary. If you choose this residence permit, the latest you can submit your application is the last day of your legal stay in Hungary. Of course, you can also submit your application earlier, which can make the process more convenient.

When the time comes to renew your Interim Residence Card, you must submit your application at least 30 days before expiry. Since you will need time to prepare your documents, it is worth starting to work on this at least 2-3 months before expiry.

Benefits of the Interim Residence Card

Just like other types of permanent residency, the Interim residence card offers significant benefits compared to regular Hungarian residency options.

First of all, the Interim Residence Card is valid for 5 years, and may be renewed upon expiry. The validity period of your travel document is not considered either; just make sure to report it when you get a new one.

You will receive a Hungarian address card with your new residence permit, which will let you to access more services in Hungary. You can sign up for DÁP, subscribe to post-paid mobile phone services, or apply for a mortgage.

You will also be allowed the same freedom on the labor market you would have with other types of permanent residency. When you change employers, you must report the fact to the Immigration Office, but you are not required to wait for a permission as in the case of a regular work permit.

Most importantly, since you have already been an EU resident for some time, you are not required to take a Cultural Exam to gain permanent residency in Hungary. This is a new requirement introduced in 2025 for those applying for the National Residence Card and the EU Residence Card, but you will not need to worry about it, unless you want to switch to one of those.

Learn about your options in Hungary

As an EU resident, the Interim Residence Card, might be the best option for you if you are planning for the long term in Hungary. Otherwise, you can also check out our list of currently available residence permits here.

The Helpers Team is committed to supporting foreigners who are interested in living, working, and doing business in Hungary. If you need help planning the best course of action, feel free to contact us, and discuss your plans with one of our experts.

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