“National Card”: special residency benefits for several additional countries

July 10, 2024

The National Card (Nemzeti Kártya) is a new type of resident permit introduced with the new immigration law in 2024. This permit was originally offered only to Serbian and Ukrainian citizens but this list has now been expanded. This type of residency is extremely advantageous (see below) and is the best option for employees or business owners from the eligible countries.

Hungarian residency with the National Card

The National Card is one of the most favorable options for obtaining Hungarian residency, whether you are interested in getting employed or starting a business in Hungary. The benefits are:

  • No special or high qualifications are required
  • Valid for 2 years, may be extended for another 3
  • Family unification available
  • Permanent residency available after at least 3 years
  • If you want to change status, you can apply for another type of Hungarian residency without leaving Hungary

All of these benefits make this type of residency much more attractive than regular work permit, and from July 9th, 2024, nationals of eight countries are eligible to apply.

Extended list of eligible countries

Up till now, the National Card was available only to Serbian and Ukrainian applicants. However, the list has been significantly extended, and now it includes several other countries of origin.

Previous listCurrent list
SerbiaSerbia
UkraineUkraine
 Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
 Russia

The first step towards long-term life in the EU

The National Card is an easy and quick way to get residency for yourself and your family, and unlike many other permit types, this can lead to permanent residency, or eventually citizenship. What is more, since status change is freely available as well, once you are based in Hungary, you can explore other options too.

Can we help you?

If you want to move your business to Hungary or bring talent to Hungary from the above listed countries, we would be happy to assist you. Helpers has 20 years of experience providing business and immigration assistance to clients from all over the world, and our team of professionals is always committed to the goals of our clients. We would be happy to help you too.

Was this article useful? Follow us on Facebook and never miss an update, or subscribe to our newsletter for a monthly digest of the most important developments.



Contact us

  • Privacy Policy
    In order to contact you and provide you a relevant service proposal we handle your data based on our Privacy Policy.
    I want to subscribe to the blog so I get regular updates on topics related to business immigration, citizenship application, business services and other services.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Moving to Europe? Choose Hungary!
How to move to the EU from the U.S.? Choose Hungary!

If you are a U.S. citizen, you can easily move to the EU and gain visa-free access to the Schengen zone. Become a resident or a citizen of Hungary, which is a member of the European Union, and take advantage of your new privileges.

Read More
Who can be a witness in Hungary
Who can be a witness on your Hungarian documents?

When you submit forms or create contracts in Hungary, witness signatures might be required on it. But how does that work, and who can be a witness?

Read More

Archives