New requirement: minimum stay in Hungary for residence permit holders

Minimum stay in Hungary

Minimum stay is a new requirement, introduced only this year. Up until now, the immigration office did not check how much time you spent in and out of Hungary in case of temporary residence renewal. While the new regulation is live starting from this year, we are still in a “grace period”, meaning that administrators at the Immigration Office do not inspect fulfilment too rigorously – at least for now.

However, please keep in mind, especially if your residency renewal is due soon, that you are required to actually stay about half of your time in Hungary. This is defined in spending no more than 90 days in any given 180 days outside of Hungary, so you cannot be away for longer than 3 months in half a year’s time.

Who is affected?

This new minimum stay requirement affects you if you hold temporary residency in Hungary, typically issued for the purpose of gainful activity (for company owners) and to family members of such residency holders, for the purpose of employment and for “other purposes”. However, if you hold a residence permit received for study purposes or as part of your work permit, you are probably spending enough time in Hungary. If you hold a permanent residence permit, the change does not affect you.

What happens now?

Your already existing residence permit stays valid until its time of expiry. You can use it the same way you have been using it until now, and you can continue to use it until expiry.

When the time for residency renewal arrives, administrators at the Immigration Office may check how much time you have spent away from Hungary – as part of the standard procedure under the new regulation. They will check this by requesting a full passport copy and a declaration on the number of days you have actually spent within the country.

If they find that you have spent more than 90 days away from Hungary, your residency renewal might be refused.