Family unification in Hungary

20+

years of experience

10+

languages spoken

150+

nationalities

Relocating to Hungary often involves the desire to bring your family along. Through the “Family Unification” residence permit application process, you can ensure that your loved ones accompany you, whether you are obtaining a residence permit based on business activities or for employment purposes.

HELPERS has been providing comprehensive business and immigration assistance to international clients since 2005. At HELPERS, we are dedicated to offering exceptional service and thorough support for people of all ages during the relocation process. The new immigration law, which came into effect in 2024, no longer allows for family unification in all types of permits (or not necessarily immediately). However, in many cases, we can still provide solutions, and if we are managing the permit application for the primary applicant, we take this factor into account from the outset.

20+

years of experience

10+

languages spoken

150+

nationalities

Reviews FAQ Contact us

Family unification

Are you or your employees planning to bring family members to Hungary? Ensure a smooth transition by exploring your eligibility for family unification. With the new Hungarian immigration law, effective January 2024, not all residency types allow for family unification, making it essential to seek expert advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

Depending on the main applicant’s situation, the residence permit application of the family can be submitted either together with the primary residency application or after the main residency has been granted. While holders of dependent visas enjoy the same rights as the main applicant, they will need a separate work permit to engage in employment.

Read more about the different work permit types on our dedicated page.

Hungarian Work Permit

Eligible family members include:

Spouse of a third-country national or a Hungarian citizen (including the registered partner of a same-sex couple)
Minor children
Dependent parents and siblings (in certain circumstances)

Contact us for personalized assistance in navigating the family unification process and securing a seamless relocation for your family!

Full-service packages

Your service package will include

Initial consultation
Preparation of all required application documents
Submission via Enter Hungary
Government fee
In-person assistance with biometric data registration at the Immigration Office in Budapest
Declaration of initial accommodation
Support with certified Hungarian translations

Our list price for a package starts at EUR 1,000 (+VAT) with special discounts available for larger families.

Beyond family unification

If you have other close family members who are not eligible for the family unification process or if your residency type does not allow for it, they may still qualify for Hungarian residency based on their plans in Hungary. For example, if you have children above 18, they can enroll in Hungarian higher education and get a student residence permit. Those finishing university in Hungary can apply for “study-to-work” residency, which enables them to stay another 9 months in Hungary to find a job or start a company. When they find a job, they can apply for a work permit. At the same time, your parents can move to Hungary to retire here.

To learn more about the new residency types and how they may affect you, please read our blog post about residency types.

Reviews

What our clients say

Selcuk K

I would like to thank Ekin and Anna who helped me from the beginning to the end from company incorporation, opening a company bank account and obtaining a residence/work permit. Their communication was very positive and constructive and always solution oriented. The Helpers are very professional and when I need an opinion or ask for an update, they are very quick to respond. I can recommend them to everyone.
Chris M

Helpers was dedicated to facilitating my case. There were several instances where I thought I would not succeed and I simply would have been lost in the maze of bureaucracy without them. The initial application submission assistance is convenient and relatively easier than doing it yourself, but the real value in this service is having a third party closer to the inside that is more fluent in the language and can help eliminate the inevitable confusion and complication. Rest assured Helpers can simplify and illuminate the path to success for you.
Nihad H

I had the pleasure of working with Helpers for the opening of my company and obtaining my residence permit. I am grateful for their exceptional service. From the very beginning, Tala Shalati stood out with her professionalism and in-depth knowledge of the processes involved. She guided me through every step, ensuring that I understood what was needed and that I felt supported throughout. Her attention to detail and proactive approach made what could have been a stressful experience much more manageable. I highly recommend Helpers to anyone looking to navigate these complex procedures with ease. Thank you, Tala, for making this journey smooth and successful.
Rosemary S

What can I say? Helpers really lives up to its name! Helpers is a classy organization that helps people get their business licenses in a really stress-free laid back way. I was so pleased at how easy it was to work with them and negotiate my needs. As long as you make sure they have all the information and papers that are needed to get the job done, believe me, they GET THE JOB DONE! I was helped out mostly by Tala, Norbert and Boti. They were all friendly professionals and genuinely kind people! They respond to emails professionally and promptly. They help and communicate with you through every step of the process and even offer tea and coffee along the way! Really, I couldn’t stress more how convenient it is for someone who doesn’t speak the language to have this sort of help. I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone who needs it!!
Helena M

My experience with Helpers team is excellent. During almost a year of cooperation we opened LLC company in Hungary, I received residence permit for 2 years. I have assistance in finance questions, accountancy, legal questions. All problems are solved in prompt and smart way. During this journey there were a lot of difficulties and complicated questions, plenty of request from authorities. But due to Helpers assistance actually I’m absolutely sure that any problem could be solved. They are like a part of my company. And I’m confident about this part. I strongly recommend to establish your business in Hungary with Helpers. You will receive a pleasure from their problem-solving and communication skills. And your company will work properly for sure. Also my special thanks to Tala Shalati, Anna Kőszegi, Norbert Tekler, Tímea Köbli and Tamara Szabó. I really appreciate that my acquaintance with Hungary began with you!

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

What is a family visa?

People looking for a family visa or a dependent visa often mean a residence permit that allows family members to accompany the main applicant to Hungary. The best-known dependent visa procedure is called “family unification”, where the spouse and the minor (less than 18 years old) children of the applicant can apply for residency based on the residency of the main applicant received.

If I move to Hungary for a job or business, will my spouse be able to work legally here?

Yes – but not right away, since the residence permit based on family unification will not enable your spouse to enter employment. However, once they are here, they can more easily find a job, and simply change the dependent permit to a work permit once they have found one. Alternatively your spouse can also decide to start a small business in Hungary – we are happy to assist with either.

What is it like living in Hungary as a family?

Most expats love living in Hungary! Budapest is a safe and clean city with many affordable, high-quality entertainment options, good international schools, lots of green areas, easy public transportation, and fast and inexpensive connections to all major European capitals. Living cost in Hungary is quite low, so even on a basic salary you can achieve a high living standard.

Is family unification available with every type of Hungarian residency?

No, family unification is available only with certain types of residency in Hungary. One important change introduced recently is that family unification is no longer available for student residency or for the residence permit for the purpose of employment. At the same time, family unification remains available for several employment based residence permits, such as the Hungarian Card, the EU Blue Card, or the National Card. Contact us to learn more.

Contact

Contact us today

We will respond within one business day.

If you don’t get a response, add us to your whitelist or call us.

+36 1 317 8570

info@helpers.hu

Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm CET

Helpers Hungary Kft

Budapart Gate

Dombóvári út 27

Budapest 1117, Hungary

If you’re visiting us, please use entrance A and come to the 2^nd floor.