Hungary

Information for all students

Students should ensure that their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Control. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and, more importantly, prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.

It is important to understand the Schengen 90/180 rule. You are allocated 90 visa-free days to use within the Schengen Zone, however you must remember these are rolling days and are added onto a cumulative total of days in the Schengen region. Leaving and entering does not reset your calculator – only leaving for a period of 90 days in a non-Schengen country will reset your visa-free 90-day allowance.

Read more about the Schengen rules and the process of applying for a Schengen visa.

You can use this handy tool to estimate the cost of your visa.

Studying for up to 3 months

EU citizens do not need a visa or permit to enter and study, work and live in Hungary.

British citizens do not need a visa to study in Hungary for less than 90 days.

Depending upon nationality, non-EU/EEA students studying in Hungary for 90 days or less may need a visa.

Students from non-visa exempt EU countries must apply for a visa type-D, which will allows for single entry to Hungary for a stay of no more than 30 days.

Please see the list of non-visa required countries to determine whether you need a visa to study in Hungary.

Schengen study visa

Students can obtain a Schengen study visa for the following activities:

• Full-time studies at an authorised school (leading to the obtainment of a degree or certificate of studies)
• Doctorate studies.
• Training activities.
• Student mobility programmes (compulsory and/or non-compulsory secondary education level at an officially recognised teaching or scientific centre)
• Training placements at public/private bodies or entities that cannot be covered by internship visas
• Volunteer services (within the framework of programmes pursuing public interest goals)
• Au pair programmes
• Conversation class assistants

If you are not a third-country national or EU student, you will need to apply for a short-stay uniform visa (C). Under this visa you can carry out the following activities in Hungary:

• Tourism
• Visit family or friends
• Attend business meetings
• Attend cultural or sports events
• Short-term studying or training
• Attend a conference 

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your short-stay Schengen visa, you need to gather the following documents:

• Certificate of residence/legal stay (if you are not a national in the country where you lodge your application)
• Travel medical insurance (minimum coverage must be EUR 30 000)
• Documents establishing the purpose of your visit
• Proof of sufficient funds for your visit and the return to your country of origin/a third country
• Certificate of the receiving educational/scientific/professional training institution (if applicable)
• Certificate of the place of accommodation in Hungary
• Paid visa fee 
• Signed visa application form
• Valid travel document 

Discover the full list of documents.

How to apply

UK students have two options when it comes to submitting their application:

1. In-person submission, during which biometric data (fingerprints, photos, etc.) will be collected.
2. Via the Visa Application Centre for Hungary by VFS Global Services Ltd. VFS will assist you with the procedure and forward the application to the Embassy for an additional fee.

Please note, if you are not resident in the UK you should apply for a visa at the Hungarian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.

You can book your VFS appointment online.

Studying for more than 3 months

If you're an EEA national student, you have a right of residence exceeding 90 days within a 180 day period if you:

• Plan to pursue gainful employment
• Have sufficient resources during the period of your stay
• Have comprehensive sickness insurance
• Are enrolled in an educational institution for purpose of studying (including vocational training and adult education, if offering an accredited curriculum)

EU students need to notify the regional directorate of jurisdiction of their residence in Hungary within 90 days of entering Hungary.

Depending upon nationality, students studying in Hungary for longer than 90 days may be required to apply for a long-stay visa.

The validity period of a Residence Permit issued for the purpose of study:

• Lasts for at least 1 year
• Corresponds to the duration of training (if less than 1 year)
• May be extended by 1–2 additional years at a time

Gather your documents

Students applying for a Residence Permit for the purposes of study should gather the following documents:

• Certificate of admission from the relevant educational institution to verify student status and that purpose of your stay is to study
• Application form (indicating a genuine Hungarian address as your place of accommodation)
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of comprehensive health insurance
• Proof of obligation to return to home country
• A travel document which is valid for intended period of stay 

Linguistic knowledge may be verified by:

• A language certificate in proof of language proficiency examination
• An official diploma in proof of studies in a foreign language
• Other reliable means

UK students are considered third-country nationals and should have sufficient resources to cover their subsistence for residence exceeding 90 days within a 180 day period.

The requirement of proof of subsistence can be verified by:

• A certificate on the payment of the scholarship grant
• Funds held in bank accounts
• Other reliable documents

If your residence in Hungary is financed by your family member, you will need to submit documentation verifying your family relationship, together with documentary evidence proving their ability to provide the required support.

Disocover the full list of required documents here.

Upon arrival

If you hold a Residence Permit in order to pursue studies:

• You are not required to obtain a further Residence Permit in order to pursue a gainful activity or employment during the time of study
• You are not required to obtain a work permit (as a student in full-time education)

Third-country nationals holding a Residence Permit for the purpose of studies can engage in any full-time occupational activity:

• During term time, for a maximum of 30 hours per week
• Outside term time, for a maximum period of 90 days OR 66 working days within 1 year

UK/non-EU/non-EEA nationals must notify the regional directorate of jurisdiction of their presence in Hungary within three days of arrival.

How to apply

Visa-exempt, third-country nationals legally residing in Hungary can submit an application for a Residence Permit electronically. You can do so upon registration on the electronic platform of the immigration authority for procedure initiation.

Working for less than 3 months

EU students (including those from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Lichtenstein) do not need any extra documentation to work in Hungary. However, you do need to apply for and hold a Registration Card.

With said Registration Card, you can complete the following activities in Hungary:

• Buying goods for sale outside the country
• Running or attending job interviews
• Meeting with recruitment agencies and talent
• Acquisition trips (e.g.: buying business operations, carrying out due diligence prior to purchase and pre-closing activities
• Attending court as a witness
• Attending a trade fair, seminar convention or workshop
• Attending board meetings
• Team building activities
• Meeting colleagues, contractors or sellers
• Meeting clients or customers (including entertainment, such as eating at a restaurant)
• Fact-finding visits
• Touring a company facility
• Negotiating, signing and executing deals or contracts
• Attending, speaking or presenting at a conference (paid or unpaid)

You can also complete the following types of training, as long as they're for the same company or group:

• Classroom-based training
• On-the-job training
• Shadowing someone else’s job

These activities are covered by the Schengen visa waiver.

International students who are not part of a visa waiver must apply for a short-term work permit in Hungary.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your short-term work permit, you must gather the following documents:

• Completed permit application form
• UK passport, valid for at least 6 months
• Degree or qualification certificate
• Signed employment contract with your UK employer
• Contract or work order between your UK employer and the Hungarian company
• Assignment letter from your UK employer
• Social security cover certificate from your UK employer (certificate of coverage)
• Proof of accommodation 
• Proof of health care insurance 

Discover the full list of required documents here.

How to apply

Your employer should submit your permit application to the labour office.

Working for more than 3 months

UK students who wish to work for a duration of up to 1 year must apply for a Residence Permit called a Single Permit Residence. This permit allows third-country nationals to enter into an employment contract with an employer and reside legally in the territory of Hungary for the purpose of work.

You may also need a Schengen long-stay visa (D). You can read more on this here. 

Gather your documents

In order to obtain your Single Permit Residence, you must gather the following documents:

• A prior agreement, concluded with a view to entering into an employment relationship OR a document verifying the employment relationship
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of comprehensive health insurance
• Proof of linguistic knowledge 
• Proof of means of subsistence in Hungary
• A travel document which is valid for the intended period of stay
• Document to verify purpose of stay is to study/work e.g., admission certificate issued from the educational institution

Linguistic knowledge may be verified by:

• A language certificate in proof of language proficiency examination
• An official diploma in proof of studies in a foreign language
• Other reliable means

The requirement of proof of subsistence can be verified by:

• A certificate on the payment of the scholarship grant
• Funds held in bank accounts
• Other reliable documents

How to apply

An application for a Residence Permit may be submitted to:

• Any Consulate officer of Hungary
• At any other place authorised to accept applications for Residence Permits, located in the country where you are resident (either temporarily or permanently)/the country of your nationality

Third-country nationals may apply for an entry visa for receiving a Residence Permit before admission to the country in the same Residence Permit application. You do not have to lodge a separate application.

Applications for a Residence Permit for employment are examined by the competent authority within the framework of a single application procedure.

Upon arrival

You must notify the regional directorate of jurisdiction of your new place of accommodation within 3 days of arrival.