Other Purpose Permits for Third-Country Nationals
Third-country nationals may require various permits for non-income-generating purposes.
The new Act XC of 2023 abolished the category of “Residence Permit for Other Purposes,” meaning that since the law’s enactment, the purpose of residence must be classified under one of the existing permit categories.
The following non-employment or income-generating residence permits exist in Hungary, and we offer assistance with their application and renewal:
Residence Permit for the Purpose of Family Reunification
A residence permit for ensuring family reunification may be issued to a third-country national who is a family member of a person known as the family reunifier, who holds one of the following statuses:
a) Residence permit holder,
b) Holder of an immigration, settlement, temporary settlement, national settlement, or EC settlement permit,
c) Holder of a temporary residence card, national residence card, or EU residence card,
d) Holder of a residence card, permanent residence card, or long-term residence card with the right to free movement and residence, or
e) Hungarian citizen.
Definition of Family Members:
a) The spouse of a third-country national or Hungarian citizen,
b) The minor child (including adopted or foster children) of the third-country national and their spouse,
c) The dependent minor child of the third-country national, over whom they exercise parental authority,
d) The dependent minor child of the spouse of the third-country national or Hungarian citizen, over whom the spouse exercises parental authority,
e) A person exercising parental authority over a minor Hungarian citizen and living in the same household with the Hungarian citizen.
In addition, a residence permit for ensuring family reunification may be issued to:
a) The family member of a recognized refugee,
b) The parent or guardian of an unaccompanied minor recognized as a refugee,
c) A third-country national child born in Hungary to a third-country national holding a residence permit,
d) The dependent parent or sibling of the family reunifier or their spouse, if they are unable to care for themselves due to their health condition.
A family member of a recognized refugee may apply for a family reunification permit even without documents proving the family relationship. The spouse of a recognized refugee may receive a family cohesion residence permit only if the marriage was concluded before the refugee’s entry into Hungary.
Validity of the Family reunification Residence Permit:
- Up to three years, extendable by up to three years at a time.
- Up to four years, extendable by up to four years at a time, if the family reunifier holds an EU Blue Card or Corporate Card.
- Up to five years, extendable by up to five years at a time, if the family reunifier is a Hungarian citizen, an EC settlement permit holder, or an EU residence card holder.
- Up to ten years, extendable by up to ten years at a time, if the family reunifier holds a Guest Investor Residence Permit.
Residence Permit for Study Purposes
A residence permit for study purposes may be issued to a third-country national who has enrolled in a full-time education program at an institution registered in Hungary’s public education information system, had been admitted to a higher education institution recognized by the Hungarian state or to a foreign higher education institution operating with permission in Hungary, for full-time studies or preparatory courses for further education organized by the institution. This also covers participation in mandatory internships.
The applicant must provide proof of sufficient language skills for the studies, payment of tuition fees as required by the educational institution, and a valid domestic address as their residence in Hungary.
The applicant may demonstrate sufficient language proficiency through an official language examination certificate, an official certificate of prior studies conducted in a foreign language, other credible documentation.
Validity of the study residence permit is at least one year, but no more than three years, or for the duration of the program if it is shorter than one year, the permit may be extended for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years at a time.
A third-country national holding a study residence permit cannot be used as a basis for granting a family reunification permit and cannot receive a National Residence Card (previously known as the National Settlement Permit).
A third-country national holding a residence permit for study purposes may work up to 30 hours per week during the academic term and up to 90 days full-time per year outside the academic term.
A student may apply for a Job-Seeking or Business Start-Up Residence Permit if they hold a valid study residence permit and can prove that they have successfully completed their studies. The job or business they plan to pursue must be consistent with the level of their completed studies.
This permit is valid for up to nine months and cannot be extended.
During the validity of a job-seeking residence permit, the holder may apply for:
a) Hungarian Card,
b) EU Blue Card, or
c) Guest Self-Employment Residence Permit.
Student Mobility Residence Permit and Certificate
A student holding a study residence permit issued by another EU Member State, who is not participating in an EU or multilateral program involving mobility measures or an agreement between multiple higher education institutions, may be granted a Student Mobility Residence Permit if they intend to continue part of their studies at a higher education institution specified by law in Hungary.
A student holding a study residence permit issued by another EU Member State, who participates in an EU or multilateral program involving mobility measures or is part of an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, may receive a Student Mobility Certificate. This certificate is issued if the student notifies the immigration authority using the official notification form, indicating their mobility plan and its expected duration, along with the relevant dates.
A third-country national holding a Student Mobility Residence Permit or Certificate may work up to 30 hours per week during the academic term and up to 90 days full-time per year outside the academic term.
Residence permit for training purposes
A residence permit for training purposes may be issued to a third-country national participating in a government- or ministry-sponsored training program in Hungary.
The residence permit for training purposes is valid for up to one year and cannot be extended for the same purpose. The third-country national may only request an extension of the permit for study purposes if eligible.
A third-country national holding a training residence permit cannot be used as a basis for granting a residence permit to another third-country national, meaning no family reunification permit can be requested. Additionally, the holder of a training residence permit cannot receive a National Residence Card (previously known as the National Settlement Permit).
Residence Permit for Internship Purposes
An intern is a third-country national who holds a higher education qualification or is pursuing studies leading to a higher education degree in a third country and whose entry and residence in Hungary is authorized for internship purposes in order to gain knowledge, practice, and experience in a work environment.
A residence permit for internship purposes can be granted to a third-country national who proves that they intend to stay in Hungary based on an internship contract with an approved host organization and the host organization has made a written commitment to cover the costs related to the intern’s removal if they stay beyond the authorized period and lack the necessary financial means. Additionally, the applicant must have obtained the higher education degree required for the internship within two years prior to submitting the application or must be pursuing studies aimed at acquiring the necessary degree for the internship, and they must have adequate language skills required for the internship.
The validity period of a residence permit for internship purposes is up to six months or, if the internship agreement is shorter than six months, it corresponds to the duration of the internship.
The residence permit for internship purposes cannot be extended.
A third-country national holding a residence permit for internship purposes cannot establish a residence right for another third-country national based on their stay in Hungary, meaning that no residence permit for family reunification can be requested.
During the validity of a residence permit for internship purposes and after its expiration, it is not possible to apply for another residence permit in Hungary on a different basis.
A third-country national holding a residence permit for internship purposes is not eligible for a national residence card (formerly known as a national permanent residence permit).
Residence Permit for Official Purposes
A residence permit for official purposes may be issued to a third-country national who intends to stay in Hungary in one of the following capacities:
a) As a person enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities based on international law, or as a family member of such a person,
b) As a member of an official delegation of a foreign state or state body, or an international organization,
c) As a press correspondent,
d) For study, education, training, or further training purposes under an international agreement, or in the framework of international cultural, educational, or scientific cooperation, or governmental international aid programs,
e) As a staff member of a scientific, educational, or cultural institution operating in Hungary under an international agreement, or as a person traveling within the institution’s scope of activities.
The validity period of the residence permit for official purposes corresponds to the duration of the official activity, but it may not exceed three years. It can be extended by a maximum of three years at a time, based on the duration of the official service or training.
Temporary Residence Permit
A temporary residence permit may be issued to a third-country national who temporarily takes up work as a tourist under international agreements (WHS).
The validity period of the temporary residence permit is limited to the duration specified in the relevant international agreement.
A temporary residence permit cannot be extended.
During the validity period of the temporary residence permit and after its expiration, it is not possible to apply for another residence permit in Hungary.
A third-country national holding a temporary residence permit cannot receive a national residence card (previously known as a national permanent residence permit).
Currently, citizens of New Zealand, South Korea, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Chile, Taiwan, and Hong Kong residents may apply for a temporary residence permit.
White Card
A White Card may be issued to a third-country national who has an established employment relationship in a country outside Hungary and performs their work from Hungary using advanced digital technologies, or owns shares in a profit-generating business outside Hungary and manages their business from Hungary using advanced digital technologies. The applicant must not work for or have ownership in a business in Hungary.
The White Card is valid for up to one year and can be extended once for another year for the same purpose.
During the validity period of the White Card and after its expiration, it is not possible to apply for another residence permit in Hungary.
A third-country national holding a White Card cannot apply for a family reunification residence permit based on their stay in Hungary.
A White Card holder cannot receive a national residence card (previously known as a national settlement permit).
Residence Permit for Secondment
A residence permit for secondment may be issued to a third-country national who:
a) Holds a valid work-related residence permit issued by another EU member state at the time of applying for the secondment residence permit, and
b) Intends to perform work in Hungary temporarily based on an employment relationship with the sending company.
This work must be performed:
- On behalf of and under the direction of the sending company, based on a contract between the sending company and the recipient of the service in the given member state,
- At a branch or business owned by the same company group, or
- At a company in Hungary as part of a temporary agency work arrangement.
The sending company and the employee maintain their employment relationship during the secondment period. The service provision occurs in the name and under the direction of the sending company.
The validity period of the residence permit for secondment corresponds to the duration of the secondment, but it cannot exceed two years. It may be extended for up to two years within the initial two-year period for the same purpose.
Residence Permit for Medical Treatment
A residence permit for medical treatment may be issued to a third-country national who intends to stay in Hungary for medical treatment or to accompany their minor child or other dependent family member who cannot care for themselves for medical treatment purposes.
The validity period of the residence permit for medical treatment corresponds to the duration of the medical treatment, but it may not exceed two years. It can be extended for up to another two years based on the duration of the medical treatment.
During the validity period of the residence permit for medical treatment and after its expiration, it is not possible to apply for another residence permit in Hungary on a different basis.
A third-country national holding a residence permit for medical treatment cannot receive a national residence card (previously known as a national settlement permit).
Residence Permit for Voluntary Activities
A residence permit for voluntary activities may be issued to a third-country national who intends to stay in Hungary for the purpose of performing public interest voluntary activities based on a volunteer agreement with a recognized host organization or as part of the European Voluntary Service system.
The validity period of the residence permit for voluntary activities must be at least one year but may not exceed two years.
A third-country national holding a residence permit for voluntary activities cannot apply for a family reunification residence permit based on their stay in Hungary.
During the validity period of the residence permit for voluntary activities and after its expiration, it is not possible to apply for another residence permit in Hungary on a different basis.
A third-country national holding a residence permit for voluntary activities cannot receive a national residence card (previously known as a national settlement permit).
Residence Permit Issued for National Interest
The Minister responsible for immigration and asylum may issue a residence permit for national interest to a third-country national if it is in Hungary’s economic, national, scientific, cultural, or sports interest.
The residence permit for national interest is valid for up to three years and may be extended for another three years at a time.
Residence Permit for Humanitarian Purposes
A residence permit for humanitarian purposes must be granted to the following persons in the absence of conditions for residence:
a) A person recognized as stateless by Hungary,
b) A person admitted to Hungary as a beneficiary of subsidiary protection,
c) A third-country national who has applied for refugee status or temporary or subsidiary protection,
d) A third-country national born in Hungary who is left without supervision by a responsible person according to Hungarian law or an unaccompanied minor,
e) A third-country national cooperating with authorities in a criminal investigation by significantly aiding the investigation,
f) Upon the court’s request, a third-country national who was employed under particularly exploitative working conditions or an underage third-country national employed without a valid residence or work permit.