HungaryWork residence permit

EU Blue Card in Hungary

A programme for highly qualified third-country professionals who wish to work in Hungary. It requires an employment contract for a post with raised qualification requirements: either a higher-education diploma or documented experience (for ICT specialists). The minimum pay is set annually and differs between the main categories and medical professions. The card is issued with the right to work in the first year solely in the authorised employment relationship.

Source: oif.gov.hu — Az EU Kék Kártya

Three ways to file the application

Depending on where you are and on your status, you can file abroad, in Hungary, or through your employer.

From the country of origin

File the application at a Hungarian consulate
Suitable for nationals with no right of visa-free entry to Hungary
The standard processing time is up to 70 days

Already in Hungary

File through the Enter Hungary platform or at a regional office
Suitable for visa-exempt nationals already staying in the country lawfully
Also for holders of a valid EU Blue Card from another EU country

Through the employer

The employer files on your behalf with your written consent
The Enter Hungary platform is used exclusively
Requires that you have not entered Hungary, that you entered without a residence permit, or that you hold a valid Blue Card

When this programme will not suit you

You have applied for asylum or protection in Hungary

Consider the programme for refugees or protected persons once your status has been decided

You have come under the posting of workers scheme under Directive 96/71/EC

EU Directive 96/71/EC lays down separate rules for posted workers

You are carrying out a research project in Hungary

Apply for a researcher visa instead of the Blue Card

You already hold long-term resident status in another EU country

The Blue Card is incompatible with long-term status already granted in the EU

What it costs

Filing at a regional office (in person)Payment by bank card, postal cheque or transfer	39 000 HUF
Filing through the Enter Hungary electronic systemPayment by bank card is compulsory for electronic filing	26 000 HUF
Issue of a mobility certificateA free service alongside the other fees	+0 HUF
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Issue of a mobility certificate” adds 0 HUF. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	65 000 HUF

Paid separately

Consular visa (if you file from abroad) — Not included in the state fee; set separately by the consulate

Documents to gather

Prepare the following documents before filing:

Valid passport
Employment contract or job offer for a term of at least 6 months
Educational document (higher-education diploma or equivalent)
Proof of the minimum salary (usually an employer's certificate or a copy of the contract)
Certificate of health insurance in Hungary
Passport photograph 3x4 cm
Address of residence in Hungary (tenancy agreement or letter from the owner)
For ICT specialists without a diploma: documents proving 3 years of professional experience

How the process runs

The procedure has the following stages:

1
Deciding where to file and collecting documents
1-2 weeks
Decide whether to file abroad at a consulate, in Hungary or through your employer. Collect all the required documents in line with the requirements.
2
Filing the application
1-2 days
File the complete application with the documents. Abroad, at a consulate; in Hungary, through Enter Hungary or in person at a regional office. Pay the fee (HUF 26,000 or 39,000 depending on the method).
3
Collection of biometric data
7-14 days
Book an appointment to have your fingerprints, facial photograph and signature taken. This is not required for children under 6.
4
Examination of the application
21-70 days
The immigration authority examines your case. The standard period is up to 70 days; for holders of a valid EU Blue Card from another EU country it is 30 days. Administrative preparation usually takes 21 days.
5
Issue of the decision and receipt of the card
1-3 weeks
If the application is approved, you receive the visa (if you filed abroad) and the card itself. The card is sent to the address given in the application or handed to the employer.

Timelines and rights

Work

In the first year the card gives the right to work solely in the authorised employment relationship in a highly qualified post.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

A decision within 70 days; for holders of an EU Blue Card from another EU country, within 30 days.

The Blue Card is renewed solely within Hungary through the Enter Hungary platform. The renewal application must be filed no later than 30 days before the card expires. Administrative preparation takes 21 days and the final decision up to 70 days. Renewal requires a valid residence permit at the time of filing and a document proving at least 90 days spent in Hungary within any 180 days. The card may be renewed for up to 4 years at a time, but cannot exceed the validity of your passport. If you have changed employer or the employment has ended, a new application must be filed even if you have lived in Hungary for many years.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	EU Blue Card	Investor residence permit	Digital nomad card
Visa term	Up to 4 years, renewable for up to 4 years at a time, but never beyond the validity of the passport	Residence permit granted for 10 years at once, renewable for another 10 without new investment	Up to 1 year, renewable once for a further year (2 years maximum)
Grounds	Employment in a post requiring high qualifications	Real estate / funds	Remote income
Money	For 2026 the minimum monthly pay is HUF 1,001,048, and HUF 800,838 for designated medical professions	Real-estate fund from EUR 250,000 (5 years) OR real estate from EUR 500,000 OR a donation from EUR 1,000,000	Net income from about EUR 3,000 a month
Residence	A decision within 70 days; for holders of an EU Blue Card from another EU country, within 30 days	No residence requirement	Actual residence is expected

Frequently asked questions about EU Blue Card

What minimum salary is required in 2026 for the Blue Card?

For 2026 the minimum monthly pay is HUF 1,001,048. For designated medical professions (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, dieticians, physiotherapists and midwives) the minimum is lower — HUF 800,838 a month.

What is the processing time if I apply from another EU country where I already hold a Blue Card?

If you hold a valid Blue Card from another EU country and apply in Hungary, the examination period is 30 days instead of the standard 70 days. Administrative preparation usually takes 21 days. You must file the application within 30 days of entering Hungary.

May I change employer during the first year on a Blue Card?

No. In the first year after the Blue Card is issued you have the right to work solely in the authorised employment relationship in a highly qualified post with the specific employer named in your application. If you change employer, the employment ends or your role changes, you must file a new renewal application.

Which ICT specialists may apply without a higher-education diploma?

Specialists in information and communication technology may apply without a university diploma if they have documented professional experience of at least 3 years in their field, acquired within the 7 years before the Blue Card application. The experience must be documented by certificates or records confirming that the profession was practised in good faith and lawfully.

Are family members included in my residence permit when I obtain a Blue Card?

The main Blue Card programme page does not provide information about family members. For details of residence rights for a spouse, children or other dependants, it is best to contact the immigration and citizenship authority (OIF) or a consulate directly.

How much does it cost to file through the Enter Hungary electronic system?

Filing through the Enter Hungary online platform costs HUF 26,000. Filing at a regional office (in person) is more expensive — HUF 39,000. Payment for electronic filing must be made by bank card.

Other ways to move to Hungary

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Hungary.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.