HungaryFamily residence permit

Family reunification in Hungary

A residence permit allowing family members of Hungarian citizens, residence permit holders or recognised refugees to live together. It suits spouses, minor children and dependants who married before entry. It can be filed online or at a regional office. The permit is granted subject to sufficient material means, accommodation and health insurance.

Source: oif.gov.hu — Családi együttélés biztosítása

Three ways to file the application

Choose the most convenient way of filing according to where you are.

From abroad (visa-free nationals)

File at the Hungarian embassy or consulate
Provide documents on the family relationship and financial support
Await the decision within 21 days

From Hungary

File online through the Enter Hungary portal or in person at a regional office
Pay the fee of HUF 26,000
Receive notice of the decision within 21 days

With a simultaneous work application

File a combined application (family plus work permit)
Provide the employment contract with the employer
Await the decision within 70 days

When the programme will not work

The sponsor holds a seasonal work permit

Such a permit gives no right to family reunification; the sponsor must change the type of residence permit

The sponsor is a student or on a traineeship

Study permits do not include the right to reunification; wait until the sponsor obtains a work permit

The sponsor holds a volunteering permit

Volunteering permits are excluded from the programme; the sponsor needs a different residence status

You are a national of a visa-free country but your marriage took place after entry into Hungary (where the sponsor is a refugee)

Where the sponsor is a recognised refugee, the marriage must have been concluded before entry into Hungary

What it costs

Residence permit (filing online or in person)Payment is compulsory when filing	26 000 HUF
Renewal of the permitWhen applying to renew for a further period	20 000 HUF
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	46 000 HUF

Paid separately

Document costs (certificates, translations, notarial certification) — Not part of the state fee; they depend on your situation
Health insurance — A policy is required, but the insurance is paid for separately
Consular services (if filing abroad) — May be charged in addition, depending on the consulate

Documents to gather

Collect originals or certified copies of all documents. Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Hungarian and notarially certified.

Valid passport (validity of at least 6 months is recommended)
One passport photograph (3x4 cm, taken no more than 3 months ago)
Birth certificate (certified copy)
Marriage or registered partnership certificate (certified copy)
Adoption certificate (where applicable)
Certificate of income or activity from the employer or the tax authorities for the last 12 months
Bank statement (at least the last 3 months)
Document confirming the right to accommodation: rental agreement, title deed or booking confirmation
Proof of health insurance (a policy or a certificate of cover)
A ticket or flight booking confirmation, or a certificate of funds for departure
Consent of both parents to a minor child's departure (a certified document or notarised power of attorney)
Criminal-record certificate (where required)

How the process runs

The application follows one of two routes, depending on where it is filed and whether a work application is made at the same time.

1
Preparing and collecting documents
1-2 weeks
Collect all the necessary documents, have them translated into Hungarian (where needed) and notarially certified. Make sure everything is current: income certificates must be no more than 3 months old, bank statements up to date, and the photograph no more than 3 months old.
2
Completing and filing the application
1 day (if filing in person) or a few days (if through Enter Hungary)
If filing online: register on the Enter Hungary portal, complete the form, upload scanned copies of the documents and pay the fee of HUF 26,000. If filing in person: visit a regional OIF office, provide the originals and copies of the documents and pay the fee. If filing through a consulate abroad: contact the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your country.
3
Checks and further documentation
varies, usually 1-2 weeks
The immigration authorities check your application. If information is missing, you may be asked for additional documents or clarification. A set period is allowed for providing further material.
4
The decision
21 days (standard) or 70 days (under the combined procedure with work)
The authorities decide within 21 days of the complete set of documents being filed. If you applied for a work permit at the same time, the period rises to 70 days. The decision is given to you in writing.
5
Receiving the permit
a few days after the decision
After a positive decision you receive the residence permit as a sticker in your passport or as a separate document. If you filed online, you will need to visit your personal account to confirm, or collect the document at the regional office.

Timelines and rights

Work

The right to work arises only through the combined application procedure, which joins family reunification with a work permit.

Who you can bring with you

The programme covers family members in defined relationships with the sponsor. The sponsor may be a Hungarian citizen, a person holding a residence permit or a recognised refugee.

Spouse or registered partner

The marriage must be officially registered. For recognised refugees the marriage must have been concluded before entry into Hungary. Living together with the sponsor before filing is not required.

Minor children (under 18)

Children in common or foster children. The consent of both legal parents to the departure is required, confirmed by a notary. The children remain dependants of the sponsor.

Adult dependent children

Children over 18 who are economically dependent on the sponsor and cannot support themselves. Dependency must be evidenced through living together, financial support and the absence of their own source of income.

Foster children and wards

Stepchildren may be included in the programme if they are dependants. An adoption or guardianship document is required.

Parents of a recognised refugee

This applies where the parent cannot support themselves in the country of origin and requires financial support from the refugee. Proof of dependency is required.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

In any 180 days you must spend at least 90 days in Hungary, otherwise the permit will not be renewed. This rule does not apply to family members of guest investor visa holders.

The permit is renewed for the same period as the original permit (3, 4, 5 or 10 years). Renewal requires a fresh application. The main condition: in any consecutive 180 days you must have spent at least 90 days in Hungary. Exception: family members of a holder of an investment (guest investor) permit are exempt from this condition. The renewal fee is HUF 20,000. The renewal application may be filed several months before the permit expires. If you do not meet the residence-day condition and no exception applies, renewal will be refused and you will have to leave Hungary.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The EU residence card is granted after 5 years of continuous lawful residence.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship is requested after 8 years of continuous residence in Hungary. For spouses of Hungarian citizens, after 3 years.

Frequently asked questions about Family reunification

Can I work on a family reunification permit?

Not automatically. The right to work arises only where the permit was issued through the combined procedure, in which you applied for family reunification and a work permit at the same time. In that case the examination period rises to 70 days. If the permit was issued without the combined procedure, you will need to file a separate application for a work permit once you hold the residence permit.

Do I need a visa to enter Hungary before applying for family reunification?

If you are a national of a country with no visa requirement for Hungary or the EU (EEA nationals), no visa is required. You may arrive under intra-Schengen rules. Nationals of other countries, including Russia, need a visa to enter. It is advisable to apply for the residence permit at the Hungarian consulate in your country so that the visa is issued alongside the examination. If you are already in Hungary on a tourist visa, you may file in person, but the decision will be taken only once processing at the consulate is complete.

What minimum income or savings are required to prove material support?

The Hungarian authorities do not set specific minimum amounts. Instead you must prove sufficient means to cover your living costs, housing services, health insurance and departure from the country. The authorities assess each case individually on the documents provided: bank statements, income certificates, rental agreements and the cost of living in Hungary. It is advisable to submit documents showing regular income (from an employer or the tax authorities) and savings over several months.

What happens if the sponsor dies or loses their residence permit?

If the sponsor is a Hungarian citizen or holds refugee status, you may continue to reside provided your material support is guaranteed. That requires a fresh assessment by the authorities. If the sponsor held a residence permit and lost that status (for example, the permit expired and was not renewed), your permit may also not be renewed, and you will have to leave Hungary unless you have other grounds for residence. It is advisable to check with your regional OIF office what options exist in your particular situation.

What rights do I gain after 5 years of continuous residence?

After 5 years of lawful continuous residence in Hungary you become entitled to the permanent residence card (EU residence card), which is valid for 10 years and renews automatically. Permanent status removes the residence-day requirement (90 days out of 180), and you may stay outside Hungary for longer without risking your status on renewal. Information on Hungarian citizenship, however, falls outside the OIF portal's remit and must be checked with other Hungarian authorities.

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.