HungaryWork residence permit

Hungarian Card in Hungary

A work residence permit for third-country nationals working in specialised fields. It is intended for professionals with higher education (IT, engineering, natural sciences, music), company owners, contract specialists, professional sportspeople, coaches, artists and film workers. It grants the right to work in Hungary and can be renewed. Applications may be filed through a consulate or the Enter Hungary online platform.

Source: oif.gov.hu — Magyar Kártya

Who may apply

The Magyar Kártya is available to professionals and to people working in the arts. Choose the category that matches your occupation.

With higher education

Specialists in information technology, engineering or the natural sciences holding a diploma
Musicians and other musical professionals with a professional qualification
Foreign specialists posted by an employer to work under a contract

Without a diploma requirement

Professional sportspeople and coaches
Artists and performers
Film industry and film production workers

Business

Company owners who perform manual work
Company managers who perform manual work
Directors engaged in management and operations

When this programme will not suit you

Your education was obtained in Hungary

Consider a work permit (foglalkoztatási célú tartózkodási engedély) or the EU Blue Card

You plan to bring your family, but the work is temporary or seasonal

You need stable employment first; the Magyar Kártya requires a permanent contract to sponsor dependants

You have no higher education and do not fall into the creative or sporting categories

An ordinary work permit (foglalkoztatási célú tartózkodási engedély) with no restriction by occupation

Documents to gather

To file the application you will need documents proving the employment, financial capacity and personal details.

Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond the term of the permit)
Employment contract or preliminary agreement with the employer
Higher-education diploma (where the category requires it — for specialists and musicians; not required for sportspeople, artists or film workers)
Bank statement or certificate of income proving the financial means
Tenancy agreement, title document or a letter from the employer confirming that accommodation is provided
Health insurance document (social security, an international agreement or proof of the financial ability to pay for services)
One passport-size photograph (35x45 mm)
Parental consent in Russian (if the applicant is a minor)
Written consent of the sponsor (if a representative files the application)

How the process runs

How a Magyar Kártya application is filed and examined.

1
Preparing documents and choosing how to file
Collect all the required documents. Decide where to file: at the Hungarian consulate in your country (if you are abroad) or through the Enter Hungary platform online / at a regional OIF office (if you are already in Hungary). If a lawyer or a legal entity represents you, filing must be exclusively through Enter Hungary online.
2
Filing the application
Submit the complete set of documents. Filing through Enter Hungary requires registration on the platform and uploading scans of the documents. When filing in person at a consulate or an OIF office, present the originals. After electronic filing you must pay the examination fee (the amount is stated on the OIF website).
3
Registration of biometric data
15 days
If you filed through Enter Hungary, you will be sent a notification with instructions. Within 15 days of receiving the notification you must attend the appointed place to have your photograph, fingerprints and signature taken. This is compulsory — without biometric registration the application is not deemed to have been received. When filing at a consulate or an OIF office, biometrics are usually collected on the spot.
4
Initial examination of the documents
21 days
The immigration service begins processing your case from the moment biometrics are registered (for electronic filing) or the documents are accepted (for filing in person). The standard processing time is 21 days. If any questions arise about the documents, you will be sent a notification asking you to supplement or clarify them. The applicant is given a period to provide the missing material (the supplementation period does not count towards the main 70-day limit).
5
Final decision
70 days at most
The overall maximum period for the final decision is 70 days from the filing of the application (not counting periods for supplementing the documents). The decision may be positive (issue of the permit) or negative (with reasons stated). The decision is sent in writing. If you disagree, you have the right to appeal within 8 days of receiving the decision.
6
Receiving the residence permit
Once the decision is positive, the Magyar Kártya document is handed to you (or sent by post if you filed electronically). The document is valid for the period stated (up to 3 years). You must appear in person to collect the card at the consulate or the OIF office (if you filed electronically, the notification will tell you where to collect it).
7
Entering Hungary
Up to 3 months
Once the permit has been issued you must enter Hungary within 3 months. Enter on a valid passport together with the permit. At the border you must have valid health insurance and proof of means of subsistence.

Timelines and rights

Work

Gives the right to work on the ground declared. The renewal application is filed no earlier than 90 and no later than 30 days before expiry.

Who you can bring with you

The Magyar Kártya allows family members to be brought in under family reunification conditions.

Spouse or registered same-sex partner

The standard family reunification requirements apply. The permit is issued for up to 3 years (if the main applicant's Magyar Kártya was issued for 3 years) or up to 4 years (if the main applicant holds an EU Blue Card or a Corporate Card).

Minor children (biological, adopted, stepchildren)

They must be in your care and maintained by you. Documentary proof is required that you provide their accommodation, food, education and medical care. The permit is issued for up to 3 years or up to 4 years (depending on the main applicant's card).

Minor children of the spouse in the spouse's care

The same conditions as for biological children. Both parents must give written consent to the child living in Hungary.

Adult close relatives (parents, brothers, sisters)

They may be approved only if they are unable to support themselves because of age or state of health. A medical certificate and proof of their financial dependence on you are required. This is a rare case and requires special consideration.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The examination period is 21 days, the final decision 70 days. Filing is abroad through a consulate or in Hungary through the Enter Hungary system.

The Magyar Kártya may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years (6 years in total at most). The renewal application is filed only in Hungary through the Enter Hungary platform. The application may be filed no earlier than 90 days before the card expires, but no later than 30 days before expiry — this is a strict deadline. Renewal requires: a valid Magyar Kártya at the time of filing, at least 90 days spent in Hungary over the last 180 days, a current employment contract or other proof that you continue to work on the ground stated, and (updated) documents on accommodation, insurance and financial means. Renewal is examined within the same timescales: 21 days of standard processing and a final decision within 70 days at most.

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.

	Hungarian Card	Investor residence permit	Digital nomad card
Visa term	Up to 3 years, renewable for a maximum of 3 further years	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)
Money	Proof of means, accommodation and health insurance is required; the page does not state specific amounts	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
Work	Gives the right to work on the ground declared	The right to live, study, run a business and work	Remote work for foreign clients and employers; working for a Hungarian company is not allowed
Residence	The examination period is 21 days, the final decision 70 days	No residence requirement	Actual residence is expected

Frequently asked questions about Hungarian Card

What minimum salary do I need for the Magyar Kártya?

The official OIF website does not state a specific minimum salary. Proof is required of sufficient financial means to cover the costs of subsistence, accommodation, medical care and departure from Hungary. The amount is assessed individually depending on your family situation and living conditions in the particular city. It is advisable to consult the OIF or a Hungarian consulate to clarify the sum.

May I earn income from abroad (remotely) on a Magyar Kártya?

The Magyar Kártya is issued for work on the ground declared — an employment contract, company ownership, sporting or creative activity. If you work remotely for a foreign employer, this must be stated in the employment contract and must correspond to the reason the card was issued. It is important that the work is officially registered and matches the category the card was granted for. If in doubt, consult the OIF before filing.

May I apply through a consulate if I live abroad?

Yes, this is one of the two ways of filing. You submit the documents in person at the Hungarian consulate in your country of residence. The consulate checks the documents, collects biometrics (fingerprints, photograph, signature) and sends the application to the OIF in Hungary. The examination process is the same: up to 70 days at most. Once approved, the document is issued or sent in accordance with the consulate's instructions.

When must I enter Hungary after the permit is issued?

The Magyar Kártya is valid for entry for 3 months from the moment it is received. If you do not enter within that period, the permit is not annulled automatically, but it is advisable to check its status with the OIF. On entry you need a valid passport, the card itself, proof of health insurance and evidence of means of subsistence.

What costs are involved in the Magyar Kártya apart from the state fee?

The state fee for examining the application is stated on the procedural fees page (eljárási díjak) of the OIF website. Beyond that, you may have costs for translating documents into Hungarian (where required), legalisation (apostille) of diplomas and certificates, a consular fee (at some consulates), health insurance and legal services (if needed). Check the exact state fee on the OIF website, as the amounts may change.

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.