HungaryStudy residence permit

Study residence permit in Hungary

A residence permit for third-country nationals studying at accredited Hungarian educational institutions or secondary schools, or taking part in university preparatory programmes. It requires a letter of admission, proof of command of the language of instruction, evidence of financial means and valid health insurance. It is issued for the specific period of study and may be renewed if the conditions of stay are met. It allows the student to work for a limited time both during and outside term time. It does not apply to people with refugee protection, EU long-term residents or nationals of the European Economic Area.

Visa term

At least 1 year, at most 3 years depending on the programme; renewable for 1-3 years.

Residence

The examination period is 15 days, the decision on the merits 60 days.

Source: oif.gov.hu — A hallgató, tanuló tartózkodása

Where to apply

Foreign nationals may apply for a residence permit for the purpose of study in two main ways, depending on where they are at the time of filing.

From abroad

File the application through a Hungarian consulate in your country of citizenship or residence
Pay the consular fee in euros (EUR 110) or in convertible currency
Obtain the visa separately once the permit is approved
Travel to Hungary with the approved permit

In Hungary

If you arrived without a visa (having the right of visa-free entry), file the application in Hungary
Use the Enter Hungary portal for electronic filing or apply in person at a regional OIF office
Pay the administrative fee for filing in person (HUF 39,000) or through Enter Hungary (HUF 26,000)
Wait for the decision within the prescribed period

Renewal in Hungary

If you are already in Hungary with a valid permit, file an application for renewal
Use the Enter Hungary portal to renew the permit
Provide proof that your studies are continuing and of at least 90 days spent in the country
File the application 30-90 days before the permit expires

When this programme will not suit you

You have already been recognised as a refugee or granted protection in Hungary or the EU

Contact the OIF for information about the rights attached to your protection status

You are an EU long-term resident

A residence permit based on EU long-term resident status may be available to you

You are a national of the European Economic Area (EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or a family member of such a national

You have the right of free movement; ask for information about registration

You have come as a highly paid specialist or an intra-corporate transferee

Use the residence permit for the purpose you came for (employment or intra-corporate transfer)

What it costs

Filing through the Enter Hungary portalAdministrative fee for electronic filing through Enter Hungary	26 000 HUF (and EUR for consulates)
Applying in person at a regional OIF officeAdministrative fee for filing in person at an OIF office in Hungary	39 000 HUF (and EUR for consulates)
Filing through a Hungarian consulate abroadConsular fee in euros when the application is filed through the consulate in your country	110 HUF (and EUR for consulates)
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Filing through a Hungarian consulate abroad” branch replaces the “Filing through the Enter Hungary portal” line — 39 110 HUF (and EUR for consulates). Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	65 000 HUF (and EUR for consulates)

Paid separately

Visa (separately) — If you obtained the residence permit through a consulate, the visa is issued separately and costs extra
Health insurance — Health insurance is compulsory, but its cost is not included in the state fee

Documents to gather

To apply for a residence permit for the purpose of study you must provide the following documents:

Valid passport
Letter of admission or enrolment from an accredited Hungarian educational institution or secondary school, or a certificate of student status on a preparatory programme
Document proving command of the language of instruction (certificate, diploma or a statement from the institution)
Proof of sufficient financial means for subsistence, accommodation and medical care (bank statement, certificate of income, sponsorship letter)
Proof of health insurance covering the full range of medical care in Hungary
Address of residence in Hungary (tenancy agreement, letter from the owner or other evidence)
Photograph 35 x 45 mm (requirements may differ for electronic filing)
Consent of parents or guardian (for minor applicants, certified by the responsible authority)

How the process runs

Obtaining a residence permit for the purpose of study involves the following main stages:

1
Obtaining the letter of admission from the institution
depends on the institution
You must be admitted to an accredited Hungarian educational institution, secondary school or university preparatory programme. The institution issues the letter of admission or certificate of student status needed to apply for the permit.
2
Preparing the documents
several weeks
Collect all the necessary documents: passport, letter of admission, proof of language preparation, evidence of financial means, proof of health insurance and the address of residence in Hungary.
3
Choosing how to file
1 day
Decide where to file the application: through the Hungarian consulate in your country, through the Enter Hungary portal, or in person at a regional OIF office in Hungary (if you are already there).
4
Filing the application and paying the fee
1 day
File the application together with the documents (electronically through Enter Hungary, in person at the OIF or through a consulate). Pay the administrative fee (HUF 26,000 or 39,000 in Hungary, or EUR 110 through a consulate).
5
Examination of the application
15-60 days
The OIF examines your application. The basic examination time is 15 days, but for student applications it may be extended to 60 days. You may be asked to provide additional documents.
6
Receiving the decision
1 day
You receive a decision granting or refusing the permit. If granted, you are issued a residence permit for the purpose of study. If you filed through a consulate, you must then obtain the visa at the consulate.
7
Registration in Hungary (where required)
within 30 days of arrival
After arriving in Hungary with the approved permit, register your place of residence with the local municipal authority (jegyző).

Timelines and rights

Work

Up to 30 hours a week during term time and up to 90 days of full-time work a year outside term time.

Who you can bring with you

Family members of a student cannot automatically obtain a residence permit in Hungary on the basis of family reunification. There are, however, limited exceptions:

Spouse

Cannot obtain a residence permit on the basis of family reunification with a student. The spouse must have their own grounds for obtaining a residence permit.

Children of the student's marriage

Children of a foreign national born in Hungary may obtain a residence permit on the basis of family reunification with the student parent, if the student meets the financial support conditions.

Minor family members

Other minor family members (brothers, sisters, grandchildren) cannot obtain a permit on the basis of the student status of one family member.

Parents

The student's parents have no right to obtain a residence permit in Hungary on the basis that their child is a student.

Renewal and the grace period

A residence permit for the purpose of study may be renewed for a further period (usually from 1 to 3 years) provided the studies continue. To renew you must: 1) hold a valid permit at the time of filing the renewal application; 2) have spent at least 90 days in Hungary within any 180-day period; 3) provide proof that your studies at an accredited institution are continuing; 4) file the application 30-90 days before the permit expires. Renewal is filed through the Enter Hungary portal or in person at the OIF. The number of renewals is not limited by law — the permit may be renewed as many times as the study programme requires.

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.

	Study residence permit	Investor residence permit	Digital nomad card
Visa term	At least 1 year, at most 3 years depending on the programme; renewable for 1-3 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)
Work	Up to 30 hours a week during term time and up to 90 days of full-time work a year outside term time	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 15 days, the decision on the merits 60 days	No residence requirement	Actual residence is expected

Frequently asked questions about Study residence permit

May I work while studying in Hungary?

Yes, but with restrictions. During term time you may work a maximum of 30 hours a week. Outside term time you may work full time for 90 days a year. The work must be lawful and formally registered.

What is the minimum amount of money needed to apply?

Hungarian law does not set a specific minimum amount. Instead, you must demonstrate 'sufficient material means' to cover subsistence, accommodation, departure and medical care. Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, certificates of income, sponsorship letters or scholarship documents. It is advisable to attach an account statement showing the history of transactions to demonstrate that you control the money.

How long does it take to examine a student permit application?

The basic examination time is 15 days. For student permits, however, it may be extended to 60 days. The examination time starts on the day a complete and correct application is filed. If the documents are incomplete, the period may be suspended until the missing information is provided.

For how many years is a student residence permit issued?

A residence permit for the purpose of study is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years, depending on the study programme and the duration stated in the letter of admission. The permit cannot exceed the validity of your passport.

What happens if I interrupt my studies or stop studying?

A residence permit for the purpose of study is issued specifically for study. If you interrupt your studies without having the permit changed to another purpose, it may be annulled. When renewing the permit you will have to provide proof that your studies are continuing. It is advisable to consult the OIF before interrupting your studies.

I am a refugee — may I obtain a student permit?

No, people who have been recognised as refugees or granted subsidiary or temporary protection cannot obtain a student residence permit. They do, however, have other rights and options based on their protection status. For information about the rights available to you, contact the OIF or an organisation that supports refugees.

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.