HungaryDigital nomad

Digital nomad card in Hungary

The White Card is a programme for foreign digital nomads who work remotely for foreign companies or run foreign businesses. The nomad documents their financial independence and receives a residence permit allowing them to live in Hungary. The programme does not open a direct route to permanent residence or citizenship, and the family cannot obtain a permit for reunification, but children born in Hungary automatically receive status.

Visa term

Up to 1 year, renewable once for a further year (2 years maximum)

Threshold

Net income from about EUR 3,000 a month

Processing time

Several weeks to 1-2 months

Residence

Actual residence is expected

Source: oif.gov.hu — White Card for digital nomads

Who the White Card suits

The White Card is designed for professionals with foreign income that they can document. The programme checks financial standing and the nature of the employment — the work must be entirely remote.

The ideal candidate

A remote employee of a foreign company earning from EUR 3,000 a month.
The owner of a foreign company working remotely with documented profit.
A self-employed person (freelancer, consultant, contractor) with clients abroad.
A professional whose clients pay in foreign currency or into a foreign account.

Administrative skills

The ability to assemble the document pack 2-3 weeks before filing.
Access to bank statements and to certificates from an employer or the tax authority.
The ability to register a foreign company and confirm your shareholding in it (for entrepreneurs).
Knowledge of the basic requirements of Hungarian immigration law.

Financial planning

Readiness to maintain an income of EUR 3,000 a month throughout the whole period.
A budget for the procedure: about EUR 110 abroad or about EUR 160-200 in Hungary.
The means to pay for accommodation (at least a tenancy agreement for the period of residence).
Health insurance in place (Hungarian or cross-border).

When this programme will not suit you

You plan to work for a Hungarian company, even for a single day

The White Card prohibits this. Look at the Guest Worker programme or a work permit.

You need to bring your family for long-term residence

The White Card does not allow family reunification. The family may visit (as tourists) but cannot live in the country permanently. The exception: children born in Hungary while the card is valid.

You are looking for a route to permanent residence or citizenship in 1-2 years

The White Card blocks access to the national permanent residence card. Once it expires (2 years at most) you must either leave or find another programme.

Your income is below EUR 3,000 a month or you have no 6-month document history

The programme requires EUR 3,000 net for the 6 months before filing and for the whole period of validity. Without proof, the application is refused.

What it costs

Residence permit plus entry visa (filed abroad)Paid in euros or in local currency at the embassy or consulate.	110 EUR, HUF
Residence permit (filed in Hungary, in person)In Hungarian forints. Payment by credit card, postal cheque or bank transfer.	39 000 EUR, HUF
Residence permit (filed through the Enter Hungary portal)A discount for electronic filing. In Hungarian forints, paid by card during filing.	26 000 EUR, HUF
Renewal of the permit (any filing method)In Hungarian forints. Filed 30-90 days before the current card expires.	+26 000 EUR, HUF
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Renewal of the permit (any filing method)” adds 26 000 EUR, HUF; the “Residence permit (filed through the Enter Hungary portal)” branch replaces the “Residence permit (filed in Hungary, in person)” line — 26 110 EUR, HUF. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	39,110–65 110 EUR, HUF

Paid separately

Translation of documents — If a certified translation of the passport or of employer certificates is required, it is paid for separately (translator/notary).
Certificates and statements from the bank or employer — Usually free of charge, but in some countries banks or tax authorities may charge a fee for issuing a certificate.

Documents to gather

The full pack takes 2-3 weeks to assemble. All foreign documents must bear an apostille (except bank statements) or come with a certified translation.

Valid passport (original plus 2-3 copies).
Photograph 6x8 cm (one white-background copy, taken within the last 6 months).
Fingerprints (taken when the application is accepted, if you are over 6 years old).
Certified employer statement (if employed): stating the position, the scope of work, that the work is remote, the term and the salary (in English or Hungarian, stamped and signed).
Documents on ownership of a foreign company (if self-employed or an entrepreneur): an extract from the company register, confirmation of the shareholding, tax documents proving profit.
Bank statements for the last 6 months (a minimum of EUR 3,000 net each month) plus a certificate of income from the employer or the tax authority.
Tenancy agreement, title deed to a house, or a letter from the owner confirming accommodation (apostilled if it is a foreign document).
Proof of health insurance (Hungarian or international cross-border). It must cover emergency care and basic treatment.
A return ticket or proof of funds to return to your country.
Police clearance certificate, where required — this depends on the applicant's country of citizenship.

How the process runs

The filing procedure differs depending on where you apply: abroad through an embassy or consulate, or in Hungary itself through the Enter Hungary portal or a regional office.

1
Preparing documents and checking that the requirements are met
2-3 weeks
You collect the full pack: passport, employer certificate, bank statements (6 months), tenancy agreement, health insurance policy, photograph, fingerprints. All foreign documents must bear an apostille. A mistake in the pack at this stage leads to a request for missing documents and a delay.
2
Filing the application (abroad or in Hungary)
1 day
Abroad: you file at a Hungarian embassy or consulate together with the visa request. In Hungary: you file in person at a regional office of the NDGAP (National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing) or through the Enter Hungary portal (for nationals with no visa requirement). You pay the fee: EUR 110 abroad or HUF 26,000-39,000 in Hungary.
3
Standard examination (first-stage review)
21 days
The immigration authority checks the documents: financial standing (EUR 3,000 a month), the remote nature of the work, the absence of any sign of work in Hungary. If the documents are incomplete, a letter is sent asking you to supply the missing material. The time you take to answer such a letter does not count towards the 21 days.
4
The decision
up to 30 days from filing
The final decision to approve or refuse. If approved: when filed abroad, an entry visa is issued (valid for 3 months, single entry), and the White Card itself is then issued on entry into Hungary. When filed in Hungary, the card is issued on the spot or sent by post to the address given within 5-7 working days.
5
Receiving and registering the White Card
1-2 weeks
The card arrives by tracked post or is handed over in person. From the moment you receive it you may live in Hungary and work remotely. The card is valid for up to a year. If you need to stay longer, you must apply for renewal 30-90 days before the card expires.

Timelines and rights

Work

Remote work for foreign clients and employers; working for a Hungarian company is not allowed

Who you can bring with you

The White Card carries strict limits on family immigration. Standard family reunification is prohibited, but there is one important exception for newborns.

Spouse or partner (registered or unregistered)

They cannot obtain a residence permit on the basis of family reunification. They may visit as tourists (without a visa if they are nationals of visa-free countries) but have no right to live with you permanently. If a spouse wants to stay in Hungary, they need a programme of their own (their own White Card, if they too are a digital nomad, or another type of permit).

Children (not born in Hungary)

They do not receive a permit on the basis of the parent's status. Like a partner, they may stay in Hungary as tourists but cannot live there permanently. Each child needs a permit of their own.

Children born in Hungary while the White Card is valid

They automatically receive a residence permit on the basis of family reunification once the parent has registered the birth. This is the only exception to the ban on family immigration. The child may remain in Hungary even if the parent's card expires.

Renewal and the grace period

The White Card is valid for 1 year at most. Renewal is allowed once and only for a further year (2 years in total at most). The renewal application may be filed 30-90 days before the card expires, but no later than 30 days before that date. To renew, you must prove that you have spent at least 90 days in Hungary within any 180-day period before filing the application. At the moment of filing for renewal the current card must be valid (not expired). Renewal costs HUF 26,000 (around EUR 85 at the exchange rate). After the second year (once the single renewal has expired) the card ceases to be valid and you must either leave or find another programme for foreign nationals staying on — which is practically impossible, as the White Card does not lead to permanent residence.

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.

	Digital nomad card	Investor residence permit	Guest worker residence permit
Visa term	Up to 1 year, renewable once for a further year (2 years maximum)	Residence permit granted for 10 years at once, renewable for another 10 without new investment	The guest format is usually 1-2 years, tied to the contract
Grounds	Remote income	Real estate / funds	Employment
Money	Net income from about EUR 3,000 a month	Real-estate fund from EUR 250,000 (5 years) OR real estate from EUR 500,000 OR a donation from EUR 1,000,000	Salary not below the minimum or the sectoral wage
Work	Remote work for foreign clients and employers; working for a Hungarian company is not allowed	The right to live, study, run a business and work	Work only for the named employer; a change of employer requires a new permit
Residence	Actual residence is expected	No residence requirement	At least 3 years for permanent residence

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

There is practically no direct route to permanent residence

Route to citizenship

Not suitable as a standalone route to citizenship

Frequently asked questions about Digital nomad card

May I work for a Hungarian company if I hold a White Card?

No, this is strictly prohibited. The White Card is valid only for remote work for foreign employers. If you start working for a Hungarian company or acquire a shareholding in a Hungarian firm, the immigration authority will annul the card without prior notice and issue an order to leave.

What minimum income must be proved for the White Card?

A minimum of EUR 3,000 a month (net, after tax). You must provide bank statements for the last 6 months before filing showing income at this level. This level of income must also be maintained while you live in Hungary. If income falls below EUR 3,000 a month, that can be grounds for annulling the card.

Can my family move to Hungary with me if I obtain a White Card?

No, family reunification is not provided for under the White Card. A spouse, partner and children (not born in Hungary) cannot obtain a residence permit on the basis of your status. They may visit you as tourists (if they are nationals of visa-free countries) but cannot live in Hungary permanently. The only exception: children born in Hungary while your card is valid automatically receive a residence permit.

Can the White Card lead to permanent residence or citizenship?

No, it is not a route to permanent residence. White Card holders are not entitled to the national permanent residence card. Once it expires (2 years at most) the card ceases to be valid and you must either leave or look for another immigration programme. However, there are practically no other programmes in Hungary for people of your profile (digital nomads).

How long does it take to examine a White Card application?

Standard examination takes 21 days. The final decision must be taken within 30 days of the application being filed. However, this period does not include the time during which you are asked to supply missing documents. If the pack is complete and all the documents are in order, the decision can come sooner (sometimes within 2-3 weeks).

Must I actually live in Hungary to keep the White Card?

Yes, actual residence in Hungary is expected. If you want to renew the card, you will need to prove that you spent at least 90 days in Hungary within any 180-day period before filing the renewal application. If you do not live in Hungary, renewal may be refused.

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: 8 August 2026.