HungaryVisits and short stays

Hungary medical treatment visa and residence permit

Schengen visa for medical treatment and the medical treatment residence permit

In short

Treatment lasting up to 90 days is done on a Schengen type C visa (if your nationality needs one) backed by documents from your own doctor and the Hungarian clinic. Longer treatment needs a medical-treatment residence permit from the immigration authority (OIF), valid for the treatment period up to 2 years; an accompanying family member can get the same permit.

Apply on OIF – Medical treatment residence permit checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Visa: 90 days in 180. Residence permit: the length of treatment, up to 2 years, renewable in steps of up to 2 years.
Fee
€90EUR 90 for the Schengen visa. The residence permit costs EUR 110 when applied for abroad (a service provider used by the mission may add a handling fee); HUF 39,000 in person or HUF 26,000 via Enter Hungary when filed inside Hungary.
Funds required
€40 per dayHungary’s official reference amount: EUR 40 for each day of the planned stay (Article 24 of Interior Ministry Decree 9/2024), usually shown through recent bank statements signed and stamped by the bank.
Processing time
Visa: 15 calendar days. Residence permit: 21 days, or 8 days for minors (time for missing documents not counted).
Work
No.
Family
A spouse or parent can accompany a minor child or a relative unable to care for themselves on the same medical-treatment permit; family reunification permits cannot be based on it.
Path to permanent residence
No. The permit does not lead to a national residence card and you cannot switch to another purpose inside Hungary.
Where to apply
Visa: the Hungarian mission responsible for your place of residence or its service provider. Residence permit: the Hungarian mission (via the consular booking system) before travelling.

Visa or residence permit?

If the treatment and recovery fit into 90 days, apply for a Schengen visa for medical purposes. If the treatment will take longer, the Hungarian immigration authority issues a residence permit for medical treatment; it is also open to a third-country national who accompanies a minor child or a family member who cannot look after themselves.

Medical documents

For the visa, the missions ask for a report from your doctor or medical institution at home; an official letter from the Hungarian hospital confirming that it can carry out the treatment, will accept you and stating the cost; proof that you can pay for treatment and related expenses; proof of any prepayment; and correspondence between the doctors, if any.

For the residence permit, OIF requires a certificate from the treating institution in Hungary, proof of livelihood, accommodation (lease, ownership or paid booking), health coverage or the means to pay for care, and a valid passport plus a ticket or the money for one. A companion adds proof of the family relationship.

Required documents

Identity

  • Schengen application form, completed in full (by hand in blue or black ink, or digitally) and signed in the signature box and on the last page; your own address, e-mail and mobile number. Both parents sign for applicants under 18.
  • Two biometric photos, 35 x 45 mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months.

Travel

  • Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 90 days after you leave the Schengen area, with two blank pages; copies of all used pages; your previous passports and copies of Schengen, UK and US visas from the last 3 years.
  • Transport reservation (plane, bus, train, ferry or car) showing the PNR or ticket number, passenger names and dates, including moves between countries.

Money

  • Original bank statement covering the last 3 months, issued no more than one week before you apply and signed and stamped by the bank; the balance must cover the trip. Credit card statements are optional extras.
  • Proof that you can pay for the treatment and related costs, and proof of any prepayment.

Insurance

  • Travel medical insurance valid in all Schengen states for the whole trip, minimum cover EUR 30,000 (e-signed policies accepted since 1 July 2024).

Other

  • Medical report from your doctor or medical institution at home.
  • Official letter from the Hungarian hospital or clinic confirming it can provide the treatment, will admit you, and stating the expected cost (for the residence permit: certificate from the treating institution).

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Travel

  • For the residence permit: accommodation proof (lease, ownership deed or paid booking).

Family

  • For a companion: proof of the family relationship with the patient.

Other

  • Correspondence between your doctor and the Hungarian hospital, if available.

Applying for the residence permit from abroad

Book a residence-permit appointment on the Hungarian consular booking system under the correct purpose, then lodge the file at the Hungarian mission responsible for your residence (or its service provider); an interview may follow. The fee is EUR 110. If approved, you receive a D visa valid for 3 months for one entry and 30 days to collect the card; if you do not enter within 3 months the approval lapses.

Anyone medically unable to appear in person is exempt from attending. Children under six may be represented by a parent; from six upwards they must appear, and fingerprints are taken from age six.

  1. Get a treatment plan and an acceptance letter with a cost estimate from the Hungarian hospital.
  2. Decide whether the stay fits within 90 days (Schengen visa) or needs a residence permit.
  3. For a visa: book with the Hungarian mission or its service provider, lodge the file and pay EUR 90. For a permit: book on the consular booking system under the right purpose.
  4. For a permit, lodge the OIF form and documents at the mission (EUR 110) and attend the interview if invited.
  5. Travel on the visa or the D visa issued with the permit approval; enter within 3 months of approval.
  6. If treatment continues, apply for an extension via Enter Hungary 90–30 days before expiry.

Forms

Extending the permit

Extensions are filed only inside Hungary through Enter Hungary, between 90 and 30 days before expiry, while the current permit is valid. You must have spent at least 90 days in any 180-day period in Hungary on the permit. Each extension follows the treatment plan, up to 2 years at a time.

Refusal and appeal

A refused Schengen visa can be appealed within 8 calendar days at the deciding mission for EUR 160. A refused residence permit can also be appealed within 8 days to the authority that decided or through the Hungarian mission where you applied; the appeal fee abroad is EUR 160.

Frequently asked questions

Can a parent stay with a child being treated in Hungary?

Yes. The medical-treatment permit is also issued to a third-country national accompanying a minor child or a family member who cannot care for themselves.

How fast is the permit decided for a child?

OIF lists an 8-day administrative time for minors, against 21 days for adults, excluding time spent supplying missing documents.

Can I switch to a work or study permit after treatment?

No. OIF states that holders cannot apply in Hungary for a permit with a different purpose, either during or after the medical permit.

Do I have to show the treatment cost?

Yes. Both routes require proof that you can pay: the visa list asks for the hospital’s cost information and proof of funds, and the permit needs proof of livelihood.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Hungary

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

Work

  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to 9 months.
  • Work visa Maximum stay: Employment permit: up to 3 years in total from first issue.
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Renewable from inside Hungary in steps of up to 3 years.
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Renewable in steps of up to 4 years.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Managers and specialists: 3 years in total from first issue; trainees: 1 year.
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Up to 6 months; an extension is possible within a 12-month period for a further period of up to 6 months, as OIF states.
  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Up to 2 years in total (1 year plus one 1-year extension).

Family

Residence

Protection

Hungary visa guide