Hungary skilled worker visa: the Hungarian Card

You need a pre-employment agreement or a valid employment contract and a higher education professional qualification included in the ministerial notice. OIF’s overview names five fields: information technology, engineering and technical studies, natural sciences, singing or music teaching including folk music and folk culture teaching, and music arts.

The degree requirement does not apply to professional athletes and coaches, performing artists, and people working for a registered film producer or film company. Owners or executives of a company can qualify if they also do actual work for it; the authority may then ask for service contracts, tax clearance and employee registrations. If your degree was obtained in Hungary, OIF directs you to the employment permit and Blue Card pages instead.

Submit the employment agreement (plus the agreement between employers if a foreign company employs you to work for a Hungarian firm), your degree or qualification certificate unless you fall under the sport, arts or film exceptions, proof of means, accommodation proof (lease, free-use agreement, deed, hotel booking or employer’s confirmation), health coverage and travel proof. Minors need parental consent translated into Hungarian or English.

Book a residence-permit appointment on the Hungarian consular booking system under the right purpose of stay, then lodge the OIF form and documents (originals and copies) at the Hungarian mission responsible for your place of residence, or the service provider it uses; an interview may follow. After approval a single-entry D visa valid for 3 months (30 days’ stay) is issued; you must enter within 3 months or the approval lapses.

Priority employers of national economic interest may file through Enter Hungary while the worker is abroad; since a recent change, the worker’s bilingual written consent is enough for the employer to submit, without consular signature authentication, but full representation still needs a power of attorney authenticated at the consulate.

Renewals are filed only inside Hungary through Enter Hungary, no earlier than 90 and no later than 30 days before expiry, while the permit is valid and after at least 90 days in every 180 spent in Hungary. Each renewal can run for up to 3 years.

Because the Hungarian Card is not among the excluded sponsor permits, your spouse, minor children and certain dependants can apply for a family reunification permit; family members may work only if the permit is issued in a joint procedure with an employment annex. After 3 years of continuous lawful stay you can apply via Enter Hungary for a national residence card, which needs the Hungarian cultural knowledge exam.

Appeal within 8 days of delivery, to the authority that decided or through the consulate where you applied. The appeal fee abroad is EUR 160; appeals filed late, without reasons or based on facts you knew before the decision are rejected without examination.