HungaryFamily

Hungary spouse visa for partners of Hungarian citizens

Family reunification permit for spouses of Hungarian citizens

In short

A foreign national married to a Hungarian citizen, or in a registered partnership, receives a family reunification permit valid for up to five years. A marriage concluded outside Hungary is accepted only after it has been registered in the Hungarian civil registry.

Apply on Enter Hungary (OIF electronic application portal) checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Renewable in steps of up to 5 years.
Validity
Up to 5 years, not beyond the passport.
Fee
€110Fee for a residence permit applied for abroad; a service provider used by the mission may add its own handling fee. Filed inside Hungary: HUF 39,000 in person or HUF 26,000 via Enter Hungary; extensions HUF 26,000.
Processing time
21 days administrative time; 70 days if combined with an employment application.
Work
Only if the permit is issued or extended in the combined procedure with the employment (or Hungarian Card / National Card) annex.
Family
Joint minor children can apply on the same family reunification basis.
Path to permanent residence
National residence card possible for spouses of Hungarian citizens; the marriage must have been concluded at least 2 years before the application.
Where to apply
Abroad at the Hungarian mission; in Hungary only for visa-free nationals without a permit.

Who qualifies

The applicant is a non-EU spouse or registered partner of a Hungarian citizen. The general list of excluded sponsor permits does not apply, because the sponsor is a Hungarian citizen. If you married outside Hungary, your Hungarian spouse must first have the marriage registered in Hungary; until then OIF does not accept the foreign certificate.

Documents

The file contains the Hungarian marriage record (or registered partnership proof), proof of livelihood such as a bank statement, an income certificate or a notarised maintenance declaration from your spouse, proof of accommodation, health coverage and travel proof. On renewal, unchanged documents need not be resubmitted.

Required documents

Identity

  • OIF family reunification application form, completed and signed; passport valid at least 3 months beyond the permit; two biometric photos.

Money

  • Proof of means: bank certificate, employer or tax income certificate, or a notarised maintenance declaration by the family member with proof of their ability to pay.

Family

  • Proof of the family relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption papers or other credible proof (a marriage concluded abroad with a Hungarian citizen must first be registered in Hungary).
  • Copy of the Hungarian spouse’s ID card or passport.

Insurance

  • Proof of health coverage: Hungarian social insurance, an international agreement, or means to pay for care.

Other

  • Proof of accommodation: lease, free-use agreement, ownership deed or paid booking.

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • For minors: parental consent in a public or fully probative private document, translated into Hungarian or English.

Applying from abroad

Book a family-reunification appointment on the Hungarian consular booking system, lodge the file at the Hungarian mission and attend the interview if invited; the fee is EUR 110. Approval comes with a D visa valid for 3 months and one entry. Extensions are filed in Hungary through Enter Hungary no later than 30 days before expiry, after at least 90 days in every 180 spent in Hungary.

  1. Have your Hungarian spouse register the marriage in the Hungarian civil registry if you married abroad.
  2. Prepare proof of livelihood, accommodation and health coverage.
  3. Book a family-reunification appointment and lodge the file at the Hungarian mission (EUR 110).
  4. Ask for the combined procedure with the employment annex if you want to work.
  5. Enter on the D visa within 3 months and receive the card; later apply for the national residence card once the marriage is 2 years old.

Working and settling

To work, the permit must be issued or extended in the combined procedure with the employment annex (or the Hungarian Card or National Card annex). For indefinite residence, OIF lists spouses of Hungarian citizens among those who can apply for a national residence card, provided the marriage was concluded at least two years before the application; the card is valid for 10 years and requires the Hungarian cultural knowledge exam.

Refusal and appeal

Appeal within 8 days of delivery to the authority that decided or through the Hungarian mission where you applied, by appointment. The appeal fee abroad is EUR 160.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to register a marriage concluded abroad in Hungary first?

Yes. OIF accepts a marriage concluded abroad only after it has been registered in Hungary.

How long is the permit for a Hungarian citizen’s spouse?

Up to five years, renewable for up to five years at a time.

Can I work as the spouse of a Hungarian?

Yes, if the permit is issued or extended in the combined procedure with the employment annex.

Is the Schengen visa fee waived for spouses of Hungarians?

No. For short visits the Hungarian missions charge family members of Hungarian citizens the normal EUR 90 fee.

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

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
  • Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: As long as the transit requires, within the 90/180-day limit.
  • Medical treatment visa 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.
  • Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.

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