Hungary visas
Hungary's National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing administers residence, with applications filed through the Enter Hungary system. The third-country admission regime was comprehensively overhauled by a new Act effective 1 March 2024, which separated high-skilled routes (the Hungarian Card and EU Blue Card) from guest-worker permits and introduced a Guest Investor "golden visa" from July 2024; the White Card is the dedicated digital-nomad permit.
8 routes · 4 without a sponsor · 5 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing ↗ · National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary)
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Hungarian Bar Association (MÜK) — National body of the Hungarian bar regulating attorneys. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing decides applications.
Visa routes (8)
Hungarian Card
A residence permit for highly-skilled third-country workers introduced under Hungary's admission regime effective 1 March 2024.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
White Card (digital nomad residence permit)
Hungary's residence permit for digital nomads who work remotely for foreign companies and pursue no gainful activity in Hungary.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
EU Blue Card (Hungary)
The EU Blue Card for highly-qualified third-country nationals employed in Hungary, with EU-wide mobility benefits.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
Guest Worker Residence Permit
A temporary work-and-residence permit for guest workers tied to listed employers, occupations and sending countries.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 25 July 2026
Guest Investor Programme (golden visa)
Hungary's investor residence route, live since 1 July 2024, granting a long-validity residence permit for a qualifying investment in the national economic interest.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
Study Residence Permit (Hungary)
A residence permit for third-country nationals studying full-time at a recognised Hungarian education institution.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
Family Reunification Residence Permit (Hungary)
A residence permit for family members of a third-country national lawfully residing in Hungary, with validity that depends on the sponsor's status.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
National Permanent Residence / EC Long-Term Residence (Hungary)
Hungary's settlement statuses: national permanent residence and the EU long-term residence card, generally after a qualifying period of lawful residence.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 25 July 2026
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Hungary have?+
We cover 8 Hungary visa routes in these categories: skilled migration, digital nomad, sponsored work, investor, study, family, and general residence. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Hungary visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
4 of the 8 Hungary routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 4 are employer-sponsored.
Which Hungary visas lead to permanent residence?+
5 of the 8 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Hungary