Hungary Nomad Visa

What is the Hungary digital nomad visa?

Hungary's digital nomad route is called the White Card. It is a residence permit for people from outside the EU who keep working for a company abroad while living in Hungary, using the internet to do their job.

It is run by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (known by its Hungarian initials, OIF). When you apply from abroad you do not file a separate visa application: the residence permit application includes a type D entry visa, which the consulate issues once the permit is approved.

Who can apply for the Hungary digital nomad visa?

You can apply if you are a non-EU national and you fit one of two profiles described by OIF:

• You have a verified employment relationship with an employer outside Hungary and will work for them from Hungary using digital technology.
• You own a share in a company abroad that makes a verified profit, and you will work for or manage it from Hungary.

The conditions are strict about local work. You must not do any paid activity in Hungary and must not own a share in a Hungarian company. If you start working for a Hungarian employer or buy into a Hungarian company, the permit is withdrawn.

The OIF factsheet only describes employees and company owners. If you are a sole freelancer without a registered company, confirm with OIF or the embassy before applying, because that case is not spelled out. Either way, you need the foreign work in place first; our remote jobs board lists roles with employers abroad.

How much income do you need for the Hungary digital nomad visa?

You need a legal income of at least €3,000 net a month for at least the six months before you enter Hungary, and the income must continue while you live there.

OIF accepts bank statements for the previous six months, or a certificate of regular income from your employer or a tax authority. Net means after tax, so a gross salary of exactly €3,000 will not be enough.

How long can you stay, and can you renew it?

The White Card is issued for up to one year and can be extended once, for one more year, so two years is the maximum.

The extension must be requested inside Hungary through the Enter Hungary online platform, between 90 and 30 days before the permit expires. You also need to have actually lived in Hungary on the permit for at least 90 days in any 180-day period before applying.

The White Card is not a path to settling. You cannot switch to another residence permit during or after it, and holders cannot get a national residence card.

How much does it cost?

OIF's fee schedule lists €110 for a residence permit application lodged at a Hungarian embassy or consulate, which includes the entry visa. Extending a residence permit in Hungary costs HUF 26,000.

The White Card factsheet itself does not quote a fee, so confirm the amount with the embassy when you book. Budget separately for health insurance, translations and your first months of rent.

What documents do you need?

• A valid passport, plus a ticket out of Hungary or enough money to buy one.
• One facial photograph; fingerprints are taken from applicants over six.
• If employed: a certified statement from your employer describing the company's activities, how long you are allowed to work remotely, and your role. The employer's real operation must be shown.
• If a company owner: proof the company really operates (registration, a tax certificate showing regular profit or similar), your position, the company's activities and your shareholding.
• Proof of income: six months of bank statements or an income certificate.
• Proof of accommodation in Hungary: a lease, an owner's or host's statement, or a paid booking.
• Proof of health insurance or the means to pay for healthcare.

How do you apply from Nigeria?

Nigerians must apply from outside Hungary. Applying inside the country is only open to nationals of visa-free countries, and Nigerian passport holders need a visa.

1. Secure the remote job or company income first and build six months of bank statements showing at least €3,000 net a month.
2. Download the application form and appendix from the OIF website and gather the documents above.
3. Book an appointment with the Hungarian Embassy in Abuja through the Konzinfo booking system. The embassy accepts type D visa and residence permit applications strictly by appointment.
4. Attend the appointment, pay the fee and give your fingerprints and photo.
5. Wait for OIF's decision. If approved, the embassy issues a single-entry type D visa valid for three months that allows a stay of up to 30 days.
6. Enter Hungary within three months of approval, or the approval lapses. The residence permit card is then delivered by post to your Hungarian address.

If you would like help preparing the file, Premium membership includes nomad visa assistance.

How long does processing take?

OIF should decide within 30 days of receiving a complete application. Time spent fixing gaps, such as sending a missing document, is not counted, so an incomplete file takes longer.

If you are refused, an appeal must be filed within eight days of being notified, with the office or consulate where you applied.

Do you pay tax in Hungary on a digital nomad visa?

The White Card rules do not create any special tax status, and OIF's factsheet does not deal with tax at all. Whether you become tax resident in Hungary depends on Hungarian tax law and your own circumstances, so ask Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) or a qualified adviser before you move.

This is general information, not tax advice.

Can you bring your family?

No. OIF states that family members of a White Card holder are not eligible for family reunification. The one exception is a child born in Hungary while the parent holds the permit, who receives a family reunification permit after the birth is reported.

If you plan to move with a spouse or children, look at a route that allows dependants. Estonia's digital nomad visa, for example, lets a spouse and minor children apply on the same conditions; see Estonia.

What to know before you move

• Working hours: Hungary uses Central European Time. In winter it is the same as Lagos (UTC+1); from late March to late October it is one hour ahead (UTC+2).
• Getting paid: keep your salary flowing into an account that produces clean monthly statements, because you will need them for the extension.
• Health insurance: you must show cover, or the means to pay for care, for the whole stay.
• Renting: a lease or paid booking is part of the application, so sort a first address before you apply. Keep your address current, since the permit card is sent by post.
• Schengen travel: Hungary is in the Schengen area, so the residence permit also makes short trips to other Schengen countries simpler.