Hungary - Family member - European Commission

You will be entitled to bring your family to join you in Hungary if you hold one of the following permits:

a residence permit;
an immigration permit;
a settlement permit;
a permanent residence permit;
an interim permanent residence permit;
a national or EC permanent residence permit;
a residence card; or
a permanent residence card.
You are entitled to reunite with the following family members:
your spouse (including registered partner under Act XXIX of 2009);
your or your spouse’s minor children, including adopted children;
your minor dependent children, including adopted and foster children, or those of your spouse with parental custody;
your or your spouse’s dependent parents.
A residence permit for the purpose of family reunification shall be issued to the third-country national child born in Hungary of a third-country national residing in Hungary with a residence permit, even in case an additional third-country national’s legal title of residence shall not be based on the residence permit under Act XC of 2023 on General Rules for the Admission and Right of Residence of Third-country Nationals.
A residence permit for the purpose of family reunification may not be granted to a third-country national if the sponsor:
does not hold a residence permit for the purpose of guest self-employment for at least a year,
holds a residence permit for the purpose of seasonal employment,
holds a residence permit for the purpose of investment,
holds a special residence permit for the purpose of employment for guest workers whose employment is based on an existing employment relationship with an employer established in a third country, in order to fulfil an agreement concluded with a Hungarian employer (in this case, the Hungarian employer is considered to be the employer),
holds a residence permit for guest workers,
is a holder of a White Card,
holds a residence permit for the purpose of studies (including the purpose of seeking job or starting a business), training,
holds a residence permit for the purpose of traineeship,
holds a residence permit for the purpose of voluntary service.

More on who is eligible to join you in Hungary

Where and how to apply	Your family member wishing to join you has to personally submit the application for a residence permit to the consulate in his/her country of origin. The consulate then transfers the application to the regional directorate of the immigration authority of the place of future residence which assesses the application. If your family member is allowed to enter the territory of Hungary visa free due to his/her nationality, and he/she is not a holder of a residence permit, during his/her legal stay, he/she may submit an application for the issuance of a residence permit within the territory of Hungary as well. Fees If the application is submitted at a diplomatic or consular mission, the administrative service fee charged for the procedure for issuing a residence permit is EUR 110, payable at that diplomatic or consular mission primarily in EUR or other convertible currency, or in exceptional cases in the legal tender of the State where the application is submitted. The administrative service fee charged for the procedure is HUF 39,000 if submitted in Hungary in person, HUF 24.000 if submitted via the Enter Hungary platform. The fee charged for the extension of a residence permit is HUF 23,000.
Documents required	Your family members need to: present travel documents valid for at least 3 months longer than the intended period of stay; verify the family relationship; prove accommodation; prove sufficient financial resources; and prove health insurance coverage.
Duration of validity of permits	The validity period of the permit shall be determined depending on the sponsor’s residence title as follows: the general validity period of the document is a maximum of 3 years, which on occasion may be extended by a maximum of 3 years if appropriate conditions are met, if the sponsor is a holder of an EU Blue Card or a Corporate Card, the validity period of the document is a maximum of 4 years, which on occasion may be extended by a maximum of 4 years, if the sponsor is a Hungarian citizen and a holder of an EC permanent residence permit or an EU residence card, the validity period of the document is a maximum of 5 years, which on occasion may be extended by a maximum of 5 years, if the sponsor is a holder of a residence permit for guest investors, the validity period of the document is a maximum of 10 years, which on occasion may be extended by a maximum of 10 years.
Conditions for renewal	The application for extension of the residence permit shall be submitted via the Enter Hungary platform 30 days before it expires at the latest, with the necessary documents attached. The extension of the residence permit may also be granted even the conditions laid down in the law are met, if the residence of the third-country national has exceeded 90 days in any 180 days before the submission of the application for a residence permit.
Appeals	Appeals against decisions of regional directorates regarding residence permits can be brought within 8 days of delivery to the immigration authority, or to the Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission where the application was submitted.
Further information	More on bringing your family to Hungary

Access to employment	If you plan to enter into an employment relationship, this should be reported to immigration authority responsible for the place where your place of accommodation is located, for having the single permit for employment issued.
Change of employment	Your single permit authorises you to carry out a specific employment activity with a specific employer. You cannot change your job unless you submit an application for a new residence permit.
Access to education	Third-country nationals holding a residence permit are entitled to kindergarden care, and their schooling is compulsory with the same conditions as for nationals.
Change of status	Change of status may be possible depending on the purpose of stay and your personal circumstances.
Long-term residence	Hungarian law distinguishes three different regimes for permanent residence and for each the applicant needs to have: adequate accommodation; sufficient financial resources and subsistence means; health insurance. You cannot be subject to any ground for refusal as set out in the law, e.g. threat to public or national security, being the subject of an expulsion order, entry ban or alert in the Schengen Information System.
	National Residence Card
	Your family member will be entitled to a National Residence Card if he/she has legally and continuously resided for at least three years in Hungary. This permit authorises him/her to reside in Hungary for an indefinite period of time. You will also be able to obtain a National Residence Card if you hold a residence permit or an Interim Residence Card and: you are a family member (other than a spouse) or a dependent relative in the ascending line of a non-EU citizen with immigrant, permanent resident or refugee status and lived together for at least one year before the application was submitted; or you are the spouse of a non-EU citizen with immigrant or permanent resident or refugee status and the marriage was contracted at least two years before the application was submitted; or you were formerly a Hungarian citizen whose citizenship was terminated, or your ascendant is or was a Hungarian citizen; or you are a minor child of a non-EU citizen with immigrant, permanent resident or refugee status. Your establishment has to be in accordance with the interest of Hungary. You need to present a clean criminal record. General conditions for residence permits apply.
	EC long-term residence permit
	Your family member is entitled to an EC long-term residence permit if he/she lived continuously and legally in Hungary for five years. This permit authorises him/her to reside in Hungary for an indefinite period of time. General conditions for residence permits apply.
	Interim Residence Card
	If you are a non-EU citizen holding an EC long-term residence permit from another EU Member State, you can obtain an Interim Residence Card: for employment or business purposes (except seasonal employment), or to pursue studies or vocational training, or for other certified purposes. Family members of non-EU nationals arriving for the purposes stated above (i. e. gainful employment, pursuit of studies and other justified reasons) apply for an Interim Residence Card, and the family members of non-EU nationals holding an Interim Residence Card may be issued an Interim Residence Card if their family relationship already existed in the Member State of the European Union where the EC Residence Card certifying permanent residence status was issued. This status is valid for a maximum of five years and may be extended by a maximum of five additional years at a time.

Hungary - Family member

Conditions

Procedures

Rights

Links