To be self-employed in Hungary, you need:
- a residence permit for guest self-employment; and
- to register as a self-employed entrepreneur.
A residence permit for guest self-employment may be granted to a third-country national:
- who wishes to pursue activities which can be performed independently, for remuneration (e.g., as a self-employed person),
- who wishes to undertake act as a chief executive of a business organisation, cooperative or other legal entity established for the purpose of gainful activity (hereinafter collectively referred to as business organisation).
If the third-country national is engaged in any activity in the capacity of being the owner or manager of a for-profit business association, cooperative or some other legal entity, or as a member of the executive, representative or supervisory board of such entity, and – apart from such activity – he/she plans to perform actual work (in any traditional job or position) in that company, an application for residence permit for the purpose of employment has to be submitted, that will be assessed in a single application procedure.
Where and how to apply | Registration as self-employed entrepreneur You have to register as a self-employed entrepreneur at a Government Office in person. In Hungary, self-employed entrepreneurs can only be natural persons with the right of residence. They are liable with all their assets for the obligations arising from their business activities as self-employed entrepreneurs. Non-EU nationals may be self-employed entrepreneurs if they have permanent resident status or if they hold a resident permit issued for the purpose of guest self-employment, family reunification, pursuing studies or hold a humanitarian residence permit issued for stateless persons or for those whose expulsion has been suspended for reasons of fact or law. You also have to provide a certificate attesting that you have a clean police record and that you hold the required qualifications. The Office then issues an entrepreneur's licence. The commencing of self-employed entrepreneur business activities may be initiated electronically or in person at the competent Document Service Centre. Reporting the commencing of self-employed entrepreneur business activities, changes in data, termination or interruption of activities is free of charge. Official registration of sole proprietors is carried out by the Central Office for Administrative and Electronic Public Service. Residence permit Before registering as a self-employed entrepreneur you have to apply for a visa entitling you to receive a residence permit for the purpose of guest self-employment at the embassy or consulate in your country of origin. You need to obtain a residence permit for guest self-employment, family reunification, pursuit of studies or a humanitarian residence permit issued for stateless persons or for those whose expulsion has been suspended for reasons of fact or law. Prior to the expiry of the validity of your visa, you can obtain your residence permit at the competent regional directorate of the immigration authority. Fees The administrative service fee charged for the procedure for issuing a residence permit is EUR 110, payable at the diplomatic mission of Hungary primarily in EUR or other convertible currency, or in exceptional cases in the legal tender of the State where the application is submitted. Application submission in Hungary is available:
Please note that in such a case, application submission is only available at least 40 days prior to the date of expiry of the residence permit concerned. 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 | To obtain a residence permit for the purpose of guest self-employment, you need to verify the purpose of stay by:
Further
|
Further requirements | You cannot be subject to an entry ban or an alert in the Schengen Information System for the purposes of refusing entry, nor can your entry and stay threaten public policy, public health or public security in Hungary. |
Duration of validity of permits | The validity period for a residence permit granted for the pursuit of guest self-employment is maximised at 1 year, which can be extended for the same purpose for a period not exceeding 2 years, but cannot exceed 3 years from the date of first issuance. The validity period of the residence permit shall be set in consideration of the date of expiry of the passport. The period of stay fixed in the residence permit is to be determined ascertaining that the travel document must be valid for at least 3 additional months beyond the date of expiry of the residence permit. |
Conditions for renewal | Please note that extension of a residence permit is only possible for a period not exceeding 3 years from the date of first issuance of the permit. If you wish to reside within the territory of Hungary with a residence permit for guest self-employment longer, you may submit an application for the issuance of a residence permit in Hungary at least 40 days prior to the date of expiry of your residence permit. |
Appeals | Appeals against decisions of regional directorates regarding residence permits can be brought to the immigration authority. |
Further information | More on Residence Permit for guest self-employment |
Change of business activities | If you are engaged in any activity in the capacity of being the owner or manager of a for-profit business association, cooperative or some other legal entity, or as a member of the executive, representative or supervisory board of such entity, and – apart from such activity – you plan to perform actual work (in any traditional job or position) in that company, an application for residence permit for the purpose of employment has to be submitted, that will be assessed in a single application procedure. Change of business activities is possible in the framework of concerned laws. |
Change of status | Change of status may be possible depending on the purpose of stay and your personal circumstances. |
Family members | For a period of 1 year from the date of issue of a residence permit for guest self-employment, family members of a third-country national who is a holder of or an applicant for a residence permit for guest self-employment may not be granted a residence permit for family reunification, except for residence permits that are re-issued after 3 years. An exception to this is if a third-country national holding a residence permit for guest self-employment gives birth to a third-country national child in Hungary during the period of validity of the residence permit, as in this case the child will receive a residence permit issued for the purpose of family reunification after notification on the child’s birth. More on family reunification |
Long-term residence | Hungarian law distinguishes between three different regimes for permanent residence and for each of them you need to provide evidence of:
You cannot be subject to any ground for refusal as set out in 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 permanent residence permit Third-country nationals who are holders of a residence permit for guest self-employment may not be granted a national residence card. EC long-term residence permit You are entitled to an EC long-term resident status if you lived continuously and legally in Hungary for five years. General conditions for residence permits apply. This permit authorises you to reside in Hungary for an indefinite period of time. It also grants you the right of intra-EU mobility under certain conditions. The EC long-term residence permit is issued for five years and renewed for five years at a time. |