Hungary

Conditions

If you intend to study in Hungary for more than three months, you have to obtain a residence permit. In case you need a visa to enter EU territory, an application for a visa entitling you to receive a residence permit can be submitted along with the application for the residence permit.

To come to Hungary as a student, you need to:

be accepted to an accredited secondary or higher educational institution as a full-time student or to attend a preparatory course organised by a higher educational institution;
prove appropriate language skills necessary to pursue your studies;
have a travel document valid for at least the intended period of stay;
have adequate accommodation;
have sufficient financial resources and subsistence means;
have health insurance.

You will need a residence visa for official purposes if you come to Hungary to pursue studies or participate in training within the framework of an international treaty, international cooperation or intergovernmental aid programme.

Procedures

Where and how to apply	Visa entitling you to a residence permit You have to apply for a visa, which entitles you to receive the residence permit before admission to the country at the embassy or consulate in your country of origin or, in certain cases, in the country of legal residence. Residence permit Upon your arrival, you have to obtain your residence permit for the purpose of pursuing studies at the competent regional directorate of the Immigration and Asylum Office of your place of residence.
Documents required	You need to: verify that the purpose of your stay is to pursue studies, e.g. by presenting an admission certificate issued by the receiving educational institution or a document verifying your student status; verify appropriate language skills, e.g. by presenting an official language certificate or an official certificate of previous studies pursued in a foreign language; present a travel document that will remain valid at least for the intended period of stay; verify accommodation; verify health insurance; verify sufficient financial means for your intended stay that will also cover your return. 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.
Duration of validity of permits	Your residence permit will be valid for the duration of your studies, if this is less than two years. If your studies last for more than two years your residence permit will be valid for a minimum of one and a maximum of two years. It may be extended by a minimum of one and a maximum of two years at a time.
Appeals	Appeals against decisions of regional offices regarding residence permits can be brought before the Immigration and Asylum Office. Further judicial appeals can be submitted to the Metropolitan Court.
Further information	More on residence permits for students Study in Hungary

Rights

Employment during studies

If you have a residence permit issued on grounds of pursuit of studies, you can work for 24 hours per week during term-time and for a maximum of 90 days or 66 working days per year beyond term time.

In such circumstances, you do not need a work permit for the period of your full-time studies.

Long-term residence

As a student, you are not eligible for EC long-term residence. However, half of your legal residence as a student in Hungary can be taken into account when calculating the five-year period necessary when applying for an EC long-term residence status.

Non-EU nationals holding an EC residence permit certifying permanent residence status issued by any EU Member State under Council Directive 2003/109/EC are granted, upon request, an interim permanent residence permit when seeking admission into the territory of the Republic of Hungary:

a) for the purpose of gainful employment, with the exception of seasonal employment; or

b) for the pursuit of studies; or

c) for the purpose of vocational training; or

d) for other justified reasons.

Family members of non-EU nationals holding an EC long-term residence permit certifying permanent residence status granted by any EU Member State under Council Directive 2003/109/EC, apply for an interim permanent residence permit. Family members of non-EU nationals holding an interim permanent residence permit may be issued an interim permanent residence permit if their family relationship pre-existed in the Member State of the European Union where the EC long-term residence permit certifying long-term residence status was issued.

National permanent residence permits may be issued to non-EU nationals holding a residence permit or an interim permanent residence permit for establishing residence in the Hungarian territory, if:

they have lawfully resided in the territory of Hungary continuously for at least the preceding three years before the application was submitted;
they have a family member of dependent direct relatives in the ascending line – other than a spouse – of a non-EU national with immigrant or permanent resident status, or who has been granted asylum and living in the same household for at least the preceding one year before the application was submitted;
they have a spouse of a non-EU national with immigrant or permanent resident status or who has been granted asylum, provided that the marriage was contracted at least two years before the application was submitted