Immigrate to Hungary from UK

As a consequence of the fact that the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a part of the European Union (EU), the manner in which British passport holders can immigrate to Hungary from the UK has also changed. 

People who want to move from the UK here can ask our Hungarian law firm for in-depth advice on the current immigration rules. 

What are the basic immigration regulations for UK citizens in Hungary?

British citizens who want to immigrate to Hungary from the UK can arrive for any purpose prescribed by the national immigration law. It must be noted that the Hungarian law grants the right to stay in Hungary for 90 days without a special permit to all EU citizens and European Economic Area (EEA) citizens. 

So, this means that for short-term stays in Hungary, British passport holders do not need to take any particular legal measures. However, for stays longer than 90 days, defined as long-term stays, British citizens arriving after Brexit need a residence permit (only UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement register their residence). This is also applicable for EU citizens, under the regulations of the Act I of 2007 on the Entry and Stay of Persons with the Right to Free Movement and Residence. 

Upon registration, a person who wants to stay in Hungary on a long-term basis can apply for a permanent residence permit, which can be issued after a period of 5 years of uninterrupted stay in this country. Those who want to immigrate to Hungary from the UK for more than three months also have the obligation to register with the National Directorate – General for Aliens Policing. 

UK citizens who will immigrate to Hungary from the UK for the first time will be treated as third-party nationals, while British citizens who already live here or those who are in the process of relocating to Hungary, to benefit from the EU migration rules addressed to EU citizens, this being the major difference between the two situations.  You can request our Hungarian lawyers for in-depth information on the visa types available in this country. 

Types of residence permits available for British citizens

Starting with 2024, people who want to relocate to Hungary from the UK can apply for various types of residence permits based on the reason for immigration. Specifically, if until this time, they were not required to indicate a motive for moving to Hungary, from thereon they must choose from a designated list.

Here are the main types of residence permits based on relocation reasons one can move to Hungary from the UK currently:

• business/investment residence visas;
• employment-based residence permits;
• family reunification permits;
• white cards which are the equivalent of digital nomad visas;
• residence permits for jobseekers or for starting a business which are available for British students about to graduate from Hungarian universities and faculties.

If you want to immigrate to Hungary and need assistance, our local law firm is at your service with detailed information about the new residency rules.

Business/investment relocation to Hungary from the UK

Businesspersons who want to immigrate to Hungary from the UK have two options:

• the guest self-employed residence permit;
• the guest investor residence visa.

The first type of Hungarian residence permit is available for freelancers or business owners. The second type of visa is a 10-year residence permit issued against a minimum investment of EUR 250,000. In this case, the main applicant can move to Hungary from the UK with their families.

Feel free to ask our Hungarian lawyers for support in filing for any of the two types of residence permits.

How to immigrate to Hungary from the UK based on employment

Employment is one of the most common ways to relocate to Hungary from the UK, however, under the new regulations, British nationals can apply for:

• employment visas for unskilled workers;
• visas for skilled employees.

The main difference between them is that the first type does not allow family reunification for their holders, nor does it grant the right to apply for Hungarian permanent residency. The second one can be used for both purposes.

Our lawyers in Hungary can provide useful information about these new changes related to employment visas.

How many foreigners live in Hungary?

Hungary is a homogenous country, mainly comprised of Hungarian nationals. The immigration trends have fluctuated since the country’s accession to the EU, with numerous Hungarians leaving the country. However, it has also attracted numerous foreign nationals, who arrived here, especially for work and business purposes. According to the latest statistics, most foreign citizens living in Hungary at the beginning of 2024 were from European countries. Specifically, more than 139,000 foreigners lived in Hungary, as follows:

• 27,388 citizens came from Ukraine;
• the second largest community of foreigners 23,295 came from Germany;
• there were also 16,889 Slovak citizens living in Hungary;
• the Asian community was represented by 92,644 inhabitants.
• with regards to British nationals, in 2017, Hungary was the 16th EU country in the number of UK-born persons relocated to another EU country.

Our Hungarian law firm will make sure that you will receive the latest information on immigration procedures and will help you and your family relocate here. If you want to immigrate to Hungary from the UK in the near future, please address our lawyers.