The Hungary digital nomad visa, also called the White Card, has been active since November 2021. From the visa launch until now, Hungary managed to rank 18th in the VisaGuide.World Digital Nomad Index, a ranking of the best countries for digital nomads, with a score of 3.11.
DNI Score: 3.11
DNI Rank:18th
Who Is Eligible for a Hungary Digital Nomad Visa?
The Digital Nomad visa will be issued to third-country nationals who meet one of the following criteria:
- Hold a confirmed employment contract outside Hungary and work remotely from Hungary using advanced digital technology.
- Own a stake in a company that generates verified profits outside Hungary and manage either their work or the company from Hungary using advanced digital technology.
Who Is Not Eligible for a Hungary Digital Nomad Visa (White Card)?
A Hungary digital nomad visa will not be issued to an individual who:
- Meets the criteria for obtaining a residence permit for guest self-employment, guest investor, employment for investment purposes, general employment, guest workers, National Card, Hungarian Card, or Corporate Card.
- Holds a residence permit for study purposes or is engaged in a short-term supervised traineeship related to their studies.
- Is posted in Hungary.
- Has applied for refugee status, temporary protection, or subsidiary protection in Hungary.
- Has been granted refugee status, temporary protection, or subsidiary protection in Hungary.
- Has tolerated status.
- Has had their expulsion suspended.
- Holds an EC residence permit or EU residence card.
- Arrives in the European Union through an intra-corporate transfer arrangement.
- Is admitted to the European Union for employment as a highly qualified worker.
Supporting Documents for a Hungary Digital Nomad Visa Application
When applying for a digital nomad visa for Hungary, you will need to collect the following documents:
- Completed application form.
- Completed appendix 9.18.
- Full copy of valid passport (valid for at least three months beyond the desired visa expiry date).
- Two passport-sized photos.
- Valid health insurance with Schengen Area coverage.
- Valid departure ticket or sufficient funds to purchase a ticket.
- Proof of lawful means of transport.
- Proof of Financial Means. A certificate evidencing your legal monthly income of at least €3,000 for the past six months (maintained throughout your stay).
- Statement for returning home. If your application is rejected, you must declare that you will return home and leave the European Union (EU).
- Proof of accommodation in Hungary:
- Apartment leasing agreement.
- Valid letter of invitation with official endorsement.
- Document confirming ownership of the flat.
- Document confirming booked and paid accommodation.
- Declaration by a family member in Hungary stating they will provide accommodation (with valid residence documentation).
- Proof of Remote Work Status:
- If you’re employed by a company outside Hungary, submit a certified statement from your employer detailing:
- Scope of employer’s activities.
- Remote work provision and its authorized duration.
- Your duties and position.
- Proof of employer’s operation (e.g., company registration, tax documents).
- If you’re employed by a company outside Hungary, submit a certified statement from your employer detailing:
- Business Owner:
- Documentation proving a legitimate business outside Hungary (e.g., tax return, invoices, client contracts showing €3,000 monthly income).
- Document stating:
- Real and actual operation of the company.
- Your job title, position, and company scope of activities.
- Your ownership of company shares.
- Proof of company operation (e.g., registration document, tax documents).
- Freelancer:
- Contracts with clients specifying remote work and your income (meeting minimum income requirement).
- Additional documents when applying within Hungary include:
- Hungarian social insurance card (TAJ card).
- Entitlement to healthcare services under Hungarian acts (business accident/health insurance).
- Entitlement to services under an international health agreement (same conditions as Hungarian insured).
- Bank statement for potential healthcare expenses.
How to Apply for a Hungary Digital Nomad Visa (White Card)?
You can apply for a Hungary digital nomad visa from your country of residence, or from within Hungary.
Applying Outside of Hungary
You can apply from outside of Hungary if you don’t have a residence permit and don’t qualify for visa-free travel. The application process is as follows:
- Gather the required documents. Download and complete the residence permit application form and Appendix 9.18 form. Ensure all the required documents are valid and translated into Hungarian if necessary.
- Schedule an appointment. Contact the nearest Hungarian embassy or consulate to schedule an appointment for submission.
- Attend your appointment. Attend your appointment at the embassy or consulate on the designated date and time. Submit your document and pay the relevant fees (application fee €110). Be prepared for a short interview about your stay and remote work plans.
- Wait for the decision. The regional directorate will inform the competent Hungarian consulate of the decision. The visa’s processing time is typically 30 days, and you’ll be notified of the decision via email or post.
- Traveling to Hungary. Upon approval of your application, you will be issued a special single-entry visa valid for three months, allowing entry into Hungary. You must travel to Hungary within three months of approval to avoid invalidating your residence permit.
- Receive residency. Upon your arrival in Hungary, your residency permit document will be sent to the address you specified in your application form. Alternatively, you can collect it from the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) regional directorate (only in cases when receiving the document at the designated delivery address in your application is not viable).
Applying Within Hungary
You are eligible to apply from within Hungary if you are already in the country and are a citizen of a visa-free country. When applying within Hungary, there are two ways to submit your application:
- Electronically via the Enter Hungary platform.
- In person at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) regional directorate corresponding to your accommodation location.
Note: You can only submit your application through the Enter Hungary platform if your attorney-in-fact is a legal representative or a legal entity.
Applying Online
The online application process through the Enter Hungary platform goes as follows:
- Register and log into the platform. Open Enter Hungary in your browser and fill out the registration form. After submission, a confirmation screen will appear, and you’ll receive an email with a password setup link. Use your registered email and the new password to log in.
- Complete the application for a residence permit. Once you log in, you must click the new application button. A new screen will appear, where you must click on “application for residence permit” and then click on “white card.” After clicking the case type, a new/empty application will be created for you, and you can start filling it out.
- Complete the white card form. The white card form includes details about:
- Verified employment relationship in a country outside of Hungary.
- Company with verified profits in a country outside of Hungary.
- Qualifications
- Upload the required documents. After completing the white card, you can submit the required documents. When you click on any document to submit, you must clearly write the name of each document. You can submit it as either an image or a PDF file.
- Submit the application. After uploading the required documents, you can submit your application.
- Complete the online payment. After submitting your application, click the “online payment” button to proceed with paying the procedure fee in Hungarian Forints (HUF) – 24,000 (approx. €60). You will be redirected to OTP Bank’s secure payment page. Complete the payment within 10 minutes, so prepare your card beforehand.
- Wait for approval. Once the payment is completed, please expect your application to be processed in approximately 15 days. You can then collect your permit in person at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP), or it will be sent to you by post based on your selection during the application process.
Applying in Person
The application process is as follows:
- Gather the required documents. These documents typically include your application form, proof of accommodation, proof of financial means, health insurance coverage, and any other relevant documents.
- Schedule an appointment. Visit the NDGAP website to schedule an appointment with the regional directorate that corresponds to your accommodation location in Hungary. Contact details and further information are also available on the NDGAP website.
- Attend the appointment. On the scheduled date and time, attend your appointment at the NDGAP regional directorate. Be sure to bring all the required documents with you, and be prepared to provide any additional information as needed during the appointment.
- Pay the application fee. Upon submitting your application in person, you will be required to pay the applicable application fee. The fee amount is approximately €100.
- Wait for approval. After completing the application process and paying the fee, you will need to wait for the NDGAP to process your application. The processing time will be around one month.
How Long Can I Stay With a Hungarian Digital Nomad Visa?
With a Hungary digital nomad visa, you can stay in Hungary for up to one year. If you meet the eligibility criteria again and your application succeeds, you can renew it for another year.
Processing Times for a Hungarian Digital Nomad Visa (White Card)
The Hungary digital nomad visa takes thirty days to process from the time you submit your completed application.
How Much Does It Cost to Get a Hungary Digital Nomad Visa (White Card)?
The fees for a Hungary digital nomad visa/White Card include:
| Processing Type | Fee | Equivalent in Euros (approx.) |
| Residence permit and entry visa in Hungary | N/A | €110 |
| Residence permit (applying in person) in Hungary | HUF 39,000 | €100 |
| Residence permit (via Enter Hungary platform) | HUF 24,000 | €60 |
How to Pay the Fee?
- Submissions to the diplomatic mission or consular post require payment in euros or another convertible currency, except for the legal tender of the country where the application is submitted.
- In-person submissions at the regional directorate’s client service office must be paid with a credit card.
- Alternatively, payment can be made via postal cheque or bank transfer, with essential information included in the comment section. Postal cheques are available upon request at Client Service Offices.
- Enter Hungary submissions require payment by credit card during the electronic application process.
Coworking Spaces in Hungary
You can work remotely from Hungary in the coworking spaces listed below:
- Loffice
- Muse Coworking
- KAPTAR Coworking
- Impact Hub Budapest
- The other WorkSpace
- HUB 55
- Collabor8
- Urban Lobby
- Kubik
- UP center
- Xponential Coworking Office
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Extend My Visa?
You can extend your digital nomad visa once for the same purposes and for one year. To apply for a permit extension, you must submit your application 30 days before your current permit expires.
The application for extending your residence permit can only be made within Hungary via the Enter Hungary platform. The processing fee for the extension is approximately €60.
Please note that you can only extend your residence permit if:
- You currently hold a valid residence permit when submitting your application.
- You have resided within Hungary with your residence permit for at least 90 days within the last 180 days before applying for the permit extension.
Can I Bring My Family Members to Hungary With a Digital Nomad Visa?
No, you cannot bring your family members to Hungary with a digital nomad visa. If you intend to apply with your spouse or partner, both applicants must submit separate applications, each meeting the eligibility criteria.
Can My Visa Be Revoked?
Your visa will be revoked if you work for or on behalf of an employer in Hungary or acquire a share in a company in Hungary.