The 2024 Immigration Law: Hungarian Card and National Card

The Hungarian Card is a temporary residence permit that can be applied for by foreigners who have the appropriate higher-level professional qualifications. With this card, one can stay in Hungary for a maximum of three years, which can occasionally be extended for another three years if the foreigner passes the necessary “social coexistence” test before the extension. Citizens of certain countries are exempt from this exam.

With the Hungarian Card, one can do work corresponding to his/her higher professional qualification. The exception to this is if someone is a third-country national who is a professional athlete or professional coach, entertainer, or works for a film production company. What higher education qualifications can be accepted is contained in a joint statement prepared by several ministries. It is therefore important that such a residence permit cannot be obtained with any higher education, just for the qualifications related to the professions specified in the list.

A Hungarian Card may be obtained by a foreigner whose purpose is to perform actual work for another person or under the direction of another person in exchange for remuneration based on their legal relationship for employment, or who, as the owner or executive officer of a business company or other legal entity (created to earn income), performs actual work.

The National Card is not so much a residence card corresponding to the Hungarian Card, but more similar to a guest worker’s residence permit. A National Card can be applied for by Serbian and Ukrainian citizens whose purpose of residence is to work for or under the direction of another person, based on a legal relationship for employment, in return for a salary. The National Card entitles the foreigner to stay in Hungary for a fixed period of up to two years, which can be extended for a maximum of three years on occasion.