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Hungary, located in Central Europe, is a country with a rich history and diverse cultural heritage. Here are five important facts about Hungary:

1. Historical Significance: Hungary has a fascinating history that spans over a millennium. It was once part of the powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire and has faced numerous invasions and changes throughout its history. Budapest, the capital city, showcases a stunning blend of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau, reflecting Hungary's historical influence.

2. Rich Cultural Heritage: Hungary has made significant contributions to arts, literature, and music. It is famous for its classical music composers, such as Franz Liszt and Béla Bartók. Hungarian folk music and traditional dance, including the lively csárdás, are integral to the country's cultural identity. The Hungarian language, part of the Finno-Ugric language family, is distinct and sets Hungary apart from its neighboring countries.

3. Thermal Baths and Spas: Hungary is renowned for its thermal baths and spa culture. The country is home to several thermal springs, and Budapest is often called the "City of Baths." These natural thermal waters are believed to have healing properties and provide a relaxing experience for locals and visitors alike. The Széchenyi and Gellért Baths in Budapest are among the most famous and offer a unique wellness experience.

4. UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Hungary is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. From the historic center of Budapest, including the banks of the Danube River and the Buda Castle Quarter, to the picturesque village of Hollókő and the wine region of Tokaj, these sites represent Hungary's cultural and natural significance. They attract tourists who are interested in exploring the country's architectural wonders, landscapes, and cultural heritage.

5. Cuisine: Hungarian cuisine is hearty and flavorful, with influences from neighboring countries like Austria, Slovakia, and Serbia. Goulash, a traditional meat and vegetable stew, is considered Hungary's national dish. Other popular dishes include paprika-spiced chicken or pork, lángos (fried dough), and chimney cake (a sweet pastry). Hungary is also known for its excellent wines, with regions like Eger and Tokaj producing quality vintages.

 

Immigration Details

To immigrate to Hungary, there are several visa options available for different purposes. Let's explore the various pathways and their requirements:

1. Working Visa:
- Purpose: This visa allows you to work for a Hungarian employer or establish your own business.
- Requirements: You will need a job offer from a Hungarian employer or plan to establish your own business in Hungary. The employer or business must meet specific criteria, such as financial stability and proving that there are no suitable Hungarian or EU candidates for the position.
- Duration: The working visa is typically granted for one to three years, depending on the type of work and contract.

2. Investor Visa:
- Purpose: This visa is for individuals who wish to invest in Hungary and establish a business.
- Requirements: To qualify, you will generally need to make a significant investment in a Hungarian business, create jobs for Hungarian citizens, and meet specific criteria outlined by the Hungarian government.
- Duration: The investor visa is typically granted for one to three years.

3. Student Visa:
- Purpose: This visa is for individuals who wish to study at a recognized educational institution in Hungary.
- Requirements: You will need an acceptance letter from a Hungarian educational institution, proof of financial means to cover your studies and living expenses, and health insurance coverage.
- Duration: The student visa duration depends on the length of your course.

4. Family Reunification Visa:
- Purpose: This visa is for family members of Hungarian citizens or residents who wish to join them in Hungary.
- Requirements: You must be a spouse, child, or dependent of a Hungarian citizen or resident. Proof of the relationship will be required.
- Duration: The family reunification visa is typically granted for one to three years.

5. Permanent Resident Visa:
- Purpose: This visa allows you to reside in Hungary permanently.
- Requirements: To qualify for permanent residency, you generally need to have resided in Hungary for a certain number of years, have a stable source of income, demonstrate integration into Hungarian society, and meet other criteria outlined by the immigration authorities.
- Duration: Permanent residency allows you to reside in Hungary indefinitely.

6. Citizenship:
- Naturalization: To obtain Hungarian citizenship, you generally need to have resided in Hungary for at least eight years (or less in certain cases), have a good command of the Hungarian language, demonstrate integration into Hungarian society, renounce your previous citizenship (in most cases), and meet other criteria outlined by Hungarian law.

 

Location
Rank
  • VISA-FREE
    154
  • DUAL CITIZENSHIP
  • POPULATION
    9,699,577
  • Time To Citizenship
    4
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TAX

Tax residents in Hungary are Hungarian nationals, EEA nationals with a registration card issued in Hungary and spending at least 183 days per year in the country, foreigners permanently settled in Hungary, or not permanently settled but with their center of vital interests in the country, or spending at least 183 days per year in the country.

Tax residents are subject to income tax on their worldwide income, while non-residents are only taxed on their income arising from Hungarian sources.

Income tax rate is currently 15%. Capital gains, dividends, interests and rental income are generally taxed at a standard rate.

Municipalities levy property tax on buildings and plots. There is an inheritance tax of 18%, but inheritances to direct descendants and spouses are fully-exempted. Certain transactions involving the sale of immovable and movable properties are subject to transfer tax. There is no net wealth tax.

The V.A.T. standard rate is 27%, with reduced rates of 18% and 7%.

Regarding corporate taxation, Hungary has the lowest corporate tax rate of the European Union, at 9%. Resident entities are subject to tax on their worldwide income.

In January 2019, Hungary implemented the EU-wide Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive Measures, which include new rules on controlled foreign companies (CFCs). Under these new rules, a foreign entity or foreign permanent establishment (PE) of a Hungarian taxpayer will be considered to be a CFC if:

The taxpayer directly or indirectly holds themselves, or with associated enterprises, more than 50% of the foreign entity's or PE's capital, voting rights, or rights to profit, and if the corporate tax paid by the foreign entity or PE on its profits is less than the difference between the corporate tax that would be due in Hungary and the actual corporate tax levied on the profits.

This should not be construed as tax advice. We have access to a global network of qualified attorneys and accountants who can give you the proper advice for your particular circumstances. Contact us for further information.

  • Property Tax Yes
  • Transfer Tax Yes
  • Inheritance Tax Yes
  • Net Worth Tax No
  • CFC Law Yes
  • Tax Residency Days 183
  • Personal Income Tax Rate 15%
  • Capital Gains Tax Rate 15%
  • Investment Income Tax Rate 15%
  • Territorial Taxation No
Visa-Free Explain

Where Can Hungarian Passport Holders Travel Without a Visa?

As of June 2023, Hungarian passport holders can travel visa free to 154 countries and territories:

  • Albania
  • American Samoa
  • Andorra
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Austria
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Caribbean Netherlands
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Cabo Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Curaçao
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Fiji
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • French West Indies
  • Gabon
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Iceland
  • Indonesia
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kiribati
  • Kosovo
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Mexico
  • Micronesia
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Niue
  • North Macedonia
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Palau
  • Palestine
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Qatar
  • Réunion
  • Romania
  • Samoa
  • San Marino
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Suriname
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Gambia
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Türkiye
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vanuatu
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Zambia
  • Eswatini

For visa-free travels, you still must have a valid passport — usually six months after your departure date— and you must purchase travel health insurance as required by your destination country.

Where Can Hungarian Citizens Go Without a Passport?

Hungarian citizens can enter the following countries without a passport with only an ID card:

  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Aruba
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Caribbean Netherlands
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Curaçao
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Faroe Islands
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • French West Indies
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Mayotte
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Réunion
  • Romania
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Saint Martin
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Türkiye
  • Vatican City

What Countries Issue eVisa to Hungarian Citizens?

The following 13 countries issue eVisas for Hungarian passport holders:

  • Angola
  • Australia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Benin
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Guinea
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Pakistan
  • Uganda
  • Vietnam

The process of getting an eVisa is more or less the same as applying for a traditional visa. However, in this case, you don’t have to visit a visa application center— you can submit your application online, including the visa payment.

After your application is approved, you will receive an email confirming your visa status along with a document you must print out and bring with you when crossing the border. Your visa will be registered online, but some officers may ask you for a physical copy of the permit; that is why it’s important to keep the copy on your person while traveling.

What Countries Issue Visa on Arrival to Hungarian Passport Holders?

If you are a Hungarian citizen, you can get a visa on arrival for the 31 countries listed below:

  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • Egypt
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Iran
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Saint Helena
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Zimbabwe

You receive a visa on arrival (VOA) after entering the country that issues such a visa. Usually, there is a separate section at the airport where you can submit your application for your visa on arrival.

Countries With Visa Requirements for Hungarian Citizens

You need a valid visa to enter the following 28 countries with a Hungarian passport:

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Bhutan
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Ivory Coast
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ghana
  • Guyana
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Nauru
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • Yemen

The application for a visa goes as follows:

  1. Make an appointment at the visa center in Hungary. You must contact a local visa application center in your home country and make an appointment to submit your application. It may take several months to schedule a meeting with the embassy or consulate.
  2. Get your documents ready. To submit a successful application, you have to prepare the required documents for your visa, i.e., passport, application form, health insurance, etc. Some of your documents must be verified with an apostille stamp or certified by a foreign office.
  3. Submit your application. Finally, you can submit your application and attend the visa interview—you may also be required to submit your biometrics. Once you translate your documents as required by the embassy or consulate and verify them with an apostille stamp— if possible, then you can submit your application. From then it will take several weeks until a decision is made regarding your visa application.

Please note that if you have a valid visa that allows you to enter more than one country, you don’t have to apply for a new visa.

What Documents Do Hungarian Citizens Need to Apply for a Visa?

Hungarian citizens that want to visit countries that require them to apply for a visa beforehand need to submit a few documents. Depending on the country you want to visit, document requirements may vary. However, most countries will certainly require the following:

  • Your valid Hungarian passport (plus a photocopy). Some countries require the passport to be valid for more than six months after the day you plan on departing their country.
  • A filled visa application form.
  • Passport pictures that are not older than six months.
  • Travel health insurance that covers your entire period of stay.
  • Proof of paid visa fee.
  • Detailed travel itinerary that shows all the places you want to visit.
  • Letter of invitation (if applicable)
  • Proof of booked return ticket for the flight home.
  • Proof of booked accommodation.
  • Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your visit
  • Civil status documents (marriage papers, certificates of birth, etc.)
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