Resident Permit

Welcome to Hungary! Getting your physical Residence Permit for Study Purposes

is your most important administrative step. Without it, you cannot legally live or study in the country.

This guide will help you navigate the process smoothly, step by step.

Overview

What it is

The Residence Permit for the Purpose of Studies is an official card (often called a TRC or residence card) that proves you are allowed to live and study in Hungary legally.

Why it is important

You cannot access your student benefits without this card. You will need your physical residence permit to:

Open a Hungarian bank account to receive your monthly stipend and housing allowance.
Apply for your Hungarian health insurance card (TAJ card).
Apply for your permanent Hungarian Student ID card (Diákigazolvány) at the Government Window (Kormányablak) to get student discounts.
Travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Who needs it

All international students coming from non-EU countries need this permit to stay in Hungary. Your application process depends on whether you entered the country with a visa or without one.

Step-by-Step Guide

Your application path depends on your country of origin. Check which category you belong to below:

Students with a D-type visa: For students from all non-EU countries who are required to apply for an entry visa at a Hungarian embassy before traveling.
Students traveling without a visa: For students from specific countries who can enter the Schengen Area using a visa waiver (including Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, New Zealand, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and others).

Path A: For Students with a D-type Visa

If you applied for a Type-D Visa at a Hungarian Embassy before traveling, your residence permit application is already completed!

1.Cross the border:Day 1.

Enter Hungary using your approved D-type visa. Keep in mind that you are obliged to have your physical permit within 30 days of crossing the Schengen border.

2.Wait for notification:Within 30 days.

Your physical card will be ready for pickup or delivered directly to your university or dormitory. Wait for an email notification from your university’s administrative center.

3.Pick up your permit:Promptly upon notification.

Go to your university’s student services office to collect your physical card. Pick it up as soon as you receive the email.

4.Apply for an Address Card:Immediately after pickup.

After collecting your residence permit card, you must apply for your official Hungarian Address Card.

Tips: Do not be alarmed if the 30-day deadline is approaching and you haven’t received your card. Recent delays occur when the Immigration Office sends cards to universities later than expected, or due to minor processing errors. Simply wait for your university’s email.
Common Mistakes: Going straight to the Immigration Office to apply. If you have a D-type visa, you are no longer required to apply at the Immigration Office inside Hungary; the process was completed at the consulate during your visa application.

Path B: For Visa-Free Students

If you entered Hungary without a visa using a visa waiver, you must submit your first application directly inside Hungary within your first 90 days of arrival.

1.Prepare your documents:Before applying.

Gather all required student, financial, and accommodation documents. Scan all pages of your passport.

2.Submit online via Enter Hungary:Within 90 days of arrival.

3.Visit the Immigration Office for biometrics:Within 15 days of online submission.

Go to the Immigration Office in person to have your photo and fingerprints taken. You can book an appointment online or walk in without one.

4.Receive your card:Processing period.

Track your application progress through your Enter Hungary account. Your card will be issued once approved.

Tips: Book your biometrics appointment online as early as possible because the number of available slots is limited. If you cannot get an appointment, you can visit the office without one. If walking in, go early—right before opening hours—to avoid long lines.
Common Mistakes: Missing the 15-day window to provide biometric data after submitting your application online. If you do not visit the office within 15 days, your online application may become invalid. Forgeting to bring your original, physical documents to your biometrics appointment will force you to repeat the queueing procedure.

Required Documents

When applying online (Visa-Free path) or preparing for your extension, you must provide the following files:

Document	Why it is needed	Where to get it & Important Notes
Valid Passport	To prove your identity and legal entry.	Must cover your intended period of stay. Scan ALL pages of your passport, not just the photo page.
Letter of Award	Proves financial support / monthly stipend.	Your official scholarship certificate from the Tempus Public Foundation (for Stipendium Hungaricum holders).
Tuition Payment / Health Insurance Proof	Proves financial and medical coverage.	For self-funded/fee-paying students only: Provide official proof of your tuition fee payment and private health insurance.
Student Status Certificate	Proves you are actively enrolled in studies.	Request this from your university’s online student portal (e.g., Neptun). It must be written in Hungarian and be less than 30 days old. PhD students can obtain this at their faculty Dean’s office.
Accommodation Reporting Form	Official registration of your local living address.	Download the form online, fill it out, and get it signed by your accommodator (your dormitory head or private landlord).
Proof of Accommodation	Validates where you live.	If you live in a dorm: get a certificate from your dormitory. If you live in an apartment: provide your signed rental lease contract.
Application Form & Appendix 14	Required official application data.	Download and fill these out according to official online guides before uploading them to Enter Hungary.
Passport-Sized Photo	Used for your physical card profile.	Bring a physical copy with you to your in-person biometric appointment.

Fees and Costs

Stipendium Hungaricum Holders: The residence permit procedure is completely free of charge. Scholarship holders are entirely exempt from standard administrative service fees.
Other Students (Self-Funded/Exchange): Specific official application fee rates and payment methods for non-scholarship students are not available in the provided sources.

Processing Time

Visa-Required Students: Your physical card is processed after your visa approval and should be ready within 30 days of your arrival in Hungary.
Visa-Free Students: You must complete your in-person biometrics within 15 days of your online Enter Hungary submission.
Busy Seasons & Expedited Options: Information regarding specific average waiting times, high-volume seasonal delays, or expedited express processing options is not available in the provided sources.

Important Tips

Extension Rule: Your residence permit is usually issued for 1 or 2 years. If your studies continue longer than your card’s validity, you must renew it. You must submit your extension application online at least 30 to 45 days before your current card expires. Do not wait until the final week!

Check Notifications: Keep a close eye on your Enter Hungary portal account profile. The Immigration Office will send notifications there if they require you to supply missing or corrected documents.
Address Cards: Remember that getting your residence permit card is only part one. Once you have it in hand, you must immediately apply for your official Address Card to complete your legal registration.

Common Mistakes

Waiting too long to renew: Submitting an extension fewer than 30 days before expiration can jeopardize your legal stay.
Incomplete passport scans: Uploading only the primary ID page of your passport. The Immigration Office explicitly requires scanned images of all pages of your passport.
Missing landlord signatures: Uploading an accommodation form that isn’t fully signed by the actual property owner or dormitory manager.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. I have a D-type visa. Do I need to book an appointment at the Immigration Office?

No. You do not need to apply at the Immigration Office. Your application was processed at the embassy. You just need to wait for an email from your university and pick up your card at your campus student services center.

2. What is the strict deadline for getting my permit after arriving?

If you have a D-type visa, you must have your permit within 30 days of crossing the Schengen border. If you are a visa-free traveler, you must submit your application within 90 days of arrival. Missing these timelines can result in being expelled.

3. I am a Stipendium Hungaricum student. How much do I have to pay?

The entire application and extension process is completely free for Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders.

4. Can I travel to other countries with my residence permit?

Yes. Your physical residence permit allows you to travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

5. Where do I get my Student Status Certificate?

You can request this certificate online through your university’s Neptun system. Ensure it is less than 30 days old and written in Hungarian when you submit it.

6. What happens if I miss the 30-day pickup deadline due to administrative delays?

Do not be alarmed. If delays are caused by minor office errors or the Immigration Office shipping cards to the university later than scheduled, your university will notify you by email as soon as it arrives. Simply collect it immediately once notified.

Official Resources

Office Address (Immigration Office / OIF Client Service)

Address: Szegedi út 35-37, Budapest, 1135
Note: Enter from the side of the building located at the bus stop on Reitter Ferenc utca.

Office Hours for Foreign Students

Monday: 8:00–14:00
Tuesday: 8:00–14:00
Wednesday: 8:00–14:00
Thursday: 8:00–14:00
Friday: 8:00–12:00

Official Websites & Contact

Online Application Portal: Enter Hungary
Immigration Directorate Website: OIF Official Site

Source References

National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) Official Portal
Enter Hungary Online Application Platform
Stipendium Hungaricum Official Student Regulations and Guidance documents

Downloads

Online Application guild

Enter Hungary Guild