Studying abroad offers plenty of life opportunities and learning experiences. However, preparing for it can be challenging. From choosing a destination and university to preparing your application, you must exert effort and dig deep through your resources. Most countries also require visas or residence permits before foreigners can enter and stay for a long time.
Hungary is a popular destination for international students due to its long-established higher education system, wide range of foreign-language programs, and comparatively affordable tuition and living costs in Europe. Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality. EU/EEA and Swiss students do not need a student visa, but they must register their stay if they will remain in Hungary for more than three months. Visa-exempt non-EU/EEA students may apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studies in Hungary during their legal stay. Students who are not visa-exempt generally submit their residence permit application at a Hungarian consulate abroad; this application also covers the Type D entry visa used to enter Hungary and collect the residence permit.
Ideally, you should confirm your situation with the competent Hungarian embassy, consulate, or the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing before applying. Otherwise, make sure you know how to get a student visa or residence permit in Hungary. Below are the steps to the application after considering your documentary and financial requirements.
Steps on Applying for a Hungarian Student Visa
Step 1: Apply and Accept an Offer from a Hungarian University
Before applying for a Hungary student visa or residence permit, make sure you have already been accepted to an institution in the country. Check the university website you intend to apply to for the application requirements and submission schedule. Prepare those as soon as possible so you can submit them when the application period opens.
Ideally, your application should exceed the university’s minimum standard to have a better chance of being accepted. Once you confirm your admission, you might need to pay a deposit fee and sign the acceptance offer. After that, your chosen school will provide a certificate of admission, admission certificate, or student-status document that you will use for your residence permit application.
Step 2: Contact the Embassy
Contact the Hungarian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence to confirm the student residence permit requirements and submission procedure. Although the general list of requirements is listed here, the consular officer or immigration authority may still ask you for additional documents, so it is best to confirm those ahead of time.
Moreover, checking the embassy website for visa and residence permit services, appointment rules, fee payment methods, and document-format requirements can save you time and effort. Some applicants must submit the application at a Hungarian consulate abroad, while visa-exempt applicants may be able to apply in Hungary during their legal stay.
Step 3: Prepare Your Application Documents
Verify all information included in your application documents and make sure your documents are original and up to date. Remember, the authorities can reject a visa or residence permit application due to false information or data.
Here are the common documents you may need:
| STUDENT VISA REQUIREMENTS (HUNGARY) |
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- Completed residence permit application form and the study-related appendix
- Certificate of admission, admission certificate, or student-status document from a Hungarian educational institution
- Evidence of language proficiency, where required for your studies
- Proof of tuition payment or proof that you are exempt from paying tuition fees
- Proof of financial means, such as bank or savings statements, a notarized family support declaration with supporting evidence, income documents, or a scholarship certificate
- Hungarian accommodation details and, if requested by your consulate, proof of accommodation such as a dormitory certificate or lease contract
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance or proof that you can cover healthcare costs
- Valid passport or travel document; check your consulate’s rules on blank pages, issue date, and validity after return
- Evidence that you can return or travel onward when your legal stay ends, such as a valid ticket or funds to cover travel
- Recent facial photograph; fingerprints and a facial photograph will also be taken during the procedure
- For minors, parental or legal guardian consent, with a Hungarian or English translation if required
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Step 4: Go to Your Embassy Appointment
You can set an appointment once you are ready to submit your Hungary student visa or residence permit application at the embassy or consulate, if an appointment is required. On your appointment date, bring all your application documents and follow the security protocols at the embassy or consulate. During your visit, you will usually need to provide biometric data, such as a facial photograph and fingerprints.
As you will also apply for a residence permit for studies, you must submit your application to the consular officer or through the procedure required by the competent authority. Sometimes, the consular officer or immigration authority may require other supporting documents for the application. Finally, you will need to pay the applicable application fee during the process, unless an exemption applies.
Step 5: Receive Your Passport with a Visa
For residence permit applications for studies, the official procedural administration time is 15 days, but the authority may adopt a decision on the merits within 60 days from the date of submission. Time spent correcting deficiencies or submitting missing documents is not included in the procedural administration period.
If you applied abroad and your application is approved, the Hungarian consulate will issue a Type D visa in your passport. This visa is a single-entry visa that allows a stay of no more than 30 days and is valid for three months. Your residence permit for studies will be delivered by post to your Hungarian educational institution. If you cannot collect your passport in person after the visa is issued, confirm with the embassy or consulate whether a postal return option is available.
FAQs: Student Visa Applications for Hungary
How Much Money Do You Need for a Hungarian Student Visa?
The fee for a residence permit application submitted at a Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission is €110. If you submit the application in Hungary, the fee is HUF 39,000 for an in-person application or HUF 26,000 through the Enter Hungary platform. Extension applications also cost HUF 26,000.
Hungarian authorities do not publish one universal monthly minimum on the main official student residence permit page. Instead, you must prove that you have enough resources to cover your subsistence, accommodation, return or onward travel, and healthcare during your stay. This can be shown through documents such as bank statements, savings or investment statements, a notarized family support declaration with proof of the supporter’s ability to provide support, income documents, or a scholarship certificate.
Tuition and living costs vary by university, program, city, and accommodation type. You can compare public universities and private universities in Hungary before applying. According to Study in Hungary’s cost-of-living calculator, average dormitory prices in listed university cities range from HUF 13,000 to HUF 40,000 per month. Average private flats range from HUF 120,000 to HUF 225,000 per month, while shared flats range from HUF 80,000 to HUF 140,000 per month. At recent exchange rates, that is roughly $40 to $130 for dormitory housing, $385 to $720 for a private flat, or $255 to $450 for a shared flat.
It is important to know why getting a student visa or residence permit is required, especially if you want to get a degree at Hungarian universities. The requirements may take time, but it is better to prepare them before you depart for Hungary once you get an acceptance letter from your chosen school. Hopefully, this information can help you process the visa and residence permit step by step, and good luck on your educational journey!
We hope this article on how to get a student visa in Hungary was helpful! If you are interested in studying in the country and in Europe, make sure to check out the Hungary Page and the Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
