Student Visa for Hungary: Residence Permit for Study, Fees and Work Rights
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Hungary does not issue a separate student visa for degree studies. Non-EU students apply for a residence permit for study, and when it is approved abroad, the approval serves as the entry visa. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no permit, only a registration certificate. This guide follows the factsheets of the immigration authority (OIF) as of October 2026.
Who needs what
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may enter with a passport or identity card. If you stay more than 90 days, you must register your residence by the 93rd day after entry (see below).
- Non-EU citizens need a residence permit for study for a degree or a preparatory course.
Where to apply
- If you need a visa to enter Hungary, you apply at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your country of nationality or residence. You do not apply for a visa separately.
- If you can enter Hungary without a visa and do not yet hold a permit, you may also apply inside Hungary: online through the Enter Hungary platform or in person at the regional directorate for the place where you live.
If the application abroad is approved, you receive a type D visa: valid for three months, for one entry and a stay of up to 30 days. Enter Hungary within those three months, or the approval lapses. The permit itself is posted to your university.
Documents
- Application form, valid passport and one photo. Fingerprints and a facial photo are taken.
- Admission letter or proof of student status from the university.
- Proof of language skills for your programme, such as a language certificate or a diploma earned in that language.
- Proof that you have paid the tuition fee.
- Proof of funds for living costs, accommodation, healthcare and the journey home: a bank statement (with a transaction history if you rely on savings), a notarised support declaration from a family member with proof of their income, proof of regular income, or a scholarship certificate. OIF does not publish a fixed amount, so ask the consulate what it expects.
- Accommodation: a real Hungarian address on the form; no separate document.
- Comprehensive health insurance, or proof that you can pay for healthcare. See health insurance for students in Europe.
- A return ticket or money to buy one.
Fees and processing time
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| At an embassy or consulate (includes the entry visa) | EUR 110 |
| In Hungary, through Enter Hungary | HUF 26,000 (about €70) |
| In Hungary, in person | HUF 39,000 (about €105) |
| Extension | HUF 26,000 (about €70) |
Holders of the Hungarian state scholarship, such as Stipendium Hungaricum, pay no fee for the permit or its extension.
The authority must decide within 60 days, not counting time spent supplying missing documents. Apply as soon as you have your admission letter.
How long the permit lasts
The first permit is issued for at least one year (or the length of your course, if shorter) and at most three years. It cannot outlast your passport.
You extend it in Hungary, only through Enter Hungary, between 90 and 30 days before it expires. You need a statement from the university on your academic progress. OIF may refuse an extension if you have not graduated within one and a half times the standard length of your programme.
Working while you study
With a residence permit for study you may work up to 30 hours a week during the study period. Outside study periods you may work full time for up to 90 days a year. See working while studying in Europe.
After arrival
- Collect your permit. It is posted to your university; ask the international office when to pick it up.
- Report any change of address online through Enter Hungary. Third-country nationals can report a move only online. You need a copy of your passport and an accommodation report signed by you and the landlord.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens apply for a registration certificate by the 93rd day, online or by post to the regional directorate. You need proof of enrolment, health insurance, enough money to support yourself, your passport or identity card and proof of your address. The fee is HUF 1,000 (about €3). After registration you receive an address card (lakcímkártya) by post.
After graduation
Before your study permit expires, you can apply for a permit to look for a job or start a business. It is valid for up to nine months and cannot be extended. You apply in Hungary, through Enter Hungary, at least 15 days before your study permit expires.
Where to look next
- How to get into a university in Hungary
- How much it costs to study in Hungary
- Recognition of foreign school certificates in Hungary
- Student housing in Hungary
- Student visas in Europe: an overview
Official sources
- OIF: residence permit for study
- OIF: procedural fees
- OIF: residence of EEA nationals
- OIF: seeking a job or starting a business
- Enter Hungary: online applications
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.