Moving & Residency
From your EU registration to the all important address card, here is exactly how to settle in Budapest legally, in the right order.
Getting your address card (lakcimkartya)
The admin master key for a bank account, tax ID and TAJ card, plus who qualifies and what it costs.
EU/EEA registration certificate
The document EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need to stay past 90 days, plus the address card that follows.
EU vs non-EU residence routes
Which Hungarian residence path applies to you: the EU registration certificate or the non-EU permit, and the steps for each.
How to move to Hungary in 2026
The start-here checklist: residence routes, permits, the address card, tax and the real cost of settling in Budapest.
Permanent residence and citizenship
The two-stage path from permanent residence to a Hungarian passport, with the years, fees and exam explained.
Renew your Hungarian residence permit
Enter Hungary deadlines, documents, the fee and what happens if your permit lapses.
Residence permit for business owners
The guest self-employment permit and Hungarian Card for non-EU founders: income rules, the mandatory lawyer, timeline and renewals.
UK citizens in Hungary after Brexit
Withdrawal Agreement rights, the 2026 card renewal, and how new UK arrivals get a residence permit.
US citizens moving to Hungary
What the ended 2024 tax treaty means for American expats, plus residence permits and the first steps in Budapest.
Hungary's White Card (digital nomad permit)
Who qualifies, the 3,000€ income rule, how to apply and what it costs in 2026.
Moving-in essentials: what to buy first
A practical checklist of what to buy before and just after you land in Budapest, from plug adapters to winter kit.
Talk to an English speaking lawyer.
For the steps that carry real legal or financial weight, a specialist saves time and money.
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