Hungary White Card Guide

Hungary’s White Card is the country’s digital nomad residence permit. It is useful, but deliberately narrow.

For timing and fees, see the timeline and costs guide. For evidence preparation, use the documents checklist. For family and extension planning, read the family and extension guide. The structured programme hub is Hungary White Card.

Quick Answer

Hungary’s White Card is for third-country nationals who work remotely from Hungary for a foreign employer using advanced digital technology, or who own shares in a profitable foreign company and work for or manage it remotely from Hungary. Applicants need at least EUR 3,000 net monthly legal income for the six months before entry and throughout the stay. Family reunification is not available, Hungarian gainful activity is not allowed, and the permit can be extended only once.

Key Facts

Item	Current Rule
Official category	White Card
Legal form	Residence permit
Applicant category	Third-country national
Employee route	Verified foreign employment
Company-owner route	Share in profitable foreign company
Work method	Advanced digital technology solution
Hungarian gainful activity	Not allowed
Hungarian company share	Not allowed
Income benchmark	EUR 3,000 net/month
Income lookback	At least 6 months before entry
Validity	Up to 1 year
Extension	Once for another year
Family reunification	Not available, with narrow child-birth exception
Long-term residence	National residence card not available through White Card

Timeline At A Glance

1. Confirm third-country status.
2. Confirm foreign employer or profitable foreign-company ownership.
3. Exclude Hungarian gainful activity and Hungarian company shares.
4. Prepare income, purpose, accommodation, insurance, and exit evidence.
5. Submit abroad if required, or in Hungary if lawfully present under a visa-free stay.
6. Complete biometrics and fee payment.
7. Receive a D entry visa if applying abroad and approved.
8. Enter Hungary and receive the residence permit.
9. Apply for the one-time extension if eligible.

Who It Is For

Hungary recognises two main White Card profiles:

• a person with a verified employment relationship in a country other than Hungary, performing work from Hungary using advanced digital technology;
• a person who owns a share in a company with verified profit in a country other than Hungary, and performs work or manages the company from Hungary using advanced digital technology.

The foreign work base is not a side detail. It is the route.

Local Work Boundary

The official factsheet says the White Card is only for a third-country national who does not pursue gainful activity in Hungary and does not hold a share in a Hungarian company.

NDGAP may withdraw the permit if the holder works for or on behalf of an employer in Hungary, or acquires a share in a Hungarian company.

Income Requirement

The applicant is considered to have sufficient resources if their monthly legal income equals or exceeds EUR 3,000 net for at least six months before entry.

The applicant must also maintain this income throughout the stay in Hungary. Evidence can include bank statements for the previous six months and income certificates from an employer or tax authority.

Good Fit / Poor Fit

Good fit if:

• you are a solo third-country remote worker;
• income is clearly above EUR 3,000 net/month;
• the employer or company is outside Hungary;
• you need one or two years, not an open-ended settlement route;
• you do not need family reunification.

Poor fit if:

• family members need a dependant residence route;
• you need Hungarian employment or Hungarian clients;
• you hold or plan to hold shares in a Hungarian company;
• you may need to switch into another Hungarian residence purpose;
• permanent residence is the main objective.

Related Hungary Guides

Need	Best page
Costs and stages	Timeline and costs
Evidence and forms	Documents checklist
Family and extension	Family and extension rules
Tax and setup	Tax, banking, insurance, and setup

Editorial Status

This article was checked against official sources on July 21, 2026. It is informational only and is not immigration, legal, tax, employment, insurance, banking, or relocation advice.