Hungary White Card

Hungary’s White Card is a residence permit for third-country digital nomads who work remotely from Hungary for a foreign employer, or who own shares in a profitable foreign company and manage or work for that company remotely.

It is narrow by design. White Card holders cannot pursue gainful activity in Hungary, cannot hold a share in a Hungarian company, cannot use family reunification, and cannot progress to Hungary’s national residence card through the White Card.

Start Here

Need	Best page
Check whether the route fits you	Main guide
Plan application timing, fees, D entry visa, and extension	Timeline and costs
Prepare foreign work, income, accommodation, insurance, and exit proof	Documents checklist
Understand no-family rule and one-time extension	Family and extension rules
Review tax, banking, insurance, and local-work cautions	Tax, banking, insurance, and setup

Programme Snapshot

Item	Current Rule
Official category	White Card
Legal form	Residence permit
Main audience	Third-country nationals
Employee route	Foreign employment, remote work from Hungary using advanced digital technology
Company-owner route	Share ownership in profitable foreign company, with remote work or management
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
Income during stay	EUR 3,000 net/month must be maintained
Initial validity	Up to 1 year
Extension	Once, for the same purpose
Extension presence condition	At least 90 days in Hungary in any 180-day period before extension filing
Family reunification	Not available, except child born in Hungary during permit validity
Long-term residence	White Card holders may not receive a national residence card
Standard outside-Hungary fee	EUR 110

Application Flow

1. Confirm third-country status and absence of EEA/free-movement status.
2. Confirm foreign employment or profitable foreign-company ownership.
3. Check that no Hungarian work or Hungarian company share is involved.
4. Prepare purpose, income, accommodation, health-insurance, and exit-condition evidence.
5. Apply abroad where required, or in Hungary if lawfully present as a visa-free national.
6. Complete biometrics and fee payment so the application is deemed received.
7. If applying abroad and approved, enter with the D visa to receive the residence permit.
8. Before expiry, apply for the one available extension if eligible, or plan departure.

Good Fit

This route is strongest for solo remote workers with stable foreign income above EUR 3,000 net/month, a clean foreign employer or foreign company, and no need for family reunification or Hungarian local work.

Poor Fit

It is usually a poor fit for families, people who need Hungarian clients or employment, founders with Hungarian company shares, applicants seeking a long-term settlement route, or anyone who may need to switch to another Hungarian permit during or after the White Card.