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Hungary

Hungary visa

Europe · Eastern Europe

In Hungary, the entry and stay of third-country nationals fall under the national directorate-general for aliens policing (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság, OIF). The portal consulted on 17 September 2026 groups residence permits by purpose: employment, study, family, investment, self-employment, posting, research and others. Applications are filed electronically on the Enter Hungary platform, after registration, or in person. Procedure fees are published in forints and in euros.

Updated on 24 September 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság (OIF) — national directorate-general for aliens policing
Where to apply
Enter Hungary electronic platform, after prior registration; the fee schedule also distinguishes filing in person and filing with a mission abroad
Electronic visa
Not stated on the portal consulted; the Enter Hungary platform allows the application to be filed electronically
Portal language
Hungarian

Do you need a visa?

South Africa passport: visa required for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

Visa required (Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, consolidated version of 30.12.2025).

Official source: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II (consolidated version of 30.12.2025)EUR-Lex — Règlement (UE) 2018/1806, annexes I et II (version consolidée du 30.12.2025) (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Hungary visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 60

List of nationalities

Visa required 104

List of nationalities

Information not available 7

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

“Vendégbefektetői vízum” — guest investor visa
Category named by the portal, with published procedure fees. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
“Fehér Kártya” — White Card, digital nomad stay
Residence category named by the portal among the other purposes. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Residence permit for the purpose of employment
The portal distinguishes stays for employment by qualification (no qualification, secondary or vocational qualification, higher qualification), as well as particular cases: athlete, artist, film, information technology specialist, seasonal work. Official page (new tab)
Residence permit for the purpose of study or training
Category named by the portal, which distinguishes studies from training or apprenticeship. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Residence permit on family reunification grounds
Category named by the portal. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
“Nemzeti tartózkodási kártya” — national residence card
Long-term residence document named by the portal, alongside the temporary residence card and the EU residence card. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The Enter Hungary platform, consulted on 17 September 2026, states that it allows a residence permit application to be filed electronically, with no waiting line. It specifies that registration is required before a first application is filed.

According to the same platform, the electronic application may be filed by an individual, by an employer or a temporary work agency holding a particular status, or by a legal representative, each category having its own registration procedure.

The fee schedule published by the OIF distinguishes filing in person, filing through the Enter Hungary platform and procedures started with a mission abroad, which shows that these three channels exist.

Steps of the procedure

  1. Identify, among the purposes listed by the portal, the residence category matching the plan.
  2. Register on the Enter Hungary platform before a first application is filed, according to the capacity of the person filing.
  3. File the application electronically, or in person, or with a mission abroad depending on the case.
  4. Pay the procedure fees matching the filing channel and the category applied for.

Documents listed by the authority

Not stated on the portal consulted.

The exact list depends on the type of permit and on the situation; only the official page prevails.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: residence permit application filed in person 39,000 forints, filed through the Enter Hungary platform 26,000 forints, extension 26,000 forints; EU Blue Card 39,000 forints, or 26,000 forints through Enter Hungary.

According to the same portal consulted on 17 September 2026: guest investor visa procedure 110 euros, replacement of that visa 90 euros; appeal against the refusal or withdrawal of a short-stay visa 160 euros with a mission and 12,000 forints in Hungary; appeal against a decision on a residence permit 160 euros with a mission.

According to the same portal: issue of a temporary, national or EU residence card 26,000 forints; extension of a long-term residence document 20,000 forints; application for a national residence card with a mission 110 euros. The Enter Hungary platform mentions fee exemptions for certain situations. No processing time is stated: “Not stated on the portal consulted.”

After the decision

The fee schedule sets amounts for appeals against the refusal or withdrawal of a short-stay visa and against decisions on residence permits, which shows that appeal routes exist; their arrangements are not described on the pages consulted.

The portal distinguishes long-term residence documents (temporary, national or EU residence card) from permits tied to a given purpose, and publishes extension and replacement fees. The decision rests with the competent Hungarian authority.

Prepare your application

We do not yet have a detailed document list for this destination.

The steps, documents and fees stated by the authority appear above in this guide.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the application filed?

On the Enter Hungary electronic platform after registration, according to the page consulted on 17 September 2026. The fee schedule also mentions filing in person and filing with a mission abroad.

Is there an electronic visa?

Not stated on the portal consulted.

What are the stated fees?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: 39,000 forints for a residence permit application in person, 26,000 forints through Enter Hungary, 110 euros for the guest investor visa procedure.

What processing times does the authority announce?

Not stated on the portal consulted.

Who may file the application online?

According to the platform consulted, an individual, an employer or a temporary work agency holding a particular status, or a legal representative; each category has its own registration procedure.

Points to check with the authority

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