Hungary student visa and residence permit
Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship holders, and any other international student staying in Hungary longer than 90 days, need a Residence permit for the purpose of studies, issued by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary). A scholarship award does not automatically guarantee this permit — the decision is the authority's, based on its own rules; this page is not legal advice, and the authority's own pages are the source that matters if anything here is unclear or out of date.
How and where to apply
- From outside Hungary: At a Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission, before travelling to Hungary.
- From inside Hungary, if visa-exempt: Through the electronic Enter Hungary platform, or in person before the competent regional directorate of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing.
Source: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary) · checked 2026-09-22.
Required documents
- Certificate of admission or a document verifying student status at the host institution
- Proof of language proficiency (certificate or diploma)
- Proof of tuition fee payment, where applicable (Stipendium Hungaricum holders are tuition-exempt)
- Proof of sufficient financial means for subsistence, accommodation, travel and healthcare
- Valid passport
- Proof of a return or onward travel arrangement, or the funds to cover it
- Health insurance documentation
- Proof of accommodation (a declared address in Hungary)
- One recent facial photograph
- For applicants under 18: parental or legal guardian consent in authentic or private document form
Fee
| Application | Fee |
|---|---|
| First application, submitted in person | HUF 39,000 |
| First application, via the Enter Hungary platform | HUF 26,000 |
| Extension | HUF 26,000 |
Source: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary), procedural fees · checked 2026-09-22.
Processing time
Procedural administration is generally completed within 15 days; the final decision on the merits is due within 60 days of submission.
Source: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary) · checked 2026-09-22.
Financial means (bank balance)
The authority's own factsheet requires proof of 'sufficient resources' to cover subsistence, accommodation, travel and healthcare, but does not publish a fixed minimum bank balance figure. No amount is stated on this site until an official page publishes one — do not rely on a figure quoted by an agency or forum.
Source: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Hungary) · checked 2026-09-22.
Approval or success rate
The Hungarian authorities do not publish an approval or success rate for the student residence permit. Any percentage quoted elsewhere is not sourced to an official release.
Visa-free travel to Hungary
Citizens of the following countries/territories were visa-exempt for entry to Hungary at the time the 2026/27 call was published (13 October 2025); an asterisk in the source marks countries where the exemption applies only to holders of biometric passports. Always confirm current status on the consular service website before travelling.
Argentina, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Brunei Darussalam, Brazil, Georgia*, Malaysia, Uruguay, Albania*, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Moldova*, North Macedonia*, Panama, Serbia*, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine*, Saint Lucia, Israel.
Source: Consular Services website · checked 2026-09-22.
Visa process for scholarship holders
Scholarship holders should start the visa process immediately after the positive scholarship decision, by contacting the competent Hungarian consulate. Official processing can take up to 30 days. Scholarship holder status does not automatically guarantee a visa.
Source: official call for applications · checked 2026-09-22.
For the scholarship application itself, see theStipendium Hungaricum overview and thefull timeline. For the sending partner in your own country, see the country pages.