For decades a British person could move to Hungary the way a Hungarian moves to Szeged: pack, arrive, register. Brexit changed that. Moving to Hungary from the UK now follows the rules for citizens of a third country, unless you were already living here before 2021. The cost and the paperwork are manageable, but the order and the dates matter.
What changed when moving to Hungary from the UK after Brexit?
Until 31 December 2020 the UK was in the EU's free movement system. Since then, British citizens (Scots included) arriving in Hungary are treated as nationals of a third country. Without a visa you can stay 90 days in any period of 180. Beyond that you need a residence permit under the general rules, chosen according to your purpose: work, study, family and so on.
Those who were already resident in Hungary before 2021 are protected by the withdrawal agreement and are a separate case, covered below.
What if you are moving to Hungary from the UK now: how do you apply?
Because you enter without a visa, you can apply in Hungary. The Immigration Office (OIF) gives these 2026 procedural fees:
- 26,000 HUF for a first application filed online on Enter Hungary;
- 39,000 HUF for a first application filed in person in Hungary;
- 110 euros at a consulate, entry visa included;
- 26,000 HUF for an extension.
Payment is by card. After the electronic confirmation you have 15 days to appear at the regional directorate for identification, fingerprints and your signature. Keep an eye on the clock: your 90 days in 180 keep running while the file is processed.
Which permit fits your plans?
The choice depends on what you will do. As an employee, the usual routes for a qualified worker are the Magyar Kártya (the Hungarian Card, for listed qualifications, athletes, artists and cinema) or the EU Blue Card. The classic "employment" permit is now reserved for guest workers from countries listed in a 2024 decree (Georgia, Armenia and the Philippines), so it is not for British citizens. As a freelancer or company manager, the permit is the "guest self-employment" permit (vendég-önfoglalkoztatás), requested in Hungary on Enter Hungary and extendable up to three years in total. See working in Hungary for the Hungarian side of employment.
Picking the permit, and the documents that go with it, is the point where most people want a second opinion. Moovy can compare the routes for your profile and prepare the list of documents. The application and the signature remain yours.
What if you lived in Hungary before 2021?
British residents who were here under EU law before 2021 are protected by the withdrawal agreement. Their EU-style documents stopped being valid on 31 December 2021 and were replaced by a national settlement permit. Since 2024, they can ask instead for a national residence card, which gives long-term resident status, is valid 10 years and renewable for 10, with a free procedure. Permits issued in 2021 generally come up for renewal in 2026, so check the date on yours. The withdrawal agreement also keeps your right to work as an employee or self-employed person.
What about healthcare, driving, banking and property?
- Healthcare. You first need a Hungarian residence document. If you work in Hungary, your employer makes you an insured person. If you receive a UK State Pension, the UK government says you may request an S1 from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services and register it with the Hungarian fund. That UK page dates from January 2022, so check with the government office before you rely on it. See healthcare in Hungary.
- Driving. Your UK licence is valid for one year from the start of your stay. Then convert it (honosítás) into a Hungarian licence without an exam if you declare that you lived in the UK when it was issued. The 2026 fee is 9,000 HUF.
- Banking. No European right to a basic account applies to you without EU residence, so each bank decides. A residence document and an address improve your chances. See bank account in Hungary.
- Property. To buy a property that is not agricultural land, you need the permission of the government office (kormányhivatal) where the property sits, before the land registry entry. The fee is 65,000 HUF per property and the office has 45 days. It may refuse for reasons such as a threat to the public interest. See buying property in Hungary.
What about tax and pensions?
The UK-Hungary double taxation treaty applies, and the tax authority lists it on its treaty page. Because the UK is outside the EEA, the allowances for under-25s and newlyweds, reserved for EEA citizens and a few neighbouring countries, are not open to you. If you are a pensioner, the treaty decides which state may tax your pension, so check it before cutting your UK tax ties. The flat rates that apply to an employee's pay are listed in the cost of living in Hungary.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
- Counting days badly. Keep your entry stamps and tickets; 90 in 180 is checked on the whole Schengen area, not on Hungary alone.
- Believing an old EU document is still valid. Those documents ended on 31 December 2021.
- Starting work before the permit allows it. The permit should name your purpose.
For the general sequence of steps, read moving to Hungary. Fees change, so check the OIF page before you pay.
What documents does a permit file usually contain?
The OIF decides each file on its own facts, and the list depends on your purpose of stay. For an employee, the employer usually supplies the job documents and the contract; for a self-employed person, the file shows the activity you will carry out. All applicants need a valid passport, proof of a Hungarian address and proof that they can support themselves. Ask the OIF, or the employer's HR team, for the exact list before you pay the fee.
Remember that time spent completing the file does not count in the processing delay, so a clean first file saves weeks. If a document is in English, ask whether a translation is needed; the Education Office asks for certified translations in other contexts, with a simple translation accepted for English and German. A faithful translation matters when it is an official paper.
How long can you stay while the file is processed?
You can apply while you are in Hungary because you entered without a visa. Your 90 days in any 180 keep running during processing, so apply early and keep the confirmation. You then have 15 days from the electronic confirmation to appear at the regional directorate. Plan your first weeks around that appointment.
Can your family come with you?
The rules for family members depend on their nationality and on your own status. We found no single official summary for family members of British citizens, so ask the OIF about your exact case before you travel. Children of school age need their own right of residence for state school on the same terms as Hungarian children; British families without a Hungarian residence permit may be asked to pay up to the real cost. See schools in Hungary.
Should you decide before or after leaving the UK?
Decide your permit route before you leave your job at home, because the route you choose shapes the rest: employment, self-employment or study. If you are on a pension, ask your fund about the S1 before you leave. If you plan to bring a car, decide how you will import it before you leave.