Hungarian town tightens residency rules: Strict conditions for newcomers from 2025
The town of Pilis, located in Pest County, has adopted a new local regulation that will significantly tighten the conditions for establishing residency. Starting from 1 September 2025, several groups of people will be barred from registering a permanent or temporary address in the town.
The town will not let criminals move there
As 24.hu reports, according to the decision of the municipal council, individuals with a criminal record for serious or violent crimes will not be allowed to move to Pilis. This includes convictions for murder, abduction, human trafficking, forced labor, sexual offenses, drug trafficking, and drug possession. The restriction also applies to those convicted of other crimes who are still subject to the legal consequences of their criminal record.
You have to work and know Hungarian
The regulation goes further by requiring that newcomers must have at least one year of continuous employment or social security coverage at the time of applying for residency. In addition, applicants must be able to speak and understand the Hungarian language. Business owners may also be excluded if their companies are listed by the National Tax and Customs Administration for tax arrears, debts, or ongoing enforcement procedures.
The council can assess everyone wishing to move there
The council has been granted discretionary powers, meaning it can individually assess whether a person is suitable for community life based on their known background and a personal hearing.
Pilis is not the only Hungarian town to impose restrictions on newcomers. In Sátoraljaújhely, residency is tied to a clean criminal record, a secondary school qualification, and knowledge of Hungarian. In Taktaharkány, from late August, only those who pay a settlement contribution and provide proof of professional qualifications may buy property. In Teresztenye, local disputes emerged after a family moved in, with claims that attempts were made to drive them away.
In his statement, Mayor Attila László underlined that the goal of the regulation is to ensure “order, safety, and development in Pilis”.
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So that’s a complete no to foreign nationals of any sort moving there who are unlikely to speak any Hungarian and certainly won’t have a year of employment record in Hungary when first moving to the country. This is directly contrary to rules around freedom of movement within the EU.