Pakistani husband of Hungarian woman denied return visa after being sent home to apply

A Hungarian woman expecting her first child has been left facing the prospect of giving birth alone after her Pakistani husband was refused permission to return to Hungary—despite having lived and worked in the country for years. The couple say they followed every official instruction, only to find themselves separated by what they describe as needless bureaucratic obstruction.

Bora and her husband, Muhammad, met in Hungary eight years ago, after the Pakistani national arrived as a guest worker. Their relationship later blossomed into marriage, and the couple have lived together in Hungary for several years. Wanting to formalise their life together, they applied for a family reunification visa—intended for third-country nationals whose spouse and future child reside legally in Hungary.

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They passed the test with flying colours

Under current rules, Muhammad was required to return to Pakistan to submit the necessary paperwork at the Hungarian embassy. He travelled home in May and lodged the application shortly afterwards. During this period, the couple were also required to prove the legitimacy of their relationship, a requirement they say they fulfilled without issue.

Soon after Muhammad’s departure, the pair learned they were expecting a child. What should have been a joyful time became a period of uncertainty, as they waited for the visa decision while maintaining their relationship through phone calls and video chats.

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He can’t return to his Hungarian wife since August

In early August, however, the Hungarian authorities rejected Muhammad’s application. According to Bora, the reason given was that the couple’s monthly income was deemed insufficient to cover their living expenses. Their appeal was also dismissed, with the refusal upheld on 11 November—just weeks before the woman’s due date.

Speaking to the press, Bora described the emotional toll of being left alone during her pregnancy. She said she had been forced to work in the hospitality sector until her 30th week, often for 10–12 hours a day, because her husband—whose earnings had contributed significantly to the household—was no longer in Hungary.

“They have taken my husband away from me”

“It is the authorities themselves who have taken my husband away from me, and with him the income he provided,” she told Blikk. “As a mother-to-be, I feel my child has the right to have his father present at his birth, and the right for us to raise him together.”

Although Hungarian officials accepted the authenticity of the couple’s marriage, the financial criteria led to their application’s downfall. This contradiction has left Bora feeling doubly wronged: the state deemed their relationship genuine yet simultaneously created a situation in which the family could not remain financially stable.

What can they possibly do in this situation?

Local media outlets have contacted both the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. As of now, neither authority has issued a response.

For Bora, time is running out. With only a short period left before the birth, she fears that her husband could remain stranded abroad indefinitely. What was meant to be a routine immigration procedure has now spiralled into a deeply personal crisis—one she hopes authorities will still agree to resolve before she welcomes her child into the world.