White Card Residency Permit: Hungary’s Digital Nomad Visa

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Numerous countries have now taken the initiative to seize the opportunity of attracting remote workers into their borders by way of issuing digital nomad visas. In the case of Hungary, the White Card residency permit provides opportunities for third-country nationals to live and work in popular cities across Hungary the likes of Budapest, Szeged, Pécs, and Debrecen. 

If the idea of remote working from Hungary intrigues you, here we share some details on the White Card digital nomad visa.

Why Hungary?

Hungary is a country that’s always been renowned for its cultural and architectural diversity. After all, Hungary shares its borders with a number of countries such as Croatia, Romania, Slovakia, Austria, Ukraine, and Serbia. The country’s unique geographical position inevitably renders a stint of working and living in Hungary an attractive proposition for any digital nomad.

It also doesn’t hurt that Hungary offers an affordable cost of living, a low crime rate, and a blazing-fast internet connection.

Who is eligible for the White Card?

Before packing your bags and exploring cheap flights to Hungary, you need to first establish eligibility for the White Card. To be eligible for the digital nomad visa, you need to be able to satisfy the following requirements:

• you are a third-country national. Meaning you must not be a citizen of an EEA country

• you have proof of employment with a company or employer that is based outside of Hungary. This translates to not having any gainful activities within Hungary for the duration of your residency

• you must be able to demonstrate remote working capabilities using laptops, smartphones, and others

• you must have a minimum monthly income of EUR 2,000. Additionally, you must be able to prove that you have regularly received the said amount for the last six months

What are the requirements of the White Card?

Once you have established eligibility, the next step is to familiarize yourself with the requirements of the White Card are as follows:

• a valid passport valid for at least six months

• a completed visa application form obtainable online

• two recent passport-sized photos

• proof of income as mentioned above

• comprehensive health insurance

• return flight ticket

• proof of the establishment of a place of residence

How do I apply for the White Card?

After ensuring all the requirements have been met, the next step is to apply for the White Card digital nomad visa. Note that the White Card application process involves obtaining an entry visa to Hungary beforehand.

To obtain the entry visa, you would need to visit the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your country. This involves setting up an appointment, attending an interview, and paying all the required fees.

After your entry visa has been issued, you can depart for Hungary and submit your White Card application upon arrival. The following are the steps involved in the application process.

• Note that your White Card application process must be completed within 30 days of your arrival date. Please gather all the required forms and documents and visit the nearest National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) office

• Complete the required payment of around EUR 120 as well as an online submission fee of EUR 75

• Get your White Card. Provided your White Card application is successful, you will receive the digital nomad visa by mail.