Freshmen

Who is considered a visa-free national?

Please find the list of countries from which its citizens may enter Hungary without a visa at the following link.

Stateless persons and refugees having a travel document issued by one of the above mentioned states, can enter without a visa.

Stateless persons and refugees residing in a Member State, having a travel document issued by the Member State concerned are entitled to a visa-free entry. Member State means: “old” and “new” Schengen Member States, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria.

As a next step to legalize your stay as a student, Non-EU and non-EEA students have to request a residence permit at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing upon arrival to Hungary. What is needed to submit the application?

- Application form: “Application for Residence Permit” and “INSET 14 (Studies or Student Mobility)”

- School certificate (including information on the payment of the tuition fee)

- Passport (valid for at least a year)

- 1 passport-size photo

- Certificates proving that you are able to cover your expenses in Hungary. You need: Bank receipt showing you have enough hard currency on your account (for your cost of living). You have to open an account at a Hungarian bank for this purpose! You will also have to submit a “Supporting Declaration” provided by your parent(s) that they will financially support your studies (bank statement or employer’s certificate).

- In case you are a scholarship student “Scholarship Certificate” is needed.

- Rental contract. It should be signed by the owner(s) of the flat and by 2 witnesses (Hungarian citizens). The address and the ID card number of the witnesses should also be written on the contract. Please make sure that the rental contract contains the lot number of the property/flat (HELYRAJZI SZÁM) according to the Hungarian Land Administration Office (“Földhivatal”).

- Accommodation reporting sheet signed by the owner(s) of the flat. (SZÁLLÁSBEJELENTŐ LAP).

- Health Insurance.

- If you are arriving with no visa the procedural fee is 18.000 HUF payable by bank card on spot or by cheque issued by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. (Cheque payment is available at post offices).

Please, make sure to have a copy of all original documents!

For VISA-free persons, applications for a residence permit can be submitted both electronically and in person. To submit an application electronically, please register at https://enterhungary.gov.hu/eh/. To submit an application in person, please visit your local NDGAP customer service office.

Students from EU countries and EEA are obliged to declare their address (latest within 93 days after the arrival in Hungary) at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing and need to apply for a registration card. What is needed fot it?

- Application form: “Data sheet to issue registration certificate for EEA Nationals and to notify the first place of residence”.

- School certificate (including information on the payment of the tuition fee).

- Passport / ID copy.

- “Declaration on financial background”.

- Rental contract. It should be signed by the owner(s) of the flat and by 2 witnesses (Hungarian citizens). The address and the ID card number of the witnesses should also be written on the contract. Please make sure that the rental contract contains the lot number of the property/flat (HELYRAJZI SZÁM) according to the Hungarian Land Administration Office (“Földhivatal”).

- Health insurance.

- A procedural fee of 1000 HUF payable by bank card on spot or by cheque issued by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. (Cheque payment is available at post offices).

Visa restricted nationals need to apply for a D-type visa at the Hungarian Embassy/Consulate in order to enter the country.

International students (non-EU and non-EEA nationals) coming from a country that is under visa obligation according to the Schengen acquis and intend to stay in Hungary for more than 90 consecutive days, are required to apply for a long-term student visa.

How to apply for a D-type visa?

Visa applications are to be submitted at the Hungarian Consulate in the country where the permanent or temporary residence of the applicant is located or in the country of the applicant’s nationality. The visa application is simultaneously an application for the Hungarian Residence Permit. The visa is issued by the Consulate, the residence permit is issued by the regional NDGAP.

 

What is needed for the VISA application?

- Completion of the visa application form.

- An acceptance letter from the university regarding your admission

- Proof of having paid the tuition fee/tuition fee exemption

- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond your date of entry

- Copy of the photograph page of your passport

- Passport photo no more than 6 months old

- Proof of health insurance

- Proof of address or housing in Hungary

- Proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses in the form of bank statement

- Visa application form

- In case of fee-paying students, payment of procedural fee. Students awarded scholarships coordinated Tempus Public Foundation should not pay for the application process.

 

What does the procedure look like, do I have to do anything regarding this?

Documents shall be attached to the applications being submitted in the original, if possible. If the client needs the original document later on, then a photocopy shall also be attached besides along with the original document.

The consulate reserves the right to examine the authenticity of the communicated data and the submitted documents. The communication of false data will in itself lead to the refusal of the visa application.

Please also note that the consul may request the presentation of further documents in addition to the above ones.

The consulates may invite the applicants to take part in a visa interview. It is recommended to schedule the interview appointment around 4 to 6 weeks in advance because appointment times are limited. After the appointment, the visa processing time usually takes an additional 1 to 4 weeks.

If data recording is fully completed at the consulate, then residence permit production procedure is launched by NDGAP. This means that the actual residence permit document may be produced by the time the students enter Hungary and there is only need for a shortened administrative procedure in order to receive the card.

 

What happens when I arrive to Szeged?

Upon your arrival in Szeged, you have to pick up your residence permit. The authorities will send the permit to the university, so you can pick it up as follows:

1. You need to register in the NEPTUN academic system.

2. Once the residence permit arrives at the university, you will receive a notification message about it via NEPTUN.

3. As described in the message, you have to schedule an appointment for collection; the Student Services Office will hand out the residence permit card.

 

Do I need to arrange anything at the immigration office?

Following your arrival in Szeged, there are a few more matters that need to be taken care of at the NDGAP..

- Within 3 to 5 days after arrival, the address of residence needs to be declared at the regional National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing.

- If your biometric identifiers were not properly registered previously, the authority may summon you to have them re-recorded.

- In case your visa application was not complete, further documents may be required by the NDGAP.