Practical tips for moving to Hungary

Follow these tips for moving to Hungary.

Regardless of whether you’re starting a new life in Hungary to start a new career or because you are looking to embrace a new culture, it’s always wise to use some tried and tested advice. In this post, we have rounded up some of our best tips for moving to Hungary to help expats from around the world get it right the first time around.

Tips for moving to Hungary

Start by finding accommodation

Most expatriates opt for the capital city of Budapest when they make the move to Hungary since it’s the business and leisure capital of the country. One of our best tips for moving to Hungary is to find a place in central Budapest, which is where the majority of foreigners reside and it might help you feel less loss to the language barrier. Remember to sign a written tenancy contract before you move in because you will need it to apply for Hungarian residency.

Then consider how you will earn money

If you arrive in Hungary without a job offer, one of the best places to start the job hunting process in Profession.hu, although you might need some help with the website if you don’t speak Hungarian. There are also various employment agencies in Hungary that can help you find and apply for suitable positions.

Set up a bank account

If you plan on staying in Hungary for an extended period of time, you will need to open a Hungarian bank account. To do this, you will need your ‘lakcimkártya’, which is your address card that is issued once you apply for residency in the country.

Don’t overstay your legal limits

If you are from a member country of the Schengen zone, you are permitted to stay in Hungary for 90 days without a visa. After this, you will need to register, which takes a few hours. If you are employed by a multinational company, your employment serves as a way of speeding up the process. Keep in mind that you will need a few essential documents in order to apply for residency in Hungary. The documents include:

• Your passport or ID
• Address card or tenancy contract
• Bank statements proving that you are financially able to take care of yourself
• 3-4 passport photos
• HUF1,000 fee stamp

Get covered for your health needs

Hungary has a wonderful healthcare system, but it can be hard to apply for health insurance if you are not Hungarian and do not understand the language. Most medical service providers in the country do not speak English, and those who do, cannot help you if you do not have a TAJ card, which is your Hungarian health insurance card. The only foreign nationals that can apply for the TAJ card are full-term students and those employed at Hungarian companies. If you do not qualify for Hungarian healthcare, you might want to consider seeking treatment from private clinics such as Mediclinic and Swiss Clinic.

Meet new friends

Meeting new people is one of the best aspects of moving to Hungary, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to visit the ruin pubs, which is a major attraction in Budapest. Perhaps you might want to make use of Facebook groups like Meeting Point, which enables expatriates to meet fellow expats in their area.

How can we help?

Here at Hngary.com, our team of dedicated immigration lawyers don’t just offer tips for moving to Hungary, we help our clients start their new lives in one of Europe’s best destinations. Be sure to get in touch with us today to learn more about our range of services and pricing options!