Top Tips for Kiwis moving to Budapest

Kiwis moving to Budapest can heed this advice.

How Kiwis move to Budapest

As we see more and more New Zealanders moving to Europe, many are choosing to overlook the “typical” expat destinations and pick cities throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

If you’re thinking about moving to Budapest, there are a few things you need to know. Here are some top tips for New Zealanders moving to Budapest:

Settle in First

Hungary makes it easy for Kiwis moving to Budapest. You can visit as part of your 90 days under the Schengen agreement, and then apply for the visa on the ground. Unlike many countries which will only let you apply from your home country, Hungary allows Kiwis to apply from within the country.

That means that you can safely spend one to two months in Budapest, while seeing the sights, meeting new friends, and looking for an apartment before you apply for your visa. Since you’ll get a year from your Hungarian Youth Mobility Visa, you can really stay for up to 14 months.

Get sorted

In order to get a Hungarian working holiday visa, kiwis need to have a one-year lease and health insurance. That means that once you’ve decided to live in Budapest, you’ll need to begin looking for an apartment so you can then apply for your visa.

There are a number of websites and Facebook groups available to help new expats find housing. Some websites include apartmentsofbudapest.com, budapestrent.com, and aberlet.hu. Many of the agents will speak English, and they’ll be able to help you get your documents sorted. You’ll also need a signed letter from your landlord stating that you can live in the apartment as a tenant.

Make Friends

One of the best things about making friends as soon as you arrive is not only will you have people to hang out with, but they can often give you great advice about finding a job or apartment, getting a plan for your phone, and getting internet installed.

There are many different meet-ups and Facebook groups available where you can find friends to hang out with. Some of these include Budapest Digital Nomads, Budapest Hikers, Budapest Expats, Budapest Buy Sell, International Meeting Point, Digital Wombats Budapest, and Women of Budapest.

While moving to a new country can be a little scary, the expat community in Budapest is warm and welcoming. There are plenty of meet-ups and fun experiences so you’ll soon feel at home.

Explore

The best way to get a feel for the city (and which area you’d like to live) is to explore. When you first arrive, you may want to try the hop-on-hop-off bus tour, which is an excellent way to learn about Budapest while getting an idea of where everything is. Another option is to grab a monthly travel pass for around 9500HUF since you can use it on all public transport.

Get Help

While the Hungarian Youth Mobility Visa is an excellent option for Kiwis moving to Europe, it’s not the most well-known visa around. That means that immigration may sometimes assume that you need a few things that you don’t (including proof of work or study).

The best way to make sure your immigration experience goes as smoothly as possible is to speak to an immigration lawyer who is experienced with the rare New Zealand Working Holiday Visa in Budapest.

If you’d like to learn how we can help you get your visa processed, get in touch today. We can reduce the stress associated with moving to a new country and ensure your immigration experience is quick and easy.