Residency rights until the end of the transition period
For stays for over 90 days Hungary currently operates a registration system for EU citizens, under the provisions of Act I of 2007 on the Entry and Stay of Persons with the Right to Free Movement and Residence. They may obtain a registration certificate and after five years of residence, a permanent residence card. For third country national family members of EU nationals the immigration authority issues a residence card and after five years of residence a permanent residence card. By obtaining the first Hungarian alien policing document, EU nationals and their family members establish permanent residence with, and, at the same time, hold an official certificate of residence.
For detailed information about the procedure, see the website of the National General-Directorate for Aliens Policing (http://bevandorlas.hu/index.php?lang=en): for EEA nationals and for third-country national family members.
Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement a transition period applies until the end of 2020, during which citizens’ rights related to entry and residence are not affected by changes. Free movement rights and conditions continue to apply, and registration certificates/residence cards are issued to those arriving to Hungary during the transition period in case of a stay for more than 90 days.
Continuity of rights after the transition period
Based on the Withdrawal Agreement, UK nationals and their family members who arrived to Hungary before the end of the transition period may retain their acquired rights resulting from the membership of the European Union even after the end of the transition period, in a national permanent residence status (national permanent residence permit / Nemzeti letelepedési engedély).
An application for the new status shall be made to the National General-Directorate for Aliens Policing. The application period lasts from 1st of January until 31st of December 2021, during this period earlier issued documents (registration certificate, residence card, permanent residence card) keep their validity.
Detailed information on the procedure is available on the website of the National General-Directorate for Aliens Policing.
Persons arriving after the transition period
The mobility of persons is also part of the ongoing negotiations on future relations between the UK and the EU.
Unless otherwise negotiated, after the transitional period UK nationals and their family members who are new arrivals will be subject to the general rules applicable to third-country nationals.
For short-term stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the European Union has adopted a regulation pursuant to which UK nationals will be exempt from the visa requirement if EU citizens are also exempted from the visa requirement in the United Kingdom.
For third country nationals general conditions for staying longer than 90 days in Hungary are set out in Act II of 2007 on the Admission and Residence of Third-country Nationals, based on the purpose of the stay. Detailed information on the procedures in force is available on the website of the National General-Directorate for Aliens Policing.