Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-hungary
Change description : 2019-06-04 09:46:00: EU Exit update: We have added information to 'Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU' section [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-04-17 09:42:06 +00:00..2019-06-04 08:49:49 +00:00
Guidance
Official information British people moving to and living in Hungary need to know, including EU Exit guidance, residency, healthcare and driving.
To keep up to date with information about the UK leaving the EU:
You may want to check the entry requirements for Hungary.
You must carry ID at all times – a copy of your passport won’t be accepted.
If you’re staying more than 3 months, you must register at your local immigration registry office.
You should receive your registration certificate on the spot; your address card will be delivered through the post.
If you move to a different town in Hungary, you must register your address again at the local registry office (Kormányablak).
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, the Hungarian government is committed to protecting the current rights of UK nationals legally resident in Hungary from 31 December 2020.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the Hungarian government has committed to protecting the current rights of UK nationals legally resident in Hungary from the day the UK leaves the EU. You can find more information on the Hungarian government’s dedicated website.
In order to be eligible to stay in Hungary on the same terms after the UK leaves the EU, the Hungarian government advises that UK nationals register with the local Immigration and Asylum Office by the day the UK leaves the EU, if they have not already done so.
If you arrive in Hungary after the UK leaves the EU, third country national rules will apply. You will be able to apply either for a National Residence Permitor for an EC Residence Permit. Please check the applicable rules on the Immigration and Asylum Office’s website.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Hungary. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.
See our travel advice for Hungary and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EUEU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EUEU, MemberEEA State,or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EUEU, MemberEEA Statesor EFTA country to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.
You need to make sure you are correctly registered for healthcare as a resident in Hungary, and if necessary, healthcare insurance. You can read the NHS guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Hungary and how to register.
If you are employed in Hungary, state health insurance is normally arranged through your employer – they should apply for your National Insurance number. Insurance contributions will be deducted from your wages. If you’re self-employed, you can arrange to make voluntary contributions through the National Tax and Customs Administration Office.
If you’re seconded to Hungary by your company, there are special rules regarding health insurance. – you should contact your company’s HR department.
If you are resident in Hungary, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Hungary.
If you live in Hungary and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
You can read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can find an English-speaking doctor in Hungary.
You should also check your prescriptions are legal.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights of access to healthcare in Hungary will remain the same until 31 December 2020, as long as you remain a resident in Hungary.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your access to healthcare may change. If you are a permanent or temporary resident you should review the status of your healthcare cover.
The UK has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Hungary for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and there is no arrangement with Hungary to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered.
You should take action now to confirm your residency status and decide what steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. UK nationals will be able to return to the UK for treatment. Your EHIC may not be valid in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Hungary continuing to accept UK EHICs.
You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Hungary, and how this may change once the UK leaves the EU.
Read our guidance on working in another EU country.
You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, if you were legally resident in Hungary on the day the UK leaves the EU, you will continue to have the right to work in Hungary without a work permit. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals planning to move to Hungary after the UK leaves the EU will need to have work permits to have access to the labour market. For more information on employment please see the Hungarian government website.
If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Hungary to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
You should read the guidance on:
In order to pay income tax in Hungary you need to get an income tax card (Adóigazolvány) with your tax number (Adóazonosító) from your local National Tax and Customs office.
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Hungary. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Hungary.
All residents must declare assets outside Hungary, including bank accounts, securities, rights, insurance, annuities and property. The declaration is separate to the annual tax return, and there are severe penalties and criminal charges for non-compliance.
You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in Hungary. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU..
The UK leaving the EU will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Hungary. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire to Hungary you can claim:
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
The UK government will uprate your UK state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in any scenario.
The UK government will continue to pay State Pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK’s exit from the EU. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Hungary, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Hungarian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Hungary. You should:
If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you.
You may be eligible to claim some Hungarian social security benefits – see Hungarian social security benefits.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
Under existing Hungarian legislation Hungarian citizens (including those who have repatriated to Hungary and persons holding dual nationality) as well as citizens of other EU Member States over the age of 65 years can travel free of charge on public transport services in Hungary, including BKV in Budapest.
The UK government will continue to pay the UK state pension, child benefits and disability benefits to eligible UK nationals after the UK leaves the EU.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Hungary, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Hungarian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.
The Hungarian government has published information about entitlement to benefits for UK nationals after the UK leaves the EU. Most importantly, UK nationals legally resident in Hungary on the date of withdrawal will remain entitled to social and child protection benefits.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.
If you are a resident in Hungary, you should exchange your UK licence for a Hungarian driving licence before the UK leaves the EU, as your UK licence may no longer be valid after the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Hungarian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
For information on driving in Hungary, read the guidance on:
When driving, you should always have:
Holders of UK driving licences who are resident in Hungary may use their UK licence for a period of one year from the date their residence in Hungary began. After one year, they should exchange their UK licence for a local driving licence. There is no requirement to retake any exams during this process, both for EU and non-EU citizens.
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
You should read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Hungary. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period. Please read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the process for renewal and exchange of driving licences outlined above will remain in place. For more information please see the Hungarian government driving licence webpage.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
If you’re resident in Hungary, you can vote in local municipal and European Parliamentary Elections.
Once the UK leaves the EU, UK nationals resident in Hungary will continue to be able to vote in local elections. You will no longer be eligible to vote in European Parliament elections.
If your child is born in Hungary, you will need to register a birth abroad.
If someone dies in Hungary you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Hungary.
When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexit.
While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.
If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport. Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.
For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.
As well as the European emergency number 112, Hungary also has:
See Hungary – emergency numbers.
If you need urgent help, contact the British Embassy Budapest.
You should read our guidance on:
You should tell the UK and Hungarian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
Before you leave the country, you must return your registration certificate to your local immigration office and your address card (lakcímkártya) to any Kormányablak.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
If you get healthcare in Hungary through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Hungarian authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
2024-10-24 12:45
Information on the introduction of the EU Entry Exit System (EES) has been added.
2024-09-03 12:53
Information added on the EU Entry/Exit System and on buying property.
2022-09-28 14:59
Updated information on travel, visas, and taxation.
2022-04-28 09:41
Clarifying the rules for British citizens on passport stamping.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Hungary, and National insurance sections if you work in Hungary, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-13 12:01
Updated information in the Studying and Benefits sections about travel discounts.
2022-01-01 07:00
Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
2021-03-03 10:41
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
2021-01-28 08:47
Visas and residency section updated with latest information on registration
2020-11-10 08:57
Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.
2020-09-07 15:00
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-01-23 13:00
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-11-25 10:11
Education and professional qualifications information added.
2019-09-23 17:34
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 17:55
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-06-04 09:46
EU Exit update: We have added information to 'Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU' section
2019-04-17 10:39
EU Exit update: New information added into passports and travel, pensions and returning to the UK sections.
2019-04-09 13:27
EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit added to healthcare, visas and residency, driving and money and taxes section