Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-hungary
Change description : 2019-11-25 10:11:00: Education and professional qualifications information added. [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-09-23 17:16:33 +00:00..2019-11-25 10:15:11 +00:00
Guidance
Official information for BritishUK peoplenationals moving to andor living in Hungary, including Brexitguidance guidance,on Brexit, residency, healthcare and driving.
The UK is leaving the EU. This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit and will be updated if anything changes. You should:
The British Embassy regularly holds events across Hungary for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizen outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Hungary after Brexit.
You can also:
Check the entry requirements for Hungary.
You must carry your ID or passport at all times – a copy of your ID or passport won’t be accepted.
If you’re staying more than 3 months, you must register at your local National Directorate General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendésztei Főigazgatóság).
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. For information, read
the Hungarian government’s website.
In order to be eligible to stay in Hungary on the same terms after Brexit, the Hungarian government requires UK nationals to register with the local National Directorate General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendésztei Főigazgatóság) by the day the UK leaves the EU, if they have not already done so.
If you arrive in Hungary after Brexit, third country national rules will apply. You will be able to either apply for a National Residence Permitor an EC Residence Permit. Please check the applicable rules on the website of the National Directorate General for Aliens Policing.
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 there are changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Hungary.
See our travel advice for Hungary and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. 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 there is a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. During this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form part of the next phase of negotiations.
If there’s no deal, you must 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.
If there’s no 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 EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You must 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 EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.
If there is a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. During this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form part of the next phase of negotiations.
If you are a resident in Hungary, you must exchange your UK licence for a Hungarian driving licence before 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.
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.
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 there’s no 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.
Read our guidance on driving in the EU after a no-deal Brexit.
If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.
You must be registered for healthcare as a resident in Hungary, and if necessary, healthcare insurance.
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. 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 must not use ayour European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Hungary.
When you travel from Hungary for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:
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.
If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can find an English-speaking doctor in Hungary.
Check your prescriptions are legal in Hungary.
If there is a deal, your current rights of access to healthcare in Hungary will remain the same until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in Hungary.
If there’s no deal, your access to healthcare may change. If you are a permanent or temporary resident, you must review the status of your healthcare cover.
The UK has offered to continue paying the country you live in for your healthcare inif thethere’s event of no deal, just as it does now. The government has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Hungary for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If there’s no deal, and there is no arrangement with Hungary to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered in the same way.
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. Find more information on the Hungarian government’s dedicated website.
In order to be eligible to stay in Hungary on the same terms after Brexit, the Hungarian government advises that you must register with the local National Directorate General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendésztei Főigazgatóság) before the UK leaves the EU, if you have not already done so.
You must confirm your residency status and decide how you will ensure access to healthcare if there’s no deal.
While you are putting arrangements in place for your healthcare, the UK Governmentgovernment can help. If you are being asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit, the UK Governmentgovernment can pay your healthcare provider directly. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.
Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme if there’s no deal, however this is reliant on Hungary continuing to accept UK EHICs.
Read the guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Hungary,Hungary, and how this may change onceafter the UK leaves the EU.Brexit.
Read our guidance on working in another EU country.
You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.
If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
If there’s no deal and you wereare 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 there’s no deal, UKand nationalsyou movingmove to Hungary after BrexitBrexit, you will need to have a work permitspermit to have access to the labour market. For more information on employment please see the Hungarian government website.
Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit, if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after a no-deal Brexit.
If there is a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
If there’s no deal, you will continue to be able to study in Hungary but the way you access higher education may change. The Hungarian government has advised that UK students won’t be able to benefit from courses under the state stipend programmes after Brexit.
You should contact your education provider for more information about your student status and student fees.
If there is a deal, nothing will change until the end of implementation period.
Read the guidance on continuing your studies in the European Union after Brexit.
Professional qualifications gained in the UK, or another EU country, that have been recognised by the Hungarian authorities before Brexit will remain valid if there’s no deal. If you submit an application for recognition before Brexit, and it is pending after Brexit, the Hungarian authorities will assess it on the basis of the regulations in force when you submitted it.
If there’s no deal and you apply for recognition of professional qualifications after Brexit, the Hungarian authorities will process your application as they would for non-EU qualifications.
If there is a deal, professional qualifications from the UK, or an EU country, will remain valid if they have been recognised by the Hungarian authorities before the implementation period ends.
Read the Hungarian government’s guidance on how to request recognition of your qualifications.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Hungary to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Read 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.
You should 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.
Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.
If there’s no deal and the end date on your form is after 31the Octoberday 2019,the UK leaves the EU, you should contact the relevant EU,EU or EEA orauthority. SwissThey authority towill confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31Brexit, October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.
Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.
If there’s no 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.
Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Hungary. Send your 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 continue to pay a State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Your UK State Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.
If there is 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.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
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 Brexit.
If there is 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 Brexit. Most importantly, UK nationals legally resident in Hungary on the date of withdrawal will remain entitled to social and child protection benefits.
Read the guidance on benefits and pensions if there’s no deal.
If youthere areis a residentdeal inand Hungary, you mustwork exchange your UK licence for a Hungarian driving licence before 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.
Read the guidance on:
WhenHungary, driving, you should always have:
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Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
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 willclaim needcontributions-based certificatesbenefits of exemption.
If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the sameend duringof the implementation period.
If there’s no 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.
Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections.
If you’re resident in Hungary, you can vote in local municipal and European Parliamentary Elections.
After Brexit, 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:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Hungary.
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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.
Read 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.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
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