Living in Hungary

Stay up to date

The UK is leaving the EU. This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit and will be updated if anything changes. You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Hungary
• follow the British Embassy in Hungary on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

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:

• read the Hungarian government’s guidance on Brexit
• read Living in the EU: prepare for Brexit

Visas and residency

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).

Visas and residency after Brexit

If youthe areUK leaves the EU without a deal, the Hungarian government has committed to protecting the current rights of UK nationals legally resident in Hungary beforefrom the endday ofthe UK leaves the implementationEU. periodFor information, read the Hungarian government’s website.

In order to be eligible to stay in Hungary on 31the Decembersame 2020,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 stay.either Theapply 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.

For more information read the Hungarian government’s guidance on Brexit.

If there are changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

Passports and travel

You can Applyapply 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.

Passports and travel after Brexit

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Driving in Hungary

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:

• driving licence renewal and exchange
• what you need to drive abroad
• driving rules in Hungary

When driving, you should always have:

• your driving licence
• your car papers
• your insurance paper
• your MOT certificate
• your passport or ID and those of your passengers
• a high-visibility jacket
• a red warning triangle
• first aid kit

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.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Hungary

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.

Driving after Brexit

DrivingIf 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 untilduring 31the Decemberimplementation 2020.period.

Healthcare

You must be registered for healthcare as a resident in Hungary, and if necessary, healthcare insurance.

Read the 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.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Hungary, you must not use your 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:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

State healthcare: S1

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.

Healthcare after Brexit

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The Hungarian government has committed to protecting the current rights of UK nationals.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 government can help. If you are being asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit, the UK government 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.

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.

Read the guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Hungary, and how this may change after Brexit.

Working in Hungary

Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.

Working in Hungary after Brexit

YourIf there’s no deal and you are 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, and you move to Hungary after Brexit, you will stayneed to have a work permit to have access to the same,labour asmarket. longFor asmore youinformation remainon residentemployment 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 Hungary.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.

Education and professional qualifications

Studying in Hungary

YourIf rightthere’s no deal, you will continue to be able to study in Hungary willbut staythe 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 same,state asstipend longprogrammes asafter youBrexit.

You remainshould residentcontact inyour Hungary.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

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 31the Decemberimplementation 2020.period ends.

Read the Hungarian government’s guidance on how to request recognition of your qualifications.

Money and tax

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:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Hungary

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.

Declaration of assets

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.

National Insurance

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 the day the UK leaves the EU, you should contact the relevant EU or EEA authority. They will confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after Brexit, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after 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-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Hungary. Send your questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Pensions

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:

• your UK State Pension and or new UK State Pension
• contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• your Hungarian pension, if you have worked in Hungary
• pensions from working abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

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.

Pensions after Brexit

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If youthere areis livinga indeal Hungaryand by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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.

Benefits

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Hungary.

• read our guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad
• use our tool to check which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them

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.

Benefits after Brexit

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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.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Hungary, you can vote in local municipal and European Parliamentary Elections.

Voting after Brexit

After Brexit, ifUK younationals are resident in Hungary you will continue to be able to vote in local elections. You will no longer be eligible to vote in European Parliament elections.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Hungary, you will need to register a birth abroad.

If someone dies in Hungary:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read bereavement information for Hungary
• find English-speaking funeral directors in Hungary

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Hungary.

Accommodation and buying property

See buying a property abroad.

Pets

CurrentTravelling with your pet travelbetween rulesthe EU and the UK will staychange after Brexit. If you’re living in the sameEU, untilcontact 31your Decembervet 2020.before travelling to check requirements. Also read the guidance for UK nationals living in the EU on the Pet travel to Europe after Brexit page.

Whilst the UK is still in the EU, you can take your pet between the UK and the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first timetime, you must visit your vet to getobtain a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet travel.horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

As well as the European emergency number 112, Hungary also has:

• 104 – ambulance and emergency medical services
• 105 – fire-brigade, rescue services, civil protection
• 107 – police

See Hungary – emergency numbers.

If you need urgent help, contact the British Embassy Budapest.

Other useful information

• English-speaking lawyers in Hungary
• English-speaking translators and interpreters in Hungary
• notary services in Hungary
• moving or retiring abroad

Returning to the UK

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.

Disclaimer

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.