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Hungary · company residence
The company and the residence file are one case.
The business activity, capital, contracts, salary and owner-director role must support each other. We plan the company structure before the immigration file is assembled.
Hungary · National Card
Hungary Residence Permit Through Company Formation
Open and run a Hungarian Kft, then apply for a two-year National Card as its eligible owner-director. We coordinate the company, the residence file and the family applications, with the operating and tax obligations clear from the start.
- 2 yearson the first permit
- 3 to 6 monthspractical planning range
- From EUR 6,900main-applicant service
What the route gives you
A residence route built around your own company
This is not a passive company registration. The Kft has to become a credible operating business, and the residence case has to explain your role in it.
Own and run the Kft
You control a Hungarian limited company and use a genuine operating role as the basis of the residence case.
A 9% corporate tax line
Hungary's corporate income tax is 9%, but payroll, local business tax and distributions still need a full model.
Family applications
Spouse and children can be prepared alongside the main case, with the exact dependent scope confirmed before engagement.
A long-term residence path
Eligibility for permanent residence can begin after three years when the residence and compliance tests are met.
Route comparison
National Card, investment residence or self-employment?
The right route depends on whether you want to operate a company, hold an investment or work through a simpler individual structure.
Best forCore proofCapital or investmentInitial permitOperating burdenLong-term path
National Card via KftBest forEligible owner-directorsCore proofA real operating companyCapital or investmentHUF 3,000,000 company capitalInitial permit2 yearsOperating burdenCompany, accounting and payrollLong-term pathPR eligibility from 3 years
Investment residenceBest forPassive capital holdersCore proofA qualifying investmentCapital or investmentFar higher investment thresholdInitial permitRoute-specificOperating burdenInvestment monitoringLong-term pathDepends on the chosen route
Self-employmentBest forSolo independent workCore proofClients and personal activityCapital or investmentNo Kft capital in some structuresInitial permitRoute-specificOperating burdenIndividual tax and complianceLong-term pathDepends on the country and permit
Choose the Kft route only if you are prepared to operate and account for a real Hungarian company after the residence card arrives.
What has to work
Four parts of the company route must agree
The company is useful only when its commercial activity, owner role, tax setup and residence evidence form one coherent plan.
Form the right company
The lawyer registers the Kft, its address, owners and activity, then coordinates tax and banking setup.
Show what you will actually do
The business plan and contracts explain why the company needs you in Hungary as its owner-director.
Model the full burden
We separate the 9% corporate line from salary, social charges, local business tax and dividends.
Document the same story
The consular file carries the company, funds, accommodation, insurance and family evidence in one sequence.
Why Hungary
Why operate the company from Hungary
The decision is strongest when Hungary works as a real business base, not only as a residence-card destination.
A 9% corporate tax rate
The headline rate is low, while an accountant models the effective total for the actual salary and distribution plan.
A fast company setup
Registration can take 3 to 10 working days, followed by banking, tax and operating setup.
A Schengen base
Hungarian residence supports short travel across the Schengen Area while Hungary remains the permit's home country.
A family route
The main and family files can be planned together, with separate fees and documents for each dependent.
The card is not the finish line. The Kft needs accounting, filings and credible activity throughout the permit and renewal period.
Fit check
The route fits an owner who will operate the business
We test nationality, company activity, capital, residence plan and family structure before company-formation costs are incurred.
The National Card is worth checking if
- Your passport is on the current National Card eligibility list
- You are ready to own and direct a genuine Hungarian Kft
- You can fund the HUF 3,000,000 company capital and operating costs
- You can explain the business activity, customers and your role
- You accept ongoing accounting, tax and renewal compliance
Use another route if
- You want a dormant company used only to hold a residence card
- Your nationality is outside the current eligibility list
- You cannot show a credible commercial plan or source of funds
- You need a passive investment route with no operating company
- You expect permanent residence or citizenship to be automatic
Company and residence evidence
What the National Card file must prove
The Kft documents and the personal residence file need to describe the same business, role and source of funds.
-
Nationality
A passport on the current National Card eligibility list
-
Company
Kft registration, registered address, capital, activities and ownership
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Commercial plan
Business model, customers, revenue logic and the owner's operating role
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Funds
Company capital, personal maintenance and a clear source and payment trail
-
Residence setup
Hungarian address, health insurance and the correct consular forms
-
Family
Civil-status records and coordinated dependent applications where included
From company plan to residence card
We form the Kft first,then build the National Card case.
The company can be created remotely under a power of attorney. You attend the consulate for the personal immigration step and biometrics.
- 1Relovisa
Confirm route eligibility
First callWe check nationality, company activity, funds, family and filing country before you commit to the Kft.
- 2Hungarian lawyer
Open the Hungarian Kft
Usually 2 to 4 weeksThe Hungarian lawyer coordinates registration, the address, capital, tax setup and the steps needed for an operational company.
- 3Case team
Prepare the National Card file
Before appointmentWe assemble company, business, funds, address, insurance and family evidence and check the complete set twice.
- 4Client + consulate
Attend the consulate
Authority stage 30 to 90 daysYou file from the agreed jurisdiction, give biometrics and respond to any authority request with the case team.
- 5Authority + local lawyer
Receive the card
Often 2 to 4 weeks after approvalThe card is delivered to the Hungarian address and can be collected through the agreed legal arrangement where permitted.
- 6Client + accountant
Operate and prepare renewal
OngoingAccounting, tax, activity and residence records are kept current so the renewal and long-term-residence plan have real evidence.
Company setup, immigration and ongoing compliance are one sequence, not three separate purchases.
National Card scope
Separate the service fee, company capital and running costs
The service begins at EUR 6,900 for the main applicant. The quote names what is included and what is paid to authorities and third parties.
Kft owner and National Card
From EUR 6,900 + third-party and government costs
- Nationality and route eligibility review
- Hungarian Kft formation coordination
- Company and owner-role evidence plan
- National Card forms and document checks
- Consular and biometrics preparation
- Case management through the permit decision
For an eligible owner-director forming and operating a Hungarian Kft.
Book your strategy callFamily application
From EUR 1,900 per family member
- Family eligibility and relationship check
- Civil-status document plan
- Dependent application forms
- Appointment preparation
- Coordination with the main file
- Residence-card follow-through
For a spouse or child filing with the main applicant.
Book your strategy callPlan separately for the Kft capital of HUF 3,000,000, government charges, registered address, personal address, insurance, translations and annual accounting. The capital remains in the company.
The real budget
What sits outside the service fee
The Kft capital is company money. Government, address, insurance, accounting and translation costs are separate operating or filing expenses.
Costs due before or during the National Card application.
Company formation and filing costs
The final budget depends on the filing location, the company setup and how many family members apply.
- Kft capital
- HUF 3,000,000
- Visa
- About EUR 110
- Permit fee
- HUF 26,000 to 39,000
- Company address
- About EUR 600 yearly
- Personal address
- About EUR 500 per person
01 HU · SETUP Costs and obligations after the residence card is issued.
The ongoing company budget
The headline 9% corporate rate is not the total. The accountant models salary, social charges, local business tax, dividends and the annual compliance work.
- Corporate tax
- 9% headline rate
- Accounting
- EUR 1,000 to 2,000 yearly
- Insurance
- Up to EUR 200 per person
- Local tax
- Modelled per company
- Renewal
- Company activity rechecked
02 HU · OPERATE Relovisa in numbers
See the method behind the global record.
Residence, work, founder, family and private-client cases.
Completed cases only. Open, withdrawn and incomplete files are excluded.
Clients handled across Relovisa's international route network.
The immigration lawyers and consultants on our case teams bring 10+ years each.
Global Relovisa results. Hungarian authorities decide every National Card application.
People behind your case
The people who move your case forward.
Every case is led and coordinated by Relovisa. We bring in the immigration consultants, lawyers, payroll and tax specialists the route needs, while Relovisa remains your single point of contact.
One coordinated case team, built around the route you actually need.
Vlad Shipilov
FounderLeads strategy for founder, business and non-standard cases, connecting the route with the client's business, family and long-term plan.
Olia Nemirovski
COO & Chief Case ManagerLeads client and partner operations so case teams, local specialists and next steps stay coordinated from assessment to completion.
Evgenia
UK Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports UK immigration and Talent Visa case management where licensed legal input is required.
Vladimir
Germany Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports German work immigration cases across process planning, local requirements and case coordination.
Daniela
Portugal Immigration Lawyer · Specialist PartnerSupports Portuguese residence matters that require legal review, representation or procedural escalation.
Petra
Portugal Immigration Consultant · Specialist PartnerSupports Portugal D2, D3, D7 and D8 cases, including clients with different income structures.
Marilia
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports global mobility for self-employed, founder and highly skilled cases through Portugal D8, D2 and D3 routes.
Thiago
Portugal Immigration Attorney · Specialist PartnerSupports highly qualified professionals and procedural cases involving residence delays and AIMA proceedings.
Vladislav
International Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerAdvises on international tax structures and non-standard cross-border situations across Europe, Asia and the United States.
Thomas
Crypto & Tax Advisor · Specialist PartnerSupports clients whose move intersects with crypto assets, international business and tax planning.
Our wider specialist network60+
immigration consultants and lawyers
Local coverage for routes and services that require authorised in-country specialists.
Hungary National Card questions
Questions to answer before you form the Kft
Nationality, business reality and the full operating budget should be clear before the company is registered.
Can the process be handled remotely?
The Kft can be formed through a limited power of attorney. You still attend the agreed consulate for the personal filing and biometrics. After approval, the residence card is delivered to the Hungarian address and may be collected by the lawyer under a valid power of attorney where permitted.
Which nationalities can use the National Card?
The current list covers Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Belarus and Russia. We recheck the list before company formation because it can change.
Did the June 2026 guest-worker suspension close this route?
No. The suspension applies to separate guest-worker routes, not the National Card. We still recheck the exact nationality and activity rules before filing.
Is the total company tax only 9%?
No. Nine percent is the corporate income tax line. Local business tax, salary, social charges and dividends change the effective total. The live-page planning examples use roughly 22% to 23% for larger operating companies and about 34% in some small-company owner structures. A Hungarian accountant models your actual plan.
When can I apply for permanent residence or citizenship?
Permanent-residence eligibility can begin after three years when the residence, income, housing, insurance and current cultural-knowledge conditions are met. Citizenship eligibility can begin after eight years, normally with Hungarian at A2 level. Neither result is automatic.
How long does the full process take?
Plan roughly 3 to 6 months. The Kft can be registered in 3 to 10 working days and become operational in 2 to 6 weeks. The authority stage is commonly 30 to 90 days, followed by card production.
Can my family apply with me?
Yes, where the dependent rules are met. Relovisa's family-application service starts from EUR 1,900 per person, and each family member also has government and document costs.
How much time must I spend in Hungary?
The live page uses at least 90 days in each 180-day period as the renewal-planning baseline. Your actual travel and residence record is reviewed before renewal, especially if permanent residence is the goal.
How is this different from self-employment?
The National Card route here uses a Hungarian Kft with company capital, accounting and an owner-director role. A self-employment route is built around personal client work and has different tax, eligibility and residence rules.
Is approval guaranteed if I open the company?
No. Company registration is only one part of the case. The authority decides the residence application and can refuse a file that lacks eligibility, credible activity, funds or consistent evidence.
Reviewed against the live Relovisa pageReviewed 2026-08-12
Your Hungary company route
Confirm the route before you form the company.
A 30-minute call. We check your passport, business plan, capital, family and filing country, then give you the company and residence sequence with a full cost estimate before you commit.
Book a consultation30 minutes · €40, applied to your package if you proceed