Emigration to Hungary

Area: 93,036 km²
Residents: 9,830,485 (2016)
Population density: 106 E / km²
Form of Government: Parliamentary republic
System of Government: Parliamentary system
Neighboring countries: Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia
Capital: Budapest National
language: Hungarian
Religions:
54, 5% Roman Catholic or Greek Catholic,
15.9% Calvinists,
3% Lutherans,
0.22% Jehovah’s Witnesses,
0.17% Baptists
Currency: Forint (HUF)
Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 356.27 HUF
100 HUF = 0.28 EUR
1 CHF = 328.60 HUF
100 HUF = 0.30 CHF
(exchange rate from 14.07.2021)
Telephone area code: +36
Time zone: UTC + 1 CET
UTC + 2 CEST (March to Oct)

In 2020, 1,131 Germans officially emigrated to Hungary and 611 returned to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 10,516 Germans officially emigrated to Hungary and 7,697 moved back to Germany. In 2020 there were officially 18,344 Germans living in Hungary and more than 40,000 German-speaking people are settled here, most of whom live in Baranya County.

The Magyars (92.3%) are the largest ethnic group. The Roma are the largest ethnic minority. Other minorities worth mentioning are Hungarian Germans (including Danube Swabians), Slovaks and Croats. In Tolna County, in the north of the Mecsek, on the banks of the Sió River, in Bács-Kiskun County south of Kalocsa (Hajós and Érsekhalma) and in the vicinity of Budapest there are ethnic German population groups. Hungarian is spoken everywhere in Hungary.

As a country starting with H defined by Countryaah, Hungary has always been a popular holiday destination, especially among the German-speaking citizens of the neighboring countries. The infrastructure has been sustainably expanded since joining the EU. The economy, especially in the automotive supplier sector, has developed positively in recent years and is still on the upswing (thanks to Germany as an economic engine).

In addition to the Danube metropolis Budapest (by the way now the 8th largest capital in Europe) and Lake Balaton, the Danube Swabian Baranya in southwest Hungary is particularly popular with emigrants.

Interesting buildings, good cuisine, excellent wines and beautiful nature reserves are other alluring features of Hungary. The climate is relatively dry. Summers are hot and winters are cold.

General travel regulations (up to the corona pandemic)

In order to meet the entry requirements as an EEA citizen, all you need to do is bring a valid passport or identity card. You can enter the country without a visa and stay in the country for up to 90 days.

Immigration, permanent residence, residence permit

For longer stays (no later than the 93rd day), you must register with the relevant regional office of the Immigration and Citizenship Office and apply for a registration certificate (“regisztrációs igazolás”).

EEA citizens have a right of residence through the following:

• Gainful employment
• Sufficient financial resources and health insurance
• Vocational training (the second point must be included)

The family members of the EEA citizens of the above 1st and 2nd categories also have the right of residence. In the case of the 3rd category, only the dependent children and the spouse have the right of residence. The registration certificate is generally unlimited in time, but loses its validity if the right of residence expires (for example, upon completion of a degree). If you have a right of residence due to work, you can still stay in the country, even if you cannot work for a while due to illness.

If you have resided legally in Hungary for 5 years without interruption, you have the option of obtaining a permanent residence card. This is decided by the regional office of the Immigration and Citizenship Office. You will receive notification of the office’s decision within 3 months. If, on the other hand, you stay outside Hungary for 2 years without interruption, the validity of this permanent residence card expires.

Real estate – buy or rent

Real estate prices are currently still affordable in some places. In the meantime, you can also find high-quality, modern properties or classic, spacious, well-located apartments. It is beneficial to use an experienced real estate agency for assistance.

Work – job offer

German-speaking jobs for emigrants, which can also be carried out in Hungary, are available on the Osourced portal. Native speakers in particular are in great demand. The employers come mainly from Germany and DACH. The wages are usually below the German level but above the local level in Hungary. Emigrants with German language skills benefit from a locally above-average wage with low cost of living at the same time (geo-arbitrage). Tip: Emigrants can still apply for a job in Germany. With a job offer, emigrating is much easier.

The most important foreign investors are German companies with a third of the total investments. The Hungarian wage costs are around a third of the costs in Germany. This ensures continued commitment for the next few years.

Anyone looking for professional prospects in Hungary should therefore concentrate on German or other foreign companies. There are some jobs in the tourism sector. Those who are familiar with tourism and tourism can still find jobs here, at least during the main season. Qualified specialists with good language skills have opportunities in the following areas: doctors, engineers, logisticians and managers.

Hungary has the highest sales taxes at 27%, but on the other hand it offers some tax advantages. Private individuals only pay a 15% flat tax. For foreign employees, this is of interest from a tax point of view, as they remain socially insured in their country of origin despite the low flat tax. After successful immigration, you will of course no longer be covered by social insurance in your old home. The unemployment rate was just 4.3 percent in December 2020.

Hungary has a well-developed network of agreements to avoid double taxation. Favorable tax breaks can be claimed for some activities, which could play an important role in some investment decisions.

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Emigration and living in Hungary – conclusion

Good emigration country for retirees and financially independent people. Hungary can only be recommended to a limited extent for those who have to work here. In this case you should be able to speak Hungarian. Some advantages of the country: easy immigration, low cost of living (LHK-I 60.8).