FAQ RSS

The ultimate checklist for emigrating to Hungary

This ultimate checklist for emigrating to Hungary helps you to work through all the important points and not forget anything. As our largest customer groups come from Germany and Switzerland, the list also provides specific information for both countries but is also useful for all other who intend to migrate to Hungary.

Introduction

Hungary, the heart of Europe, attracts visitors with its impressive culture, historic cities such as Budapest or the Balaton region, the lowest cost of living in Europe and the highest level of security.

Whether you want to emigrate for professional reasons, for political reasons, for retirement or simply for adventure, this guide will help you make your move to Hungary a smooth one.

First, I will introduce a few topics that are relevant for every emigrant. At the end of the article you will then find the ultimate checklist to download and work through.

1. Reasons for emigrating to Hungary

Before you pack your bags, you should clarify your reasons. 

Here are my 7 reasons for emigrating to Hungary:

• Quality of life: Relaxation, little stress
• Culture and history: With sights, thermal baths and many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hungary has a lot to offer
• Conservative values: Broad consensus on conservative values
• Low crime rate: Significantly lower crime rate than in Germany
• Moderate real estate prices: House costs about 60% of Germany
• Cost of living: Costs around 40-60% lower than in Germany or Switzerland
• Easy integration: English and German-speaking immigrants welcome

2. Legal requirements

EU citizens: As an EU citizen and Swiss national, you do not need a visa to live and work in Hungary. However, you must register with the relevant authority within 90 days of your arrival and apply for a registration card / residence card.

Non-EU citizens: Persons from non-EU countries must apply for a visa or residence permit. The most common visa types are work visas, student visas and family reunification.

Important documents:

• Valid passport
• Proof of accommodation (rental contract or proof of ownership)
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of financial means (e.g. proof of income or savings)

3. Preparation before the move

If you want to emigrate to Hungary, you can't start early enough to get to grips with the country. This starts in good time with gathering information from the authorities, visiting the country and taking stock of your personal circumstances.

Although many Hungarians speak German in rural areas and English in Budapest, it is advisable to acquire some basic knowledge of the language. This will help with integration and is appreciated by Hungarians.

If you want to work in Hungary, remember to check all your documents, clarify your health insurance and social security details and have any necessary diplomas and qualifications recognized. 

Even though Hungary is the country with the lowest cost of living in Europe, budget planning is always advisable in order to understand your own investment framework and scope for expenditure. Inflation is omnipresent in Hungary and the prices of everyday goods in supermarkets are comparable to those in Western Europe.

See also our checklist for emigrating to Hungary at the end of the article.

4. Living in Hungary

It is quite easy to find your own living space in Hungary, although you should bear in mind that the rental market is comparatively small. While the proportion of owner-occupied properties is roughly the same in Switzerland (42%) and Germany (50%), the proportion of owner-occupied properties in Hungary is over 90%. This means that renting is the exception rather than the rule outside the larger cities.

Buying is easier. However, loans for the purchase of real estate in Hungary are almost impossible to obtain for foreigners. And even domestic banks do not finance foreign real estate. Therefore, only your own assets are usually an option.

You can use real estate portals as well as private initiatives or an English-speaking real estate agent to search for properties.

The advantages of using an estate agent are obvious. They take care of the entire purchase and registration process and help with re-registration and integration. With good estate agents, all of this is part of the free customer service, as in Hungary the seller usually pays the estate agent, even if this is not regulated by law. The buyer pays 4% land transfer tax and 1% for the lawyer who draws up the purchase contract and applies for the land register entry.

5. Health insurance and health system

Hungary has a good healthcare system with public and private options, although in smaller towns the public hospitals sometimes resemble a field hospital and the 'service' there is very limited. Private clinics are generally very well equipped. Planned surgeries can also be done in Vienna.

Public health insurance:

• Employees are automatically insured through their employer
• Self-employed persons must register and pay contributions themselves

Private health insurance:
If you don't have to look at the centimes or pennies, keep the domestic private insurances. These are recommended as they often offer faster treatment and additional benefits regardless of the country.

6. Education system

Hungary offers a variety of educational institutions, from public schools to international private schools.

Kindergarten and schools:

• Public schools are free, but classes are taught in Hungarian
• International schools: Ideal for expat families are available in Budapest, some larger cities and at Lake Balaton

Universities:
Hungarian universities enjoy a good reputation, especially in the fields of medicine/dentistry and engineering.

7. Culture and integration

Festivals and traditions: Hungary has a rich tradition, with events such as the Sziget Festival or St. Stephen's Day or village festivals, wine festivals or slaughter festivals. Hungarians know how to party. There is something for everyone.

Networking:

• Join Facebook groups and ignore the grumblers, there are many helpful expats who are happy to lend a hand
• Local associations, sports clubs and language courses are also a good way to make contacts

Hungarian friends:
Don't just surround yourself with people from your home country. Hungarian friends and neighbors are important for integrating into the country. They know how to do things and are happy to help. Whether it's dealing with the authorities or finding good craftsmen, a tip for an exciting excursion or a family party.

8. Phase plan

Everyone organizes themselves a little differently. But in order to organize your emigration to Hungary in a structured way, you could draw up a phase plan containing tasks that become more concrete depending on how long they take.
  Here you can download the comprehensive checklist as a pdf including links to more information. The list was originally designed for our largest customer groups in Switzerland and Germany. Many of the hints are also useful for any other nationality. We have tried to implement English language links where possible.

Checklist for emigrating to Hungary

Conclusion
Emigrating to Hungary is an exciting step that requires good preparation. With this guide and checklist, you are well equipped to make your new start a success. Remember to take your time to experience the Hungarian culture and settle into your new life step by step.

If you're already in real estate search mode, here are our main property types in Hungary and Lake Balaton:

Houses in Hungary
Apartments in Hungary
Villas in Hungary
Houses at lake Balaton
Apartments in Hungary

If you have any questions or need help, don't hesitate to call us.

Author: Dr. Peik Langerwisch

After completing his studies in business administration with a degree in business administration and a magna cum laude doctorate in management, the author worked for twenty years in global management consultancies and banks and has now been using his expertise to act as a real estate agent for real estate in Hungary for several years.

Brief overview of expertise and career