Overview
The White Card (Fehér Kártya) is issued by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) to third-country nationals who work remotely for an employer outside Hungary, or who own a share in a foreign company with verified profit and manage it from Hungary using digital tools. Holders may not take Hungarian employment or hold shares in a Hungarian company.
It is one of Europe's cheaper remote-work permits, and Hungary's flat 15% personal income tax keeps the numbers simple for those who become tax resident.
Editor's note — The income floor doubled from €2,000 to €3,000 net in 2024. OIF's own page now states €3,000; any guide still quoting €2,000 is stale.
Who is eligible
- Third-country national working remotely for a non-Hungarian employer, or owning a share in a foreign company with verified profit and managing it remotely.
- Net monthly income of at least €3,000 in each of the six months before applying, maintained throughout the stay.
- No gainful activity in Hungary and no shareholding in a Hungarian company.
- Accommodation in Hungary (lease, deed or booking) and health insurance.
- Passport valid at least three months beyond the permit's expiry.
Income & financial requirements
Net, for each of the previous six months.
Bank statements or income certificates.
Some consulates ask for a buffer; €10,000 is often cited.
Confirming remote work is permitted.
OIF requires evidence that your net income “reached or exceeded €3,000 per month” in the six months preceding the application — bank statements, payslips or, for company owners, proof of the company's profit and your share of it.
The income must come from outside Hungary; the card is not available to freelancers with mixed or local clients.
Costs & fees
- Consular application fee of roughly €110 when filing abroad; in-country filing through Enter Hungary is cheaper (about HUF 24,000 online, HUF 39,000 in person) — confirm the current OIF fee schedule.
- Renewal fee of around HUF 35,000.
- Private health insurance (mandatory) and accommodation costs.
Taxes
Spending more than 183 days in Hungary in a calendar year generally makes you a Hungarian tax resident. Hungary applies a flat 15% personal income tax; social contributions depend on your employment structure and any totalisation agreement.
White Card holders paid by a foreign employer should check whether that employer must register in Hungary — a common practical snag.
How to apply
Choose your filing route
Visa-required nationals apply at the Hungarian consulate for their country; visa-exempt nationals may file inside Hungary via Enter Hungary or an OIF regional office.
Submit the file
Employment letter, six months of income proof, accommodation, insurance, passport and photo.
Decision
OIF targets 21 days, with a final decision within 30 days of submission.
Collect the card
Receive the one-year residence permit; register your address in Hungary.
Duration & renewal
The White Card is valid for a maximum of one year and can be extended once for up to one more year. After two years the holder must leave Hungary — it is deliberately not a settlement route.
Bringing family
Family members of a White Card holder are not granted residence permits for family reunification. The only exception is a child born in Hungary to the holder during the permit's validity.
Pros & cons
Advantages
- Low cost of living in an EU/Schengen capital
- Flat 15% income tax if you become resident
- Fast decisions (21–30 days)
- Online filing possible for visa-exempt nationals
Considerations
- Hard two-year cap with no permanent-residence path
- No family reunification at all
- Company owners must document foreign profit, not just salary
- €3,000 net floor is higher than several neighbours