In November 2021, Hungary introduced the White Card, its Digital Nomad Visa, offering a straightforward option for remote workers with a modest income requirement of €2,000 per month. This visa grants an individual residency permit, catering specifically to singles under 40, as it does not accommodate couples or families. With this visa, you can now immerse yourself in the vibrant city of Budapest and enjoy remote work in Hungary, a country renowned for its high-speed internet connectivity, making it an ideal destination for digital nomads seeking a blend of work and leisure in a beautiful European setting.
Visa category
White Card
What are the visa fees/charges?
EUR110 (HUF39,000 if submitted within Hungary)
Is there a minimum income threshold applicable for digital nomad/remote work visa?
Yes – More than net EUR2,000 for at least 6 months prior to entry and after entry for the full duration of the stay
Are digital nomad/remote work visa holders subject to income tax?
• Shall be checked and determined case by case
• General rules:
– Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents are taxed on Hungarian- source income only. The highest income tax rate is 15 percent
– According to the Hungarian Personal Income Tax Act, an individual is tax resident in Hungary if they have permanent home available to them only in Hungary, or their central of vital interests is in Hungary or if they spend more than 183 days in Hungary in the calendar year
Are digital nomad/remote work visa holders subject to social security contributions?
• Shall be checked and determined case by case
• General rule:
– The income taxable in Hungary is subject to social security contributions and taxes too.
– As the work is performed in Hungary, even if no personal income tax obligation would arise, social security payments may be required
– Under certain circumstances exemptions may be available, but this shall be checked case by case
Is there Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) relief available in the country?
Yes
Is there an income tax requirement in the country, in general?
Yes
Is there a social security requirement in the country, in general?
Yes
Are criminal checks required for this visa?
• No mention of police/background checks, only a declaration needed on the application form by the applicant that they have no criminal record.
• After reaching Hungary, the traveler must visit the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing within the district of accommodation to get the new residence permit and register Hungarian accommodation.
For how long is the digital nomad/remote work visa valid?
• Issued for minimum 91 days
• The validity period is maximum one year, and it may be extended once for the same purpose by maximum one additional year
work restraints/limitations?
• A White Card shall be granted to a third-country national who has a verified employment relationship or owns a share in a company with a verified profit in a country other than
Hungary and performs his/her work or manages his/her company from Hungary using an advanced digital technology solution
• However, white card shall not be provided to a person who is:
– Self-employed
– who is posted on the territory of Hungary
– third-country national who arrives in the territory of the Union in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer
– Employee serving as executive officer for a Hungarian for-profit business association, cooperative or some other legal entity
What are the standard requirements for the digital nomad/remote work visa?
• Certificate of employment from employer specifying the scope of the employer’s activities, provision and duration of remote and electronic work, and the role and responsibility of the employee
• Must have a minimum salary of EUR2,000 per month for at least 6 months prior to arrival in Hungary and after entry for the full duration of the stay
• Documents providing information about accommodation in Hungary
• Proof of comprehensive health insurance coverage, or availability of necessary financial resources to cover health emergency
• Documents specifying the conditions of exit (e.g. valid passport and sufficient means to return to home country)
• No family reunification is allowed
Which countries are eligible to apply for the digital nomad/ remote work visa?
Available for all nationals
Is applicant required to provide proof of employment?
Yes – Certificate of employment from employer specifying the scope of the employer’s
activities, provision and duration of remote and electronic work, and the role and
responsibility of the employee
Cost of living index: 48 – (60 out of 140)
Internet fixed: 138.8 Mbps Median- speedtest.net Feb 2023
Internet mobile: 44.17 Mbps Median – speedtest.net Feb 2023
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