INFORMATION
For higher education institutions
regarding residence permits for the purpose of studies and student mobility
- 1)Information regarding residence permits for the purpose of studies
A third-country national can obtain a residence permit for the purpose of studies who
- ·enrols or has enrolled a public education institution registered as operating in the public education information system for full-time school education, or according to the working schedule of full-time education, or
- ·studies within the framework of full-time training at a state-recognized higher education institution or a licensed foreign higher education institution operating in Hungary,
- ·and wishes to stay in Hungary in order to participate in the preparatory training organized by the higher education institution.
For his/her studies, the student must have adequate language skills, which must be proven with a certificate.
The student shall state his purpose of residence with the admission certificate or student status certificate issued by the educational institution, and in the case of a tuition fee obligation, with a proof of payment.
A student entering without a visa can submit the application for a residence permit during his legal stay in Hungary electronically on the Enter Hungary platform or in person at the regional directorate of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (hereinafter: NDGAP) responsible for the place of residence.
If the student cannot travel to Hungary visa-free due to his/her citizenship, (s)he can only submit the application abroad - at the diplomatic or consular foreign mission of Hungary in the country of his/her citizenship or habitual place of residence or at any another places authorized to receive applications.
Please note that according to the new immigration regulations, it is not possible for a student staying in Hungary with a ("C") visa entitling him/her for a stay not exceeding ninety days within the period of one hundred and eighty days to submit his application in Hungary with a leniency application!
The validity period of the residence permit for the purpose of studies is at least 1 year, or if the training programme is shorter than 1 year, it is adjusted to the duration of the training. The residence permit can be issued for a maximum of 3 years. It can be extended for a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 3 years.
The validity period of the residence permit for studies cannot exceed the validity period of the applicant's travel document.
The residence permit document for the purpose of studies is delivered by post to the address of the educational institution.
The institute is requested to return the residence permit not taken over by the student to the regional directorate of the NDGAP.
Extension of the residence permit for the purpose of study
The application for the extension of the residence permit must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the date of expiry of the residence permit. The application submission is available only via the Enter Hungary platform..
In the case of an extension, the student must attach a certificate of academic progress.
The certificate issued by the educational institution must indicate the number of semesters of the training programme, the number of active semesters of the applicant in the relevant training, and which are those semesters.
The extension of residence permit for the purpose of studies may be refused by the immigration authority or the permit may be revoked if the student fails to obtain a diploma within one and a half times the period of the academic period defined in the training and exit requirements.
If the third-country national received the residence permit for the purpose of participating in preparatory training, the permit can only be extended if he has been admitted to a state-recognized higher education institution or to a foreign higher education institution operating with a license in Hungary, and proves this with a certificate of admission or a student status certificate.
- 2)Information on student mobility
Student mobility residence permit may be granted to third-country nationals who have a residence permit for the purpose of studies issued by another member state of the European Union, and wish to continue part of their studies in a Hungarian higher education institution, and who are NOT involved in a European Union or multilateral program that includes mobility measures, nor in an agreement concluded between two or more higher education institutes.
If the student is involved in the above agreement, (s)he can receive a Student Mobility Certificate in order to exercise student mobility, if (s)he notifies the immigration authority of his/her student mobility plan and the planned duration of the mobility.
Before starting the procedure, the third-country national must clarify with the sending or hosting educational institution whether (s)he is coming to Hungary as part of a program covered by an EU or multilateral program that includes mobility measures, or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions.
When submitting an application for a student mobility residence permit or submitting a student mobility notification, an agreement concluded with the Hungarian higher education institution or a certificate of admission must be attached.
The student mobility residence permit document and the student mobility certificate are delivered by post to the address indicated on the application form.
The student mobility residence permit and the student mobility certificate are valid for a maximum of 360 days, but cannot exceed the validity period of a residence permit issued by the member state of the European Union.
The student mobility residence permit and the student mobility certificate cannot be extended.
- 3)Residence permit for the purpose of training
Please note that a third-country national who participates in scholarship-based training course in Hungary provided by the Government or a ministry and not organised by a higher education institution will be granted a residence permit for training purposes, not for the purpose of studies.
- 4)Other information
If the applicant is a minor, it must be proven that his parent or legal representative consented to his stay in Hungary. The parental consent must be included in a private or public instrument with full probative force, be accompanied by a translation into Hungarian or English language.
If the application for the residence permit or the mobility permit was submitted by the student at a foreign mission, the visa entitling him/her to receive the residence permit will be issued by the consular officer.
Please note that if the student does not enter Hungary within 3 months from the issuance of the residence permit and does not begin the authorized stay, the authorized residence permit becomes invalid and his/her right to entry and stay ceases.
A third-country national with a residence permit for the purpose of studies, a student mobility residence permit, or a student mobility certificate can perform work up to thirty hours a week during the school term, and can work full-time up to ninety days a year outside the school term.
Please note that third-country nationals with a residence permit issued in the national interest may apply for an extension of their residence permit for the purpose of studies.
- 5)Further stay of students with a residence permit valid on 1 January2024
Third-country nationals with a residence permit valid on 1 January2024 can apply for the issuance of residence permits under one of the legal titles of the new legislation,Act XC of 2023 on the general rules for the entry and residence of third-country nationals (hereinafter: Act XC of 2023).
Given that the purpose of studies is defined in the previous immigration legislation, Act II of 2007 on the entry and residence of third-country nationals (hereinafter: Act II of 2007), students with a residence permit issued for the purpose of studies can still apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studies provided that they meet the conditions.
A student with a residence permit not for academic purposes (but e.g. for other purposes), who in the meantime has successfully completed preparatory training and been admitted to a higher education institution, may also apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studies.
The application can be submitted at least 45 days before the expiry date of the residence permit.
Please note that due to the late submission of the application for the residence permit, an application for justification cannot be submitted beyond the period of validity of the residence permit.
If the applicant is residing in Hungary (s)he can only submit the application electronically, on the platform of Enter Hungary. Upon application submission the procedural fee for the issuance of a residence permit must be paid.
- 6)Notification obligation of the educational institution
The educational institution is obliged to inform the competent regional directorate of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing in the place where it is located of any foreign students who have started, completed or interrupted their studies, or who have not fulfilled their enrolment obligation, or whose student status has been terminated, within 8 working days from the occurrence of these facts by providing the following data
- ·details of the educational institution (name, address),
- ·the third-country national's natural identification data, residence permit number,
- ·the type of student status, the date and manner of its creation, suspension and termination,
- ·the name of the course attended by the student, the way it is financed and the work schedule, the semesters started, the period of suspension of the student status, the expected date of completion of the course.
The notification of the educational institution can also be submitted electronically after electronic identification.
