Back to Hungary forum

Permanent Residence Card for non-EU national

Posted in Hungary forum

Dear Members,

I'm new to this forum and even though I already gathered some useful information, given that everyone's individual circumstances are different, it'd be very useful if you could advise me on my question.

My husband is a South Korean national and I'm a Hungarian citizen. We got married 2 years ago in Hungary and ever since then we've both been working and living in South Korea - in the same household obviously. We both received university education and he graduated from a university in the UK. Right now we're planning to move back to Hungary.

As I've already stated, at the moment we both pay taxes and has health insurance in South Korea, only. We don't have employment or property in Hungary (yet), however, the permanent address we'll both be registered under belongs to my family.

I'm quite confused as how to proceed his visa application; should we get back to Hungary first and apply at a local immigration office or would it be better perhaps to apply here, through the Hungarian consulate? How much time would the process take in each case?

What worries me is the fact that in case we apply in Hungary, we'll both be unemployed at the same time and from what I've heard, visa applications for a non-EU national are always a bit more difficult. I'm not sure if it'd be helpful to have any savings on our bank accounts (which we do). How much would be a sufficient amount?

I got so many questions and I know it's nearly impossible to answer them all, but I'd appreciate it if anyone with similar experience of moving to Hungary from non-EU could clarify the situation a bit. I'll try to conclude my questions;

- should a non-EU national (who's a spouse of a EU citizen) apply for visa/permanent residence card in their own country (through consulate) or at a local immigration office in the host country?
- how much money would be considered sufficient on their bank account?
- do they need to apply for/pay for health insurance (for Hungary) before applying for the visa? Does it need to be 3 or 12 month of insurance?
- what documents will the applicant and their (EU) spouse need when applying?
- do the documents need to be translated or just notarized?

I guess what I need to know before my husband would make the very long and expensive trip back to Hungary is that whether it'd be better for his application if I traveled home sooner, got a job and applied only after that. Thank you so much in advance!

  • Go to Mihaly Gacsi's profile

    posted by  in Hungary forum 

    Dear Eszter,

    - should a non-EU national (who's a spouse of an EU citizen) apply for visa/permanent residence card in their own country (through consulate) or at a local immigration office in the host country?

    Normally all the residence applications have to be filed at the Hungarian consulate in the home country of the applicant. According to the 539/2001 Regulation of the European Council, there are some prefered countries. The citizens of the preferred countries are allowed to file the residency application in Hungary. South Korea is one of those preferred countries. So a South Korean citizen can file his application in Hungary.

    - how much money would be considered sufficient on their bank account?

    There is not an exact amount. According to the regulations, the applicant has to verify „ sufficient resources to cover his/her subsistence for residence for a stay”. I recommend at least 10 000 $. The Authorities will ask 3 months bank account and they prefer if the balance is over 10 000 during the whole 3 months. If you do not have such a bank account a notarised statement on support by a Hungarian citizen („támogatói nyilatkozat”) would be sufficient. In this case, the Authorities will check the income and the assets of the supporter.
    You will need the health insurance before you apply. You will need a 12-month insurance. It possible to apply without health insurance but in this case, you have to verify that you can cover the health service costs. At least a 30 000 $ - bank account needed

    - what documents will the applicant and their (EU) spouse need when applying?
    Applicant:

    - Filled signed Residency Permit form ( you can download the form: https://www.immigrationlawyershungary.com/home)
    - Marriage certificate ( If the marriage was done Korea: The Hungarian consulate has to „felülbélyegezni” (verify whether the marriage is official)

    Verifying the accommodation.

    -„Agreement on accommodation by courtesy" (Szívességi lakáshasználati megállapodás) or lease contract, or property purchase contract
    -Property title (Tulajdoni lap)
    - Filled and signed form of“Accommodation reporting form for third-country nationals” ("Szálláshely bejelentő harmadik országbeli személy részére")

    Verify the health insurance

    - Insurance policy ( biztosítási kötvény). It could be Korean but it has to be translated to Hungarian

    Verify the means of subsistence:

    - Bank account back to 3 months or
    -Support letter ( támogatói nyilatkozat)

    do the documents need to be translated or just notarized?

    All the Korean documents have to be translated to Hungarian. The marriage certificate has to be translated. Only the official translations of the OFFI (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelsítő Iroda 1062 Budapest, Bajza u. 52.Telefon: +36 1 428 9600) are good.

    If you need more information please contact us: Astoria Assistance
    1077 Budapest
    Dohány u 12 -14
    Tel: +36 1 492 0009
    [...]
    https://www.immigrationlawyershungary.com/

    Best Regards

    Mihály

  • Go to Mihaly Gacsi's profile

    posted by  in Hungary forum 

    Dear Eszter,

    - should a non-EU national (who's a spouse of an EU citizen) apply for visa/permanent residence card in their own country (through consulate) or at a local immigration office in the host country?

    Normally all the residence applications have to be filed at the Hungarian consulate in the home country of the applicant. According to the 539/2001 Regulation of the European Council, there are some prefered countries. The citizens of the preferred countries are allowed to file the residency application in Hungary. South Korea is one of those preferred countries. So a South Korean citizen can file his application in Hungary.

    - how much money would be considered sufficient on their bank account?

    There is not an exact amount. According to the regulations, the applicant has to verify „ sufficient resources to cover his/her subsistence for residence for a stay”. I recommend at least 10 000 $. The Authorities will ask 3 months bank account and they prefer if the balance is over 10 000 during the whole 3 months. If you do not have such a bank account a notarised statement on support by a Hungarian citizen („támogatói nyilatkozat”) would be sufficient. In this case, the Authorities will check the income and the assets of the supporter.
    You will need the health insurance before you apply. You will need a 12-month insurance. It possible to apply without health insurance but in this case, you have to verify that you can cover the health service costs. At least a 30 000 $ - bank account needed

    - what documents will the applicant and their (EU) spouse need when applying?
    Applicant:

    - Filled signed Residency Permit form ( you can download the form: https://www.immigrationlawyershungary.com/home)
    - Marriage certificate ( If the marriage was done Korea: The Hungarian consulate has to „felülbélyegezni” (verify whether the marriage is official)

    Verifying the accommodation.

    -„Agreement on accommodation by courtesy" (Szívességi lakáshasználati megállapodás) or lease contract, or property purchase contract
    -Property title (Tulajdoni lap)
    - Filled and signed form of“Accommodation reporting form for third-country nationals” ("Szálláshely bejelentő harmadik országbeli személy részére")

    Verify the health insurance

    - Insurance policy ( biztosítási kötvény). It could be Korean but it has to be translated to Hungarian

    Verify the means of subsistence:

    - Bank account back to 3 months or
    -Support letter ( támogatói nyilatkozat)

    do the documents need to be translated or just notarized?

    All the Korean documents have to be translated to Hungarian. The marriage certificate has to be translated. Only the official translations of the OFFI (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelsítő Iroda 1062 Budapest, Bajza u. 52.Telefon: +36 1 428 9600) are good.

    If you need more information please contact us: Astoria Assistance
    1077 Budapest
    Dohány u 12 -14
    Tel: +36 1 492 0009
    [...]
    https://www.immigrationlawyershungary.com/

    Best Regards

    Mihály

  • Go to Mihaly Gacsi's profile

    posted by  in Hungary forum 

    Dear Eszter,

    - should a non-EU national (who's a spouse of an EU citizen) apply for visa/permanent residence card in their own country (through consulate) or at a local immigration office in the host country?

    Normally all the residence applications have to be filed at the Hungarian consulate in the home country of the applicant. According to the 539/2001 Regulation of the European Council, there are some preferred countries. The citizens of the preferred countries are allowed to file the residency application in Hungary. South Korea is one of those preferred countries. So a South Korean citizen can file his application in Hungary.
    - how much money would be considered sufficient on their bank account?
    There is not an exact amount. According to the regulations, the applicant has to verify sufficient resources to cover his/her subsistence for residence for a stay”. I recommend at least 10 000 $. The Authorities will ask 3 months bank account and they prefer if the balance is over 10 000 during the 3 months. If you do not have such a bank account a notarized statement on support by a Hungarian citizen („támogatói nyilatkozat”) would be sufficient. In this case, the Authorities will check the income and the assets of the supporter.
    You will need the health insurance before you apply. You will need a 12-month insurance. It possible to apply without health insurance but in this case, you have to verify that you can cover the health service costs. At least a 30 000 $ - bank account needed
    - what documents will the applicant and their (EU) spouse need when applying?

    Applicant:

    Filled signed Residency Permit form ( you can download it from our website: https://www.immigrationlawyershungary.com/home
    Marriage certificate ( If the marriage was done Korea: The Hungarian consulate has to „felülbélyegezni” (verify whether the marriage is official)

    Verifying the accommodation.
    - „Szívességi lakáshasználati megállapodás”
    - Tulajdoni lap
    - Harmadik országbeli személy bejelntő lapja kitöletve.

    Verify the health insurance

    - Insurance policy ( biztosítási kötvény). If it is Korean an official translation is needed.

    Verify the means of subsistence:

    - Bank account back to 3 months
    - or a support letter (" támogatói nyilatkozat")
    do the documents need to be translated or just notarized?

    All the Korean documents have to be translated to Hungarian. The marriage certificate has to be translated. Only the official translations of the OFFI (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelsítő Intézet) are good.

    If you need more information, please contact us: www.immigrationlawyershungary.com

    Best Regards
    Mihaly

Post a reply