Hungary

EU/EEA students do not need a visa to study in Hungary, but they do need to apply for a residence permit within 90 days of moving to the country.

International students who want to stay in Hungary for more than 90 consecutive days and who are not EU citizens are required to apply for a long-term student visa. This visa is called "long-term D type visa for study purposes", and it is a single entry visa that enables its holder to apply for a residence permit for study purposes after enrolling in a university in Hungary.

You can only apply for your student visa prior to your departure from the Hungarian Consulate or Embassy in your country of permanent residence. You can find an overview of Hungarian foreign missions here.

To receive a student visa for Hungary, you must first have an offer from a Hungarian university. You then need to apply for a student visa at a Hungarian consulate or embassy. Documents generally required for your student visa include an acceptance letter from the university regarding your admission, passport valid at least 6 months beyond your date of entry, proof of health insurance and housing in Hungary, and proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses.

Due to recent changes in the Hungarian immigration law, accepted candidates who are citizens of non-EU/EEA countries must pay the enrollment fee (and, if applicable, tuition fee) right after having paid the general deposit, at least 2 weeks prior to their visa interview.

Processing a Hungarian student visa usually takes around one month but it can also take longer, so make sure you apply as early as possible to avoid any unnecessary complications. When the consulate requires an appointment, you may need to schedule it around 4 to 6 weeks in advance because appointment times are limited. After the appointment, the visa processing time usually takes an additional 1 to 4 weeks.