Residence permit

As of 24th October 2024, VFS Global is handling visa applications on behalf of the Embassy of Hungary in Nairobi.

Please proceed to the dedicated VFS page to book an appointment or ask your questions.

Below you find useful information regarding the submission and evaluation of your application. 

Please note:

• The processing of residence permit applications can take up to 8 weeks, in certain cases even longer.​
• The decision on residence permit applications falls within the competence of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing of Hungary. The applicant will be notified by the Consular Section of the Embassy of Hungary in Nairobi as soon as it receives the decision of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. The Embassy cannot and will not reply to enquiries in relation to the status of residence permit applications.​
• Original documents (e.g. birth certificates, diplomas) shall be presented to the Consul at the visa interview. Copies must be submitted with the application. ​
• ​The authorities reserve the right to examine the authenticity of the presented data and the submitted documents. Presentation of false data will lead to the refusal of the visa application. 
• In case of successful application, the applicant will get a visa allowing him/her a single entry to Hungary to collect the residence permit. The visa will be valid for 30 days, within the three month following the positive decision by the Immigration Authority. In practice this means that if the decision in your case is made on 1st March, you will be able to enter Hungary until 1st June spending there a maximum of 30 days (within these 30 days you will have to collect your residence permit at the Regional Immigration Office). If you enter Hungary on 29th May, you will have to make sure to collect the residence permit within the validity of your visa (three days), consequently we advise successful applicants to enter Hungary at least 3-4 weeks before the end of the validity of their visas.

General requirements:

• Applicant's passport + copy of the data page;
• The passport must have been issued within the last ten years and shall contain at least two blank pages;
• Completed and signed application form together with the relevant appendix - please select and download the relvant Appendix by selecting the purpose of your stay in Hungary from the website of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing.
• One passport-size colour photo (not older than 6 months); [1]
• Supporting documents regarding the purpose of stay;
• Proof of accommodation in Hungary;
• Documents certifying sufficinet means of subsistence in Hungary;
• Health insurance or equal financial means;
• Visa fee of KES 15 498 to be payed by card or MPESA at the Embassy. 

​Depending on the purpose of entry, at least the following additional documents need to be presented for the application:

​Residence permit for the purpose of employment:

• Documents verifying the purpose of residence:
  • Work permit;
  • Contract of employment;
  • Certificate on the acquisition of the qualification necessary for filling the position;
  • Declaration or certificate on the (expected) yearly income;
• Documents in proof of means of subsistence in Hungary (documents demonstrating how the applicant will make a living until the first salary), e.g.:
  • a statement from a Hungarian or foreign financial institution concerning the applicant’s bank account;
  • an income certificate issued by the tax authority for the previous year;
  • an income certificate issued by the employer;
  • a certificate issued by the employer and/or tax authority as proof of regular income received from abroad;
  • other reliable means.
• Documents proving the existence of accommodation in Hungary, e.g.:
  • a residential lease contract in proof of rental of a residence;
  • a document on accommodation by courtesy;
  • documentary evidence to verify the reservation of accommodation and payment;
  • a statement on boarding (dormitory) services;
  • a document in proof of ownership of a residential property, by means of a certified copy of title deed issued within 30 days to date;
  • a real estate sales contract and a copy of the decision of the competent Budapest or county government agency granting permission for the acquisition of a real estate property;
  • other documents.
• Documents proving the existence of comprehensive health insurance;
• Documents evidencing the conditions of exit (a valid passport; and a valid ticket for departure, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket).

Detailed requirements are available on the website of the Hungarian Immigration Authority.

Residence permit for the purpose of studies:

• Sworn affidavit from a parent or guardian that they will support the student during his/her education in Hungary;
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence (In case of sponsorship, the sponsor must demonstrate adequate means of subsistence and take financial responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in terms of health treatment, residence in Hungary and repatriation, for at least one academic year. The sponsor must have a regular income.):
  • Certified bank statements indicating the currency of the bank account for the past three months prior to the application
  • Letter from the employer
  • Evidence of relationship with sponsor (eg. birth certificates)
• Original Letter of University Admission (+ a copy)
• Poof of registration
• Evidence of fees paid (tuition fees and accommodation)
• Students' previous degrees and academic records (original AND copies)
• Evidence of booked accommodation in Hungary

Detailed requirements are available on the website of the Hungarian Immigration Authority.

Residence permit for family reunification:

• Copy of the passport of the relative.
• Documents verifying the purpose of residence:

  • birth certificate;

  • marriage certificate;

  • adoption document;

  • any other document attesting the existence of family relationship.

• Documents in proof of accommodation in Hungary, e.g.: 
  • a residential lease contract in proof of rental of a residence;
  • a document on accommodation by courtesy;
  • a document in proof of ownership of a residential property, by means of a certified copy of title deed issued within 30 days to date; 
  • a valid letter of invitation with an official certificate affixed;
  • documentary evidence to verify the reservation of accommodation and payment;
  • a notarised statement made by a family member with the right of residence in Hungary (residence permit, immigrant or permanent resident status, residence card or a permanent residence card, refugee status, promising lodging to the applicant;
  • a real estate sales contract and a copy of the decision of the competent Budapest or county government agency granting permission for the acquisition of a real estate property;
  • other documents.
• ​Documents in proof of means of subsistence in Hungary, e.g.:

  • a notarised statement made by the receiving family member promising support to the applicant along with a document in proof of the family member’s ability to provide such support;

  • an income certificate issued by the tax authority for the family member’s or applicant’s previous year’s income;

  • an income certificate issued by the employer;

  • the family member’s or applicant’s bank statement of a Hungarian bank account;

  • a certificate issued by the employer and/or tax authority as proof of regular income received from abroad;

  • letter of invitation with official endorsement;

  • other documents.

Detailed requirements are available on the website of the Hungarian Immigration Authority.

Appeal procedure

If the visa is refused applicants have the right to appeal. Appeals can be submitted personally either by the applicant or by the person who has a power of attorney from the applicant at the Hungarian Consulate (that refused the visa application) 8 days within the date of receiving the decision on refusal. The decision will be made by the respective Hungarian authorities.

The appeal should be lodged in writing and it should be signed by the applicant or by the person who has power of attorney.

The fee of the appeal procedure is KES 22 543 which should be paid upon the submission of the appeal. The appeal fee will not be reimbursed in the outcome of a positive decision. There is no possibility for the reduction of the fee even for applicants who received a visa fee exemption in the first instance procedure.

The appeal must be submitted in Hungarian or in any other official language of the European Union. If the applicant lodges the appeal in another language he/she must submit an official translation with the appeal.

The applicant or the person with the power of attorney can submit further supporting documents during the appeal procedure, and the applicant can be summoned to the Consulate for a personal visa interview.

The appeal judgment may be subject to judicial review.

In case of refusal, a new application may be submitted at any time but the visa fee has to be paid again.

Records of data, data protection

According to Article 96 (1) of the Act on entry and stay of third country nationals (Act II of 2007), the immigration authority shall process the following data of third-country nationals in connection with applications for residence permits and the residence permits issued:

a) natural identification data;

b) facial photograph;

c) travel document particulars;

d) the purpose of entry and the planned duration of stay, and the country of previous usual residence.

e) particulars of the documents provided in support of the conditions required for entry and stay;

f) the fact and reasons for the refusal of a new residence permit or for the extension of an existing one, and for the withdrawal of a residence permit;

g) the number, serial number and validity period of the residence permit issued (extended);

h) the date of first entry and final exit, and the country of next usual residence.

i) address of the place of accommodation.

j) facial images and fingerprint images taken in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals and Council Regulation (EC) No. 380/2008 of 18 April 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No. 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals.

The immigration authority may disclose data of the type of data specified by law from the immigration sub-registers to the following bodies to the extent required to discharge their duties conferred upon them by legal regulation: law enforcement agencies; investigation authorities; national security services; the refugee authority; tax authorities; the authorities participating in immigration proceedings; the customs authority; the authority handling citizenship-related duties; the body operating the register of personal data and address records of citizens; the employment and labor authority; the occupational safety authority; and the public health authority; the pension insurance administration agency; the bodies of municipal governments vested with regulatory capacity; and document bureaus.

The consulate may disclose data from its register to law enforcement and criminal investigation agencies, the national security agencies and the refugee authority, to agencies specified by law or international agreement within the type of specific information defined therein, furthermore to Schengen / EU consulates in the jurisdiction.

If requested by the applicant, the consulate and the Immigration and Asylum Office within its jurisdiction shall provide information regarding his/her data on record, unless the Aliens Act prohibits the disclosure of such data. If the consulate determines, whether by the initiative of the applicant or ex officio, that any particular data on record is incorrect or has changed, it takes prompt measures to have such incorrect data corrected or removed from the records, whichever is appropriate.