Important information about  the details of the regulation (81/2020), which is now in place as of today and is related to travel to Hungary. 

This article provides important information on travelling to Hungary, including who is currently allowed to enter, under what conditions, and what documents are needed.

Citizens of the below-listed countries are allowed to travel here expressly for business reasons:

  1. Czech Republic
  2. Poland
  3. South Korea
  4. Federal Republic of Germany
  5. Republic of Austria
  6. Slovak Republic
  7. Japan

At the time of entry, one needs to prove that the sending company and the receiving company are connected companies based on law 1996. LXXXI 4. § 23.

Based on the information received from the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, assuming the citizens of the above-mentioned countries are able to successfully enter Hungary and have the relevant documentation, they can start their residence document applications via the portal of the authority too.

Travel to Hungary is also allowed for those EU/EEA citizens who are entitled to permanently reside here and hold a permanent residence card. EU/EEA citizens who do not hold a permanent residence card and non-EU citizens who hold a residence permit or permanent residence permit may make a special request to re-enter Hungary via an online portal provided by the Hungarian police. It is our understanding that for EU/EEA citizens such requests are generally accepted.

Here is a link to the portal (it’s in Hungarian only):

https://ugyintezes.police.hu/en/uj-ugy-inditasa/

On the site, the option “Államhatáron történő beutazáshoz méltányossági kérelem” category needs to be selected,without registering. Inter Relocation is happy to assist with making such an application. Contact us for more information.

Special personal conditions that can be considered for entry, in case the applicant can justify them:

  1. a) the need to attend court in Hungary by providing official documentation
  2. b) the need for business travel, justified by an invitation letter issued by a state institution
  3. c) the need to enter Hungary for medical treatment
  4. d) the need to sit a school exam connected to active student status and this being justified by the educational institute
  5. e) the need to travel connected with transportation, to enable the person to get to the starting point of the transportation task or to return home, this being proven by an employer certificate
  6.  f ) the need to attend a funeral of a close family member
  7.  g) other

Supporting documents need to be attached to the request.

IMPORTANT:

Currently we have no experience of how exactly this will work (what documentation is requested to justify connected companies). We also understand that in the event that a person arrives at the border with insufficient paperwork, they may still be allowed entry into the country but subject to a compulsory 14-day quarantine.

As soon as we receive further information on this, we will notify you. We also suggest that before any citizen travels to Hungary, they contact their own border authority, to check if there are currently any restrictions on returning to their home country.

Summary

The key point is that citizens of the above-listed countries can now travel to Hungary. If they can provide information proving the connection between their home country company and the company they are going to work at in Hungary, they should be allowed in without the need for any quarantine. We can then carry out any destination and immigration services that are ordered.

Brexit Update – The United Kingdom left the EU at 00:00 CET on Saturday 1st February 2020. We take a look at what that means for UK citizens who are already in Hungary and for any Brits that may still plan to relocate to Hungary this year.

Many believed this day would never come. It did though and all UK citizens in Hungary who have not yet managed to establish Hungarian or perhaps Irish citizenship, ceased to be EU citizens on Saturday. There have been many articles over the last year or more, communicating what Brexit will mean for UK citizens living in Hungary and here we seek to provide clear guidance as to what to do, if anything, now that Brexit day has indeed arrived.

Brexit and Immigration

If you’re a UK citizen and already hold a registration card (Regisztrációs Igazolás) and address card (Lakcímkártya­) then the good news is that your residence status in Hungary is guaranteed, for life. You do not need to do anything right now, your existing cards will remain valid until the end of the transition period, which forms an important part of the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU.

The transition period is currently set to expire on 31st December 2020, after which time one of the following options will apply:

  1. If you have already legally resided in Hungary for three years on 1st January 2021 then you will immediately be allowed to apply for a national permanent residence permit on preferential terms
  2. If you have not yet legally resided in Hungary for three years you will be allowed to retain your current cards and then once the three years has been completed, then apply for the aforementioned national permanent residence permit.

More information on Brexit and how it affects existing residents can be found by following this link.

Not yet established residence?

If you either plan to relocate to Hungary this year or already arrived but have not yet got around to registering, the good news is that during the transition period set out in the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU, UK citizens may continue to establish their right to reside in Hungary, as if they were still EU citizens. However, the clock is ticking and unless the transition period is extended, there are now less than 11 months until this window of opportunity closes.

On 1st January 2021, current legislation states that newly arriving UK citizens will be treated as the non-EU citizens they are and will need to apply for a combined work and residence permit if they wish to engage in work for a Hungarian company. However, there is always the possible that a bi-lateral agreement will be signed between the UK and Hungary, allowing for a more simplified process.

If you are in any doubt as to what to do, or would like more information on the process of establishing or retaining legal residence in Hungary, post-Brexit, please contact us here or at [email protected].

UK citizens with non-EU spouses

More positive news here. Any non-EU spouse of a UK citizen who is currently legally resident as the dependent of an EU citizen, retains the right to reside, post-Brexit. When the UK citizen attains the right to apply for permanent residence on preferential terms, the spouse and any other dependents also qualify, subject to some terms and conditions.

This also applies to any UK citizen who applies for residence during the transition period.

Public transport

One key issue that UK retirees to Hungary have always enjoyed is the majorly discounted national travel and the right to use the Budapest public transport system, free of charge.

Whilst it is reasonable to assume that this right will be lost after the transition period, our opinion is that as the transition period allows for all rights and benefits of EU membership to be retained by UK citizens, this right to discounted or free travel should be retained, at least for the rest of 2020.

In conclusion

Although the UK has now left the EU, in reality the transition period means that not much has changed. Watch this space for more information.

The Budapest Burns Supper has been a highlight of the expat ball season for more than twenty years now. Saturday night saw another incredible effort to raise money for sick and under privileged children in Hungary.

As part of our long-standing commitment to social responsibility, Inter Relocation charity initiatives proudly include supporting the annual Burns Supper event. While we are not the organisers, we are honoured to be among its most loyal sponsors, helping to make a difference through this charitable tradition.

On Saturday 25th January, the Corinthia Hotel Budapest once again hosted a night of haggis, whisky, pipers, the work of Rabbie Burns, and of course, a huge fundraising effort. Over 300 guests packed into the elegant hotel ballroom, dressed in their Scottish finery.

The event loosely follows the format of a traditional Burns Supper, a tribute to the life and works of Scotland’s Bard, Robert Burns. Saturday night started out with Scottish songs performed by the choir of the Budapest British International School, after which the pipers and drummers, specially flown in from Scotland as always, announced that dinner would shortly be served.

Charity and Culture at the 23rd Budapest Burns Supper

Highlights of the evening included a very amusing toast to the lassies and the lassies’ reply, given by professional actors Shyvonne Ahmmad and Angus Taylor from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, and a rendition of Burns’ poem O Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast in Hungarian by Hungarian Scottish Society and Robert Burns International Foundation founder, Zoltán Magyar.

SME Awards

For the second year in a row, the organisers of the Burns Supper focused on the growing Small and Medium Enterprise Sponsorship scheme. While smaller businesses cannot make the significant donations that multinational companies can, as a percentage of their revenue, their contributions are far larger.

The purpose of the SME sponsorship scheme is to allow smaller companies to have their own fund-raising projects, rather than their contributions going into a larger “pot”.

This time, the RBIF chose to honour two SMEs that have donated larger amounts to the foundation. Eszter Balázs, an insurance agent with Generali, donates a percentage of every sale she makes, an incredible commitment for a small business owner. Stuart McAlister represented his company, Inter Relocation, which has donated funds to help hospitals in Makó and Hódmezővásárhely buy key equipment over the last two years.

Both Eszter and Stuart were awarded traditional Scottish Quaichs, shared sipping cups that symbolise their organisations’ spirit of giving.

An amazing result

Preliminary figures suggest that the 23rd Budapest Burns Supper raised in excess of 11 million HUF. This is another incredible result and will significantly aid the Robert Burns International Foundation in reaching its charitable goals for 2020.

Photo credits: Pelle Zoltán Photography/ Robert Burns International Foundation

145,000ft for the Children of Zsámbék!

As the many successful and not-too successful but all very happy punters disappeared into the night after another evening of drama, excitement, disappointment, wild celebration and best of all Great Fun, and the snow of winning and torn-up and discarded loosing betting slips settled, the air cleared to reveal “not too” Honest Bob the bookie with assistant and runner joyously counting the evening’s takings and donations and Sponsor monies which, yes, amount to another 145,000 forint for the Children of Zsámbék!!

Nine Races this year, shown on all the television screens and the Big Screen in the Clubhouse and on “not too” Honest Bob’s ‘betting shop’ screens giving no shelter to the faint hearted from the tension and excitement of close run races.

Fortunately Champs bar staff kept the liquid refreshment coming to help ease the blood pressure and The Club Bp’s usual charity horse race Chili con carne after the fifth race gave a chance to calm any overstressed nerves before they were stretched to breaking point yet again… but everyone survived to some extent or other!!

Many thanks for all the sponsors

So, Many Thanks to all the Members and Guests who came to support the Children of Zsámbék and bet with such glee and enthusiasm, many even donating their winnings and more at the end of the evening….and to Champs attentive staff who raced up and down the Clubhouse and Bookie’s shop all evening keeping glasses refilled.

And Special thanks to The Club’s resident Bookie “not too” Honest Bob, and staff, and hard-working Bookie’s Tout, who all managed the challenges of the electronic (??) tote board, the punters’ cheers and tears and of course the selling and taking of bets and the (reluctant?) paying out, with aplomb.

Inter Relocation Continuously Sponsors Charity Horse Race

Sponsoring seven year in a row

During the next couple of weeks we will be discussing with the Norbertine Sisters what we can most help them with – the last couple of years it has been equipment for their kitchen training workshop, but we shall see and will let you know!

And lastly, but certainly not least, many thanks to those others whom without the evening would not have been so successful – the many Race Sponsors, to friends who couldn’t be there but made donations, and of course our Main Sponsor, for the Seventh time, Inter Relocation!

Inter Relocation is proud to be the main sponsor of this charity event to support the Children of Zsámbék. More about Inter Relocations’s charity work: HERE

We always love receiving good news like this especially around Christmastime! :)

 

 

Stars of Global Mobility

(Boston October, 2019) — Inter Relocation was honoured for its outstanding performance at Cartus Corporation’s 2019 Global Network Conference held October in Boston, MA.

The Global Mobility Oscars

Cartus Global Network is Cartus’ industry-leading worldwide service provider network. Each year, Cartus recognizes the companies and individuals in the Network who have provided extraordinary service to its customers and clients worldwide.

Inter Relocation was also nominated for the prestigious Cartus Masters Cup in 2016.

This year Boston was the venue of the 2019 Global Network Conference

Winner 7th year in a row

Inter Relocation was named winner of the Global Network Commitment to Excellence Gold Award, the seventh year in a row that Inter Relocation has won such an award. This award was given for its exceptional service results, and it is one of the highest level awards a supplier can achieve through service performance. In addition, this award recognizes a supplier’s measurable commitment to excellence and is presented to Global Network service providers who have distinguished themselves by achieving critical performance metrics.

Inter Relocation owner Stuart McAlister receives Cartus Gold Award

A proud global mobility company owner

Stuart McAlister, Inter Relocation’s owner and Managing Director

Stuart McAlister, Inter Relocation’s owner and Managing Director, collected the award on behalf of his entire team. We asked him how he felt about this latest success:

“I’m delighted that Inter Relocation’s destination services team has maintained a consistently high level of quality service, over a seven-year period, and all the while expanding the volume of business we manage for Cartus and also widening our geographic coverage. I’m extremely proud of every member of staff that contributed to this amazing result.”

 

About Inter Relocation

 Founded in March 2002 , Inter Relcoation is a provider of relocation destination services and immigration compliance in Budapest, Hungary. Established with three full-time members of staff, Inter Relocation has a current staff of 21.

In addition, in 2003 Inter Relocation founded the international side of the company. From humble beginnings with the company offering relocation services in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Inter Relocation now boasts franchise group members in 25 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with the Budapest office acting as the group headquarters.

How can expatriates living in Budapest find foreign language education institutions? How can you find your way around the Budapest (public) transport system? And where can you meet other foreigners living and working in Budapest? Our recently updated Welcome to Our World guide is here to help. It introduces Budapest and the peculiarities of Hungarian living from the perspective of expats.

Foreigners flock to Budapest not only for sightseeing trips, they often settle down for longer periods as well. Choosing and arranging the right place to live, organising medical treatment, education, as well as acquiring the necessary permits can present serious difficulties for expats, and there is no guarantee that information pieced together from several sources on the internet will be of great help.

A new English-language guide for expatriates

This English-language guide published by Inter Relocation, a leading relocation firm, is intended to make your integration easier. Here you can find comprehensive information to ease the stress of organising your stay and everyday living in Hungary. This guide will assist you in finding apartments, understanding lease contracts, and the specific rules of parking, public transport, the healthcare system as well as financial and education services. It provides advice for shopping, social and business networking and filling your free time with useful leisure activities. It also provides an insight into the history and sights of Budapest, while describing the districts of the city from the perspective of epxat residents.

Your Ultimate Free Guide to Hungary

“From exploring schools to finding the right doctors”

“We receive most questions about real estate, since it is really hard to find a good deal that represents value for money when you are looking to rent, especially in such an oversaturated market. Even though we are not able to find city centre houses with gardens and pools either, our advisers do their best to find the ideal solution in the client’s interest.

Relocation services, however, cover a wide range of aspects of the arrival process, from exploring schools to finding the right doctors speaking the right languages, and locating electricians, if required. We have handled a huge number of questions over a period of more than fifteen years now, and we have used them to compile this guide to provide a comprehensive picture of life in Hungary for workers of SMEs and large corporations moving here.” – says Stuart McAlister, founder and manager of Inter Relocation.

You can download the guide from HERE, but Inter Relocation clients receive a printed copy too. Expatriates living in Budapest can find a wealth of useful information in our magazine at EXPAT PRESS, and in the Budapest Expats Group on Facebook that is open to everyone.

***

About Inter Relocation: Founded in Budapest in 2002, Inter Relocation has in the last 17 years become a significant player on the market, and its partner offices in 25 countries help expats settle down. It is the only company in Hungary to have the Quality Seal of EuRA (international organisation for relocation service providers), and in Hungary alone it has so far helped 25,000 people settle into life in Budapest.

Inter Relocation is proud to be co-sponsoring a Relaxation Station at the upcoming EuRA conference in Munich

Inter Relocation, together with two of  its strategic partners, is sponsoring a Relaxation Station at the upcoming EuRA conference in Munich. Conference participants are encouraged to take a break from their busy weeks to get a professional chair massage from one of the two expert therapists. Massages are free of charge but anyone taking advantage of this indulgence is encouraged to make a donation of at least €20 to EuRA’s chosen charity for 2019.

Come and find the Relaxation Station at the rear of the exhibit hall, in front of the staircase. Take a well-deserved rest and help us raise money for a good cause!

Inter Relocation and Charity

Inter Relocation is a proud holder of the EuRA Global Quality Seal. This industry recognised quality standard commits Inter Relocation to charitable activity as a part of its overall CSR strategy. In 2018 Inter Relocation’s charity activity included purchasing a digital infusion pump for the paediatrics department of a hospital in southern Hungary and to purchase a signed Liverpool FC shirt at the EuRA charity auction in Dubrovnik.

Inter Relocation takes the stress out of the EuRA conference

In 2019 Inter Relocation will continue to support sick and under privileged children in Hungary via its partnership with the Robert Burns International Foundation. Inter Relocation is also committed to working with EuRA again to ensure it raises the most money it can for its chosen charity for 2019, a multi-lingual language support service for immigrants.

The British Embassy hosted a second Brexit Town Hall meeting last Wednesday, 20th March at the Budapest Marriott Hotel. Again, more than 200 UK citizens and other interested parties attended what this time was a more understated meeting. Significantly, the panel included senior figures from all the relevant ministries of the Hungarian government, while the United Kingdom government was represented by Her Majesty’s Ambassador, Iain Lindsay and Tom Whitehead.

Her Majesty’s Ambassador commenced the meeting by re-stating that it is critical all UK citizens register for legal residence before 29th March. Ambassador Lindsay also stated that the UK government’s aim remains to depart the EU with a deal.

The UK government continues to work with the Hungarian government to ensure that UK citizens can continue to live their lives exactly as they have done as EU members.

Pál Péter Schmidt, deputy secretary of state at the Hungarian Prime Minister’s office stated that the Hungarian government welcomes the vote of the UK parliament on 14th March stating that a no-deal Brexit should not take place under any circumstances. The Hungarian government has already passed a law covering many issues, intended to protect the rights of UK citizens in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

One key statement was to confirm that there would be no visa requirements for UK citizens within the EU, regardless of whether there is a Brexit with a deal or not. However there is likely to be a requirement in the future and certainly under a no-deal Brexit, for UK citizens travelling as tourists or on business to the EU, to pay the planned ETIAS electronic visa waiver fee.

Registration Card and Address Card

The critical information for UK citizens who are existing legal residents in Hungary, is that anyone holding a Registration Card and Address Card on Brexit Day (whenever that might occur), will be allowed to continue to hold those documents and use them as proof of legal residence for up to 3 years. Any UK citizen that has held legal residence 3 years or more, they will be allowed to transfer to a national permanent residence permit immediately after Brexit, with preferential terms. This provides lifelong equal treatment for work, residence, social security etc. If a UK citizen that has held legal residence 5 years or more, they will be allowed to transfer to an EU permanent residence permit, which also affords some rights to work in other EU member states.

Permanent residence

The preferential terms under which UK citizens would be able to apply for permanent residence are as follows: The normal requirement for non-EU/EEA citizens to prove that they have held significant savings for at least a year would not be imposed on UK citizens, neither would the requirement to prove that their being awarded permanent residence would be in the best interests of the Hungarian state.

Finally, if a UK citizen can only prove that they have applied for Hungarian residence or started the process of applying but has not yet got the required cards, they will still be allowed to continue to reside as if they had applied before the deadline. The indication here was that flexibility would be given to UK citizens in the event of any issue in the short-term after Brexit day.

Questions & Answers from the participants

Q: How would this offer of permanent residence work in a no-deal scenario?

A: It’s important to hold a registration card or residence card at the time of Brexit. The cards UK citizens hold can be retained for up to 3 years, by which time they should apply for a national settlement permit.

Q: What documentation would a person need if they travel from London to Budapest on 30th March and then return to London on 2nd April [this question was asked before the Brexit extension to 11th April was granted by the EU].

A: There are two scenarios that must be addressed here, if you hold a registration card and re-enter the EU via any border and you will be recognised as an EU resident. If you don’t hold a residence card you can travel to and from Hungary with a passport, as a non-EU tourist.

Q: I hold a valid residence card and address card, do I need to do anything now?:

A: You do not need to do anything, just wait to see what happens with Brexit

Q: My registration card shows a different address to where I currently live. I have changed my address card, do I need to change my registration card too?

A: No, so long as your address card is updated you do not need to modify your registration card.

Q: If Brexit day is delayed, can a UK citizen apply for registration as an EU citizen between 29th March and, for example, the end of June?

A: If Brexit is delayed then UK citizens would continue to be EU citizens and would retain their existing rights to apply for residence as EU citizens.

Q: I have only been resident for 1.5 years. Until I have the 3 years needed, post-Brexit, for permanent residence, what are my intra EU travel rights, post Brexit?

A: The registration card will be registered with all EU borders, so you will be allowed to prove your residence in Hungary with that card.

Q: If the UK finally does not leave the EU, is the deal on permanent residence still on offer?

A: The EU registration card is of itself valid permanently, so EU citizens do not qualify for the national permanent residence permit.

Q: I hold a green ID card, can I travel freely?

A: You will need your passport to travel within the EU but the green ID card combined with passport will allow you to travel, post-Brexit.

Q: EIHC – will this card continue to be valid in the event of a no deal Brexit?

A: According to the law passed by the Hungarian government, these cards will remain in force until 31st Dec 2020. Whether the UK government will then accept the EIHC for a UK citizen resident in Hungary, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, is not yet clear.

Q: I am a UK pensioner and I have a Hungarian social security card, funded by the UK government. Will this status remain in the event of a deal or no-deal Brexit?

A: Either way you will continue to have full access to the Hungarian state healthcare system in the same way that Hungarian pensioners have this right.

More information:

The Hungarian government published a new website about Brexit in English:

Information for British nationals and their family members

UK in Hungary (British Embassy Facebook page)

 

We’re so proud to announce that as a ‘Running Ambassador’ for Utcáról Lakásba! Egyesület (‘From Huts to Homes’ Organisation) our colleaugue, Viktória Rácz will participate in the K&H Half Marathon relay race which will take place on the 10th of June in Budapest.

Her goal is to collect 100,000 HUF for the organisation with the help of individual sponsors. The money will go to giving a homeless couple a fresh start with a roof over their heads. The organisation’s goal is to help the largest possible number of rough sleepers to move into affordable rental housing. They renovate run-down municipal apartments with the help of volunteers (Viktória is a volunteer there, too). Homeless families who will be able to move into the apartments also participate.

Click HERE for direct donation.

About the organization:

“Since beginning our work in 2012 we have been helping homeless persons move into renovated municipal flats. We renovate vacant, run-down municipal dwellings with the help of volunteers. The prospective tenants, civil society organisations, and individual and organisational donations also help. Members of the target group have no chance of ever obtaining long term, sustainable individual housing in any other way. This is because homeless persons are ineligible for municipal rental housing according to the vast majority of municipal decrees. At the same time, municipalities often have a low quality housing stock with many dilapidated, even uninhabitable flats, which they have trouble utilizing. This may also be the case for many privately owned apartments;therefore we recently began working on finding innovative ways to utilize private dwellings in affordable housing provision.

This way tenants can exit homelessness, for which they hardly have any other chance. Intensive social work, based on the Housing First approach, is a fundamental part of our work, in which stable housing is considered the first step in social reinsertion. The goal is to help clients retain their housing in the long run, for which we identify employment opportunities, and in some cases even offer jobs to our tenants. Some of our clients had no regular income whatsoever upon moving in their new housing, and today they are able to cover their bills on time.”

Source: ‘From Huts to Homes’ Organisation website

(Chicago – October, 2017) — Inter Relocation’s outstanding performance was honoured at Cartus Corporation’s 2017 Global Network Conference. Cartus Global Network is Cartus’ industry-leading worldwide service provider network. Each year, Cartus recognizes the companies and individuals in the Network who have provided extraordinary service to its customers and clients worldwide.

The Relocation Oscars – Cartus Commitment to Excellence Gold Award

Inter Relocation Receives Cartus Commitment to Excellence Gold Award

Cartus named Inter Relocation winner of the Global Network Commitment to Excellence Gold Award for its exceptional service results. This award recognizes a supplier’s measurable commitment to excellence.

Stars of Global Mobility

Global Network service providers who distinguish themselves by achieving critical performance metrics receive it. Inter Relocation has now won either a gold or platinum award at the Cartus Global Network Conference every year for the past five years. Inter Relocation was also nominated for the prestigious Cartus Masters Cup in 2016.

A proud relocation company owner

Stuart McAlister, Inter Relocation’s owner and Managing Director, collected the award on behalf of his entire team. We asked him how he felt about this latest success:

“I’m extremely proud of how the entire team consistently receives such excellent feedback. The volume of work we do for Cartus has increased significantly over the last few years and to continue to maintain such a high standard of quality across the board is challenging to say the least. We continue to analyse every aspect of our service delivery and take any less than positive feedback on board and learn from it wherever possible. Delivering such a high standard of service over many years involves a re-focusing of our efforts from time to time and we do that specifically to avoid becoming complacent. We very much hope we’ll be back to receive another award in 2018.”

About Inter Relocation

Founded in March 2002 , Inter Relocation is a provider of relocation destination services and immigration compliance in Budapest, Hungary. Established with three full-time members of staff, Inter Relocation has a current staff of 17.

In addition, in 2003 Inter Relocation founded the international side of the company. From humble beginnings with the company offering relocation services in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Inter Relocation now boasts franchise group members in 23 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with the Budapest office acting as the group headquarters.