White Card
Official nomad visaWhat this visa gets you
Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
1 year initially, up to 2 years total
Permanent residency
Not via this programme
Citizenship
Not via this programme
- Income requirement
- EUR 3,000 net/month (the law specifies the threshold in euros, not forints)
- Application fee
- €110
- Family allowed
- No
How do Canadian citizens apply for the Hungary White Card?
Can Canadian citizens apply from inside Hungary?
Yes. Canadian applicants may submit from inside Hungary.
How long does the Hungary White Card really take for Canadian citizens?
8–10 weeks (≈ 2 months)
- Police clearance (verified)1w
- Consular appointment (typical)4w
- Processing 3–5w official3w
- Post-arrival registration (verified)1w
Official processing: 3–5 weeks. The rest is doc gathering + waiting in a queue, none of which the consulate counts.
Avoid these
What do people get wrong about the Hungary White Card?
- Underestimating timing by a factor of 2–3. The "60-day processing" line is real, but it's only the consulate's processing window. The door-to-door reality includes police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead, and post-arrival registration, so most applicants land between 4 and 7 months.
- Income proof in the wrong currency. Bank statements showing income in your local currency are routinely rejected if the equivalent in EUR isn't clearly stated and consistent across the qualifying period (usually 3 or 6 months).
Worth knowing: As visa-exempt nationals, Canadians may enter Hungary under the 90-day Schengen visa waiver and apply for the White Card from inside Hungary via the Enter Hungary platform or a regional Aliens Policing directorate, or apply abroad at the Hungarian Embassy in Ottawa. Canada and Hungary have an in-force income tax convention (entered into force 1994) and an in-force social security totalisation agreement (the Agreement on Social Security Between Canada and the Republic of Hungary, signed 4 March 2002), which together help Canadian White Card holders avoid double taxation and coordinate pension coverage. Note that the EU 2016/1191 apostille exemption applies to documents issued within EU member states, not to Canadian-issued documents.
Tax
How is White Card income taxed for Canadian citizens?
No special tax regime. A holder is generally not a Hungarian tax resident if present under 183 days in a calendar year, in which case foreign income is typically not taxed in Hungary. Spending 183+ days can trigger Hungarian tax residency, subjecting worldwide income to the flat 15% personal income tax (subject to applicable double-taxation treaties).
Money, roughly (indicative)
Regime: Foreign income exempt (White Card), about 0% effective tax on €60k/yr.
Income earned abroad is generally not taxable in Hungary while on the White Card, and working for foreign clients keeps you out of mandatory Hungarian social contributions. Verify your status.
Living comfortably to well in Budapest runs about €1,400–€1,950/mo for one person, incl. rent. Roughly 57% less than the same living in Toronto, which runs about C$4,800/mo (≈ €3,250).
Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.
Recommended for your move
- SafetyWingFlexible monthly cover
Health insurance built for nomads. Monthly subscription.
Get a quote - GenkiEU-regulated, long-term
EU-regulated health insurance for nomads and expats; long-term and resident cover.
See plans - WiseGetting paid abroad
Multi-currency account and low-cost transfers at the mid-market rate.
Open an account - RevolutEveryday spending
Multi-currency card with budgeting and fee-free transfers.
Open an account
FAQ
Hungary White Card: common questions
Can Canadian citizens get the Hungary White Card?
Yes. The White Card is open to Canadian passport holders as non-EU nationals. The main requirement is proof of income of at least €3,000 per month.
Can I apply for the Hungary White Card from inside Hungary?
Yes. Canadian applicants may submit the White Card application from inside Hungary.
How long does the Hungary White Card take for Canadian applicants?
Official processing is 3–5 weeks. Door-to-door, including police clearance, consular appointment lead time, and post-arrival registration, most Canadian applicants take about 3–5 weeks (roughly 1–1 months).
Do I need an apostille for the Hungary White Card?
No apostille is required for Canadian documents on this route. Confirm certified translation requirements with the consulate.
How much does the Hungary White Card cost?
The government application fee is about €110. The consular fee paid in Canada is approximately 110 EUR. Budget separately for police clearance, apostille (if required), translations, and required health insurance.
Can I bring my family on the Hungary White Card?
This route does not provide for family members to be sponsored on the same application. Family reunification would follow a separate procedure.
What's next
Keep going
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Different answers may surface a programme you didn't consider.
Every dated change we've logged for Hungary: income thresholds, fees, consular policy.
Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.