All countries
Dossier
Hungary
Schengen study visa (under 90 days) or residence permit (over 90 days)
Verified 2026-02-19 · Secondary, consistent
Hungary forks on programme length: Schengen under 90 days, residence permit for 90+ — most exchange semesters cross that line. Register your address at the Kormányablak early, don't wait for the 90-day deadline.
Visa fee
Set by embassy
Proof of funds
HUF 185,000/mo — ~EUR 540/month
≈ ₹55,500/mo
Processing
up to 70 days
Apply before
90 days
Live rate (ECB via frankfurter.app), as of 5 Aug 2026: €1 = ₹109.90 · HUF 1 = ₹0.30
Consular jurisdiction · India
Which center covers your home state?
For a long-stay / national visa, you must apply through the center covering your home state — Schengen short-stay visas are more flexible, this rule applies specifically to the long-stay visa exchange students need.
Confirm your applicable center
Hungary consular jurisdictions vary — check the country's own India consular website + your appointment booking flow to confirm which office covers your home state.
Consular jurisdiction depends on your home state — confirm your specific center when booking your appointment.
Book at this center Official checklist
What you need for Hungary
- Residence permit for study application (via NDGAP / VFS)
- Passport valid entire stay
- Biometric photos
- Admission letter (Hungarian institution)
- Proof of funds ≈ HUF 185,000/month
- Health insurance covering full stay
- Accommodation proof
- Apostille where specified
- Fee. Confirm at time of appointment
Indian B-schools with partners here
3 schools · 3 partners
Nikshala partner services
Services in scope for Hungary
Vetted partners for the practical parts of your move. Referral partners help fund Ministry of Exchange. Nikshala products are shipped in-house.
Accommodation
Temporary stay while you search
Partner links: Ministry of Exchange may earn a commission if you sign up through this partner. Official actions above are never re-ranked by fees.
Nikshala products: Provided by Nikshala.
Legal & identity
Under 90 days = Schengen. 90+ days = Residence permit. · Confirm your exact programme length before you choose a route — most exchange semesters land on the residence-permit side
Hungary's fork depends purely on programme duration. Under 90 days: a Schengen C visa is enough (short-stay flexible rules). 90+ days: you need a residence permit for the purpose of study, applied at your Hungarian consulate. Most 45-120 day exchanges cross the 90-day line and therefore need the residence permit — check your admission dates, don't assume Schengen is fine.
- 1Confirm programme dates. < 90 days → Schengen C. ≥ 90 days → Residence permit.
- 2For the residence permit: gather funds proof (HUF ~185,000/month), admission letter, accommodation confirmation, health-insurance certificate.
- 3Apply at your Hungarian consulate; attend biometrics.
- 4On arrival: register your address at the local Government Office (Kormányablak) — see gotcha.
OIF · National Directorate for Aliens Policing
OIF handles residence permits and address registration; local Kormányablak (Government Office) is the in-person counter.
oif.gov.hu/index.php?lang=en Start address registration well before the 90-day mark
The 90-day window is technically generous but Kormányablak appointment slots go fast at term start. Same trap as Ireland's IRP — 'I have time' is the actual mistake. Book your Kormányablak appointment as soon as your address is set, not near the deadline.
Home & essentials
SIM, groceries, marketplace.
Supermarkets
Tesco HungarySpar HungaryLidl HungaryAldi HungaryCBA
SIM / Mobile
Vodafone HungaryYettelMagyar Telekom
Marketplace
JófogásIKEA Magyarország
Food delivery
WoltFoodpandaNetPincér
Money & digital
Bank, statutory health cover, doctor booking.
Banks
OTP BankK&H BankErste HungaryRaiffeisen Hungary
Doctor booking
Doklist.com (or clinic-specific booking)
Blocked account, forex and insurance partners → see Nikshala partner services above.
Mobility
Trains, rideshare, rentals, cross-Europe rail.
Notable universities
Corvinus University of BudapestCentral European University (CEU)University of Szeged
Major cities · train app
Budapest (2 partners)Szeged (1)
MÁV · Trainline