Family Reunification Application in Hungary

In this blog post, I would like to share my personal experience applying for a Residence Permit for the Purpose of Family Reunification in Hungary last September 2024, including the documents my Hungarian husband and I prepared, how we submitted the application through Enter Hungary, and how the process went from start to approval.

I submitted my application through the official Enter Hungary website in the last week of June 2024. Six days later, I was able to book my biometrics appointment — and amazingly, my application was approved the very next day after biometrics.

Yes, it really happened that fast. So if you’re currently preparing your application, take a deep breath and trust yourself. You can do this!

Disclaimer

This post is based solely on my personal experience. I am not a legal representative, and I am not responsible for the outcome of anyone else’s application. Immigration cases vary depending on nationality, background, and individual circumstances.

My intention is simply to share how we successfully obtained the residence permit in our case. For official advice, I strongly recommend contacting the Immigration Office in your city or county by phone or email.

What I Checked Before Starting My Residence Permit Application

Documents We Prepared

Based on the official Hungarian Immigration guidance and our experience, these are the documents we prepared and submitted for Family Reunification.

Documents I Prepared (Filipina)

• Passport-size portrait photo
• Passport (scanned from cover to cover)
• Birth Certificate (Apostilled and translated via OFFI)
• Current Residence Permit card
• NAV Tax Certificate (Adóigazolás)
• NAV Annual Income Certificate (Megelőző évi jövedelemigazolás)
• Employment Certificate (Munkáltatói igazolás) and Certificate of Income
• TAJ card or Private Health Insurance
• Bank Account Statement (last 12 months)
• Certificate of Account Balance (Igazolás számlaegyenlegről)
• Marriage Certificate
• Degree Diploma (translated via OFFI)
• Hungarian Language Certificate (optional)
• Birth Certificate of my Hungarian child
• NBI Clearance (Apostilled and translated via OFFI – optional)

Documents My Husband Prepared (Hungarian)

• Hungarian ID and Address Card
• NAV Tax Certificate
• NAV Annual Income Certificate
• Employment Certificate or Employment Agreement
• Bank Account Statement (last 12 months)
• Certificate of Account Balance
• Ownership Certificate of the house/flat or Residential Lease Contract
• Notarized declaration confirming accommodation and support
  (Befogadó és Eltartó Nyilatkozat)

Where and How I Obtained the Documents

Portrait Photo

I took a self-photo at home using my phone, with a white background and decent attire, saved it in JPEG format and followed the Schengen visa photo size and also printed it on photo paper since it was required for the uploaded forms.

Passport

I submitted a full scanned copy of my passport (cover to cover). Although passport translation is not required, I had it translated through OFFI for future use. Only the personal data page was translated.

Note:
Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelesítő Iroda (OFFI) is the only officially accepted translation office by Hungarian Immigration.

Birth Certificate

I apostilled my birth certificate through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines and had it translated to Hungarian via OFFI.

NAV Certificates

• I personally visited the NAV office near me and requested my Tax Certificate and Annual Income Certificate.
• My husband requested his certificates online.

Both were issued smoothly.

Employment Certificates

• I requested mine directly from my employer.
• My husband provided employment and income certificates to prove financial capability.

Bank Statements and Proof of Funds

This application was a long-term preparation. We saved consistently and collected 12 months of bank statements via our banking apps. We also requested a Certificate of Account Balance from the bank to show our current funds.

Accommodation Documents

We submitted proof of property ownership. If renting, a lease contract would also be accepted.

Additionally, my husband prepared a notarized declaration confirming that he would provide accommodation and support.

Degree Diploma

I apostilled my diploma in the Philippines and had it translated via OFFI. This was submitted to support my background and professional history.

Hungarian Language Certificate

This was not required, but I submitted it to demonstrate my commitment to living and integrating in Hungary.

Birth Certificate of Our Child

Since I recently gave birth, I also submitted our child’s Hungarian birth certificate.

NBI Clearance

Although not listed as a requirement, I submitted my NBI Clearance (apostilled and translated) as additional proof of good character.

Submitting My Application on Enter Hungary

I carefully followed the instructions on the official Hungarian Immigration website.

Filling Out the Forms

• Personal Details: All information matched my passport and official documents.
• Family Reunification & Accommodation: I entered my husband’s and child’s details exactly as shown on their Hungarian IDs and address cards.

Attaching Files

We attached all required documents and additional supporting documents. Everything was reviewed carefully before submission.

Submission and Progress

• We paid the 23,000 HUF fee online.
• Within hours, documents were generated in my Enter Hungary account.
• I printed, signed, scanned, and uploaded the requested forms.
• A receipt confirming submission was issued.
• The following day, I received a notice requesting my biometrics appointment.

I booked an appointment online, attended in person, and completed fingerprints and photo collection.

Timeline and Approval

The next morning, my application was approved. ✨

Changes in life are constant, and immigration processes can feel overwhelming — but preparation truly makes a difference.

I hope this post helps you better understand the Family Reunification residence permit process in Hungary and gives you confidence as you prepare your own application. I sincerely wish you good news as well. If you are interested, I wrote a blog on my Work Permit Application experience in Hungary.