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Stephanie99 wrote:

Hi everyone!

Some of my questions cover a few topics, so I thought I would post one big summary here and see what you all think.

My partner has dual-citizenship (Australian and Hungarian) and we wish to come to Hungary next year and live there for 8-12 months. He has not been back to Hungary for 10+ years and I have never been. He has family there (not in Budapest, which is where we would like to be based) We would also like to do some travel around Europe, finances-permitting....

Welcome to the forum.

Have you got an entitlement to a European (EC) passport/citizenship?

If you have, then apply for a passport asap. With that you don't need any paperwork/permits to take up employment anywhere in the EC.

I would guess that if you were married, you'd automatically get a residence permit. The other alternative is to leave to another country every so often (e.g. for travel) and come back.

Hi!

Can't help you with any of the visa/residence stuff, but I wish you two have a great time here!

Hi Fluffy,
I won't be able to get a European passport (100% Australian...)
We're not married with no immediate plans to be married, so I guess that's out of the question for now!!

We thought about the going back in and out every three months but I'm not sure it's 100% foolproof. We'll investigate with the Consulate here!
Thanks

szocske wrote:

Hi!

Can't help you with any of the visa/residence stuff, but I wish you two have a great time here!

Thank you!

Stephanie99 wrote:

Hi Fluffy,
I won't be able to get a European passport (100% Australian...)...

The rules are majorly complex so there might be a way.

I think in the UK, it can go back to at least grandparents and Germany's rules vary according to which parts of Europe were in and out of Germany over the centuries.

Might be worth looking into but only you would know.

Good luck!

hi Stephanie, this is Adam from Brisbane,

Workwise - I reckon it will be pretty easy for you to get a job as an english teacher even as a private teacher.

If you are after a bartender job I could recommend an Irish Pub in the 5th district called Becketts. My brother used to be the head chef there before he moved to Brisbane. The owner is a weird irish bloke but you do not need to speak hungarian to work there.

If you need some help about rules and regulations I recommend you to ask on this website: - it is more likely to find answers there then from the hungarian authorities (after a couple of months in Hungary you will know what I mean). Guys on this forum discuss in hungarian but they all speak english and I belive they will be happy to give you advices about visa stuff.

If you have any questions about life in hungary im happy to give my opinion too, just drop me a message.

A quick glance suggests that's a website for Hungarians aiming to work in Australia and not the other way around, but worth a shot anyway :-)

There have been multiple discussions on this forum about teaching and language schools as well.

But if you are as social and friendly IRL as you seem here, the simplest way to earn good money and benefit society is English teaching/tutoring on your own. Budget for the few weeks it may take to fill your timetable with pupils.
Noone will insist to see any certificates, work permits, or a bill: Aside from state jobs/contracts and multinational companies the rest of the Hungarian economy happens mostly under the table. (Must be a pretty big table!)

adambrisbane wrote:

hi Stephanie, this is Adam from Brisbane,

Workwise - I reckon it will be pretty easy for you to get a job as an english teacher even as a private teacher.

If you are after a bartender job I could recommend an Irish Pub in the 5th district called Becketts. My brother used to be the head chef there before he moved to Brisbane. The owner is a weird irish bloke but you do not need to speak hungarian to work there.

If you need some help about rules and regulations I recommend you to ask on this website: - it is more likely to find answers there then from the hungarian authorities (after a couple of months in Hungary you will know what I mean). Guys on this forum discuss in hungarian but they all speak english and I belive they will be happy to give you advices about visa stuff.

If you have any questions about life in hungary im happy to give my opinion too, just drop me a message.

Hi Adam,
Thanks so much for your tips on work! I might get my Hungarian translator (read: boyfriend) to help me with that site!

Thanks again... really appreciate the info!

szocske wrote:

A quick glance suggests that's a website for Hungarians aiming to work in Australia and not the other way around, but worth a shot anyway :-)

There have been multiple discussions on this forum about teaching and language schools as well.

But if you are as social and friendly IRL as you seem here, the simplest way to earn good money and benefit society is English teaching/tutoring on your own. Budget for the few weeks it may take to fill your timetable with pupils.
Noone will insist to see any certificates, work permits, or a bill: Aside from state jobs/contracts and multinational companies the rest of the Hungarian economy happens mostly under the table. (Must be a pretty big table!)

Thanks for confirming what I was hoping would be true!
I think we will be fine living off our paid leave, even on half-pay. When mine runs out, by then I should be able to have some students to tutor and be paid cash. I'd like the flexibility of being able to travel, as my partner wants to be able to explore his homeland regularly. I think language schools do lots of night and weekend classes which might restrict travel plans a bit.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the info!

If you want to stay in Hungary more than 3 months I highly recommend you should apply for a longer stay visa before you arrive. Doing it here after you arrive will be a pain. For one thing the immigration office will ask you for an explanation in writing why you did not apply for the visa before your left Australia. And they may reject that. And all the office time you will have to spend with the immigration officials in Hungary, paperwork, translations of paperwork, etc. will cut into your time otherwise enjoying the country.

Hi Ms. Aussie,

     Congrats on your decision to come to Hungary.  Entering my second-year mark in Hungary, I can tell you that it is a major hassle obtaining permission once you arrive.  I first came to Hungary with the idea to leave after 5 months but wound up staying. It's much advised to apply from your home country. Leaving and entering the country every 3 months, in my opinion, is not a good idea.  Go ahead and apply for the visa/work permit (needs a sponsor) now.  I am teaching English here in Hungary with summers off, of course.  However, if you are searching for a different type of teaching job, this is also readily available.  I will send you the name and number of an individual that messaged me about a job in Budapest starting in September.  Visas/work permits take about a month to process.

Whatever the outcome, I wish you all the best

klsallee wrote:

If you want to stay in Hungary more than 3 months I highly recommend you should apply for a longer stay visa before you arrive. Doing it here after you arrive will be a pain. For one thing the immigration office will ask you for an explanation in writing why you did not apply for the visa before your left Australia. And they may reject that. And all the office time you will have to spend with the immigration officials in Hungary, paperwork, translations of paperwork, etc. will cut into your time otherwise enjoying the country.

You make some excellent points! Thank you. Going to make contact with the Hungarian embassy in Australia and get the paperwork filled out.

kracevaya wrote:

Hi Ms. Aussie,

     Congrats on your decision to come to Hungary.  Entering my second-year mark in Hungary, I can tell you that it is a major hassle obtaining permission once you arrive.  I first came to Hungary with the idea to leave after 5 months but wound up staying. It's much advised to apply from your home country. Leaving and entering the country every 3 months, in my opinion, is not a good idea.  Go ahead and apply for the visa/work permit (needs a sponsor) now.  I am teaching English here in Hungary with summers off, of course.  However, if you are searching for a different type of teaching job, this is also readily available.  I will send you the name and number of an individual that messaged me about a job in Budapest starting in September.  Visas/work permits take about a month to process.

Whatever the outcome, I wish you all the best

Thanks for your words of wisdom! I got your message in my inbox and didn't realise it wasn't directly from you so please ignore the response!

Re: visas - we will both be on paid leave from work with savings also, so we won't be applying for work visas. Instead I need to apply for permission to stay longer than 3 months, as a tourist I guess. Will contact the embassy here tomorrow. The paperwork we found online looks slightly confusing (because it's been translated I guess) but for the most part we can figure it out. It asks for flight details, which of course we haven't booked yet, so we may have to wait until we book our flights. It's all so convoluted!

Anyhow, thanks for the advice - I would prefer to have a visa to stay the whole time without any problems. We will be coming and going a bit (as much as our finances will allow) but I don't like the idea of leaving every three months and just relying on that. Seems dodgy to me.

Thanks again!
Steph

Hi Steph,

     I read your post AFTER I received your message...OOPS!  Any WHOOOO, I think you are doing the right thing - applying from home.  Yes, the paperwork is complicated, but I'm sure that is intentional (to discourage all the bad apples).  You'll dissect the paperwork, I'm sure.

Toodles

kracevaya wrote:

Yes, the paperwork is complicated, but I'm sure that is intentional (to discourage all the bad apples).

Never attribute to malice that which can be attributed to incompetence.
When dealing with Hungarian authorities, doubly so.

Keep it up, you'll make it, let us know if we can help!

kate.matcham wrote:

Hi Stephanie,

I am an Aussie girl living in Hungarian with my Hungarian partner! Unfortunately I can't help with the visa questions, as I have an EU passport. But I just wanted to say good luck and perhaps we can meet up once you make it over here.

Cheers
Kate

Hi Kate,
That sounds like a good idea!

Hopefully see you in 2012!!

Steph

Update!

The Embassy here in Australia told us today that we can not get visas before we leave. There is no longer a Consulate in Australia to issue them!
We have to apply in Hungary within the 3 month visa-free period.

Looks like we have to just turn up and smile sweetly!

YES, sweet smiles and a lot of head nodding while saying, "Köszönöm Szépen, köszönöm szépen!" 

They can't even claim reciprocity on this: For Hungarians Australian visa requirements are strict, but can be arranged from Budapest AFAIK.

I only have your forum picture to go by, but you don't seem to have trouble with smiles :-)

szocske wrote:

I only have your forum picture to go by, but you don't seem to have trouble with smiles :-)

Ha, true! Thanks!