Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in Hungary from Pakistan you apply for a study residence permit at the Hungarian Embassy in Islamabad, booking through Gerry’s Visa Services, once a state-recognised university has accepted you. Hungary publishes no fixed funds amount. This guide covers the steps, work rules and the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship.
Hungary student visa process from Pakistan
- Get a place on a full-time course at a state-recognised Hungarian higher education institution, and show adequate language ability.
- Book your appointment with the Consular and Visa Section of the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad. Study applicants book through the Gerry’s Visa Services online system.
- Lodge your application within 90 days before your intended entry date. Earlier applications are not admissible.
- Submit your documents and pay the fee.
- After you arrive, extend your permit in Hungary through Enter Hungary, 90 to 30 days before it expires.
The Hungarian Immigration Office says a study permit decision comes within 60 days of submission, not counting time spent supplying missing documents. The Embassy page gives no processing time for the D visa. The Immigration Office fee page lists EUR 110 for a visa to collect a residence permit applied for abroad, but it does not say this is the study case, so we confirm the fee before you pay.
The permit is valid for at least a year, or the length of the course if shorter, and up to three years. Extensions run one to three years, and the permit may be refused if you do not earn your degree within one and a half times the normal period. If you are refused you can appeal in person, by appointment, within 8 calendar days.
Documents for a Hungarian study permit
- Signed application form with its appendix.
- Passport with two blank pages, issued within the last 10 years.
- Colour photo no older than 6 months.
- Proof of your purpose: admission or student status, proof of language ability and proof of tuition payment.
- Proof of means to live, with a ticket or funds for travel, and proof of health cover.
- A real Hungarian address written on the form. No separate document is needed.
- Parental consent if you are under 18.
Proof of funds and costs
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fixed funds amount | None published on the Immigration Office pages |
| Accepted proof | Bank certificate in your own name; a notarised family support declaration with the sponsor’s ability to pay; proof of regular income; or other credible proof such as a scholarship certificate |
| Health cover | Social security, an international agreement, or funds to pay for healthcare |
| Tuition at the University of Debrecen | About USD 6,000 a year (undergraduate) and USD 7,500 a year (graduate) |
Application fees are USD 150 at Debrecen, EUR 150 at the Budapest University of Technology (BME) and EUR 100 at Corvinus, where it is waived for Stipendium Hungaricum applicants. We could not find an official living-cost estimate, so we give you a budget at your consultation.
Working in Hungary as a student
Students may work up to 30 hours a week during the academic term. Outside term, full-time work is capped at 90 days a year.
After you complete your studies you can apply for a job-seeking or business-start permit valid for up to 9 months. It cannot be extended, and the job or business must fit your field of study. Apply in Hungary through Enter Hungary, no earlier than 15 days before your permit expires. You must show that you registered as a job seeker with the county employment office, or hold a letter from a Hungarian company saying employment starts within three months. The decision comes within 60 days. Study permit holders cannot bring family on a family-reunification permit, except for a child born in Hungary during the permit’s validity.
English requirements and entry with the HSSC
BME asks for B2, which it lists as IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 72. Corvinus asks bachelor’s applicants for IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 72, Duolingo 100 or Cambridge First, and most of its master’s programmes need no certificate. Debrecen asks for a standardised certificate at B2 or above and states no IELTS or TOEFL scores.
A Debrecen South Asia office blog says the HSSC or Intermediate is accepted for bachelor’s entry, with documents attested by IBCC and HEC. We read it as a secondary source. Debrecen also sets stricter study-gap limits for Pakistani citizens: a gap of at most 2 years for foundation and undergraduate courses and 4 years for graduate courses. We found no official Hungarian ruling on HSSC equivalence, so each university decides.
Stipendium Hungaricum, dates and how we help
Pakistan is an eligible country for the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 for 12 months, a free dormitory place or HUF 40,000 a month towards accommodation, and public healthcare with supplementary insurance of up to HUF 65,000 a year. Entrance exams are scored out of 100 with a minimum of 56. Pakistani applicants must apply on both the Stipendium Hungaricum portal and the HEC portal. Registration and exams are free, so do not pay an agency.
The 2026/27 call opened on 14 November 2025 and closed on 15 January 2026. HEC offered 200 bachelor’s, 70 one-tier master’s, 100 master’s and 30 PhD seats. The 2027/28 call had not been announced on 11 October 2026. For self-funded study, Debrecen’s deadline for the January or February 2027 intake is 1 November 2026, and BME takes applications for its February 2027 start from 15 October to 15 November 2026.
We help with course choice, applications, scholarship files and your permit documents. We cannot promise a visa. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including Germany, Italy and Poland.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to study in Hungary?
Hungary publishes no fixed amount. You must show means for living, housing, travel and healthcare, for example a bank certificate in your own name.
Where do I apply for a Hungarian student visa in Pakistan?
At the Consular and Visa Section of the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad. Study applicants book through Gerry’s Visa Services.
Can I work while studying in Hungary?
Yes, up to 30 hours a week in term. Outside term, full-time work is limited to 90 days a year.
Can I stay in Hungary after graduating?
Yes. A job-seeking or business-start permit lasts up to 9 months and cannot be extended.
What does the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship cover?
Tuition, a stipend of HUF 43,700 a month, accommodation support and healthcare insurance. Pakistan is an eligible country.
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Official sources: Immigration Office: study permit · Immigration Office: job-seeking permit · Immigration Office: fees · Embassy of Hungary Islamabad · Stipendium Hungaricum call 2026/27 · HEC: Stipendium Hungaricum · BME admission. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.