Qualifying Immigration Health Insurance for Hungary

Starting your life in Hungary – one document at a time

If you’ve started the visa or residence permit process for Hungary, you’ll know how many documents the authorities ask for. One requirement appears in every checklist – proof of valid health insurance.

It sounds simple, yet many newcomers are surprised to learn that not every policy meets the official immigration health insurance requirements for Hungary. Whether you’re applying for a student visa, a work permit, or residence based on family reunification, the immigration office (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság, or OIF) will check that your policy meets specific standards.

This article walks you through those standards, how to choose the right coverage, and what to avoid – so your application goes smoothly and you’re genuinely protected when you arrive.

What “Immigration Health Insurance for Hungary” means

To qualify, your health insurance should:

  1. Be valid in Hungary for the entire duration of your stay.
  2. Cover both inpatient and outpatient care – hospital treatment and everyday medical services such as GP visits, tests, and prescriptions.
  3. Avoid large coverage gaps or long waiting periods for essential care.
  4. Provide at least €30,000 in medical cover (a common acceptance threshold).
  5. Be issued by a licensed insurer (Hungarian or international) recognised by the authorities.

Many travel policies fail this test. They’re designed for holidays, not for living abroad. Immigration officers often reject these because they cover only emergencies, not ongoing or preventive care.

A proper immigration-compliant policy should feel like healthcare you can actually use in Hungary, not just paperwork for your visa.

Travel vs. Immigration Health Insurance: why it matters

Type Typical Use Covers Accepted for Immigration?
Travel Insurance Short trips Emergencies only ❌ Usually rejected
Immigration Health Insurance Long-term stay or residence Inpatient + outpatient ✅ Accepted
Private Health Insurance Residents seeking full access Broadest cover, faster care ✅ Accepted, recommended

The confusion is understandable. Many insurers abroad use the word “travel” for every international policy. In Hungary, the authorities need proof that you can access everyday healthcare, not just an emergency room.

Understanding coverage options in Hungary

When you settle here, you’ll hear two main pathways:

  • Public healthcare (TAJ card) – available once you’re employed or pay contributions.
  • Private healthcare – widely used by expats and locals for faster access and English-speaking doctors.

While you may gain public coverage later, your visa requires insurance now. That’s where qualifying Immigration Health Insurance for Hungary comes in. It bridges the gap until you have a TAJ card – and often remains valuable thanks to shorter wait times, direct billing, and an English-speaking network.

As a Generali partner, I help clients compare immigration-approved starter plans with comprehensive private packages (e.g., private hospital access, annual check-ups, maternity and paediatrics options, and direct billing in Budapest and larger cities).

How to prove your coverage to the authorities

The OIF typically asks for:

  • A certificate of insurance in English or Hungarian,
  • Confirmation that the policy is valid in Hungary and includes inpatient and outpatient treatment, and
  • The coverage limit, usually expressed in euros.

If your certificate doesn’t clearly show these points, officers may ask for clarification or reject it. Working with a Hungary-based adviser helps ensure the document is in the right format from the start.

Common mistakes applicants make

  1. Submitting travel insurance instead of long-stay/health cover.
  2. Buying a cheap online policy that doesn’t list Hungary by name.
  3. Choosing an insurer without local claims support in English/Hungarian.
  4. Letting the policy lapse before your permit decision is issued.
  5. Using an unofficial translation of the insurance certificate.

A quick professional review can save weeks of back-and-forth.

Happy young family in Hungary celebrating together — symbolising care, protection, and peace of mind through Immigration Health Insurance for Hungary.

Immigration Health Insurance for Hungary helps families feel secure from day one.

Beyond the minimum: real peace of mind

Meeting the minimum requirement is one thing; feeling safe and supported is another. Private healthcare is expanding in Hungary, and many international residents are surprised by the value. Options include preventive screenings, mental health support, maternity pathways, and paediatrics – often at a cost that compares favourably with other EU capitals.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at a HOW TO HUNGARY community event called “Healthcare Without Headaches,” where we explored exactly these kinds of practical questions. I’ll be joining them again in the spring for another session to help newcomers understand how to make the most of Hungary’s healthcare options.

For families, especially those arriving from abroad, there’s comfort in walking into a clinic, speaking English, and being seen without long waits. That’s the kind of protection I believe in: insurance that serves people, not just paperwork.

FAQs: Immigration Health Insurance for Hungary

1) Do I need immigration health insurance before I apply?
Yes. Proof of valid health insurance is required at application, not after arrival.

2) Will a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) be enough?
EHIC supports temporary medically necessary care for EU citizens. It isn’t full immigration cover and won’t replace an approved policy for residence.

3) How long should my policy last?
At least the length of your visa or residence permit (commonly 12 months for first applications).

4) Can I use a non-Hungarian insurer?
Yes, if the policy explicitly covers Hungary, includes inpatient and outpatient services, and provides claim handling in English or Hungarian.

5) Can I upgrade later?
Absolutely. Many clients start with a qualifying immigration plan and then move to a broader private policy once they’re settled.

Making Hungary feel like home

Sorting out your health insurance is one of the first – and most important – steps in settling into life here. With the right coverage, you’ll not only meet the visa requirement but also access quality care from day one.

If you’d like a friendly review of your current policy or want to compare immigration-approved options, I’m happy to help – clearly, calmly, and without jargon.

For customised insurance advice in Hungary, reach out to me, Eszter Balázs at 4TheClients.
Since 2005, I have served as a senior financial consultant for Generali Biztosító Zrt., a trusted market leader founded in 1832. I provide personalised insurance solutions to over 5,000 private and corporate clients.

Misconceptions About Insurance During The Pandemic

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Just like in many other spheres of life, news and (half) truths are also circulating in the world of insurance about which types of insurance you should or shouldn’t take out, about healthcare services, and about equity funds.

In our article below we try to collect together – and refute – some of these.

 

  1. There is no need for accident insurance now

Unfortunately, accidents can happen at any time. Often when you are at home, or in the kitchen. More and more of us are working from home, which is very important to slow the spread of the pandemic. But this can increase the number of household accidents. According to data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office, the number of household accidents totals 250,000 per year.

Accident insurance covers you regardless of the coronavirus, so it is worth keeping it.

  1. Life, accident and health risk insurance does not cover virus-related costs

You can count on your life and health risk insurance. Any client who is admitted to hospital with the coronavirus is entitled to the daily hospital allowance included in health risk insurance. The exception is if a client is admitted to a healthcare institution without any symptoms, just for the sake of isolation. The insurance company pays for incapacity to work if the insured person is unable to work owing to the coronavirus and is sent on sick leave. In line with the life risk insurance policy, the insurance company pays compensation for death even if it was caused by the coronavirus infection.

  1. Do not take out risk insurance now, the waiting period is too long anyway

You may need fast and reliable help in the event of an accident, illness or death. In many cases these insurance products cover you in relation to the coronavirus too (see previous point), and the six-month waiting period valid for life risk insurance can be lifted by means of a health statement given over the phone.

  1. It is not worth it for employers to take out life, accident and health risk insurance for their employees

A wide scope of protection and financial help are indeed necessary as caring employers are more valuable than ever before. In the current situation, your home office is not a place to live, but a reorganised workplace, so if an employee suffers an accident when working from home, the employer must compensate them for it.

What is more, employer life, accident and health risk insurance can be granted as tax-free benefits, if this only covers working hours and commuting time (protection at work and on the way to work). Collective insurance offers financial support for insured employees in the event of an illness or accident, be it an accident at home or an illness due to the coronavirus. With Generali Shield insurance there is no waiting period for any risk.

  1. Health insurance financing services cannot be used

A number of private clinics are still operating, but during the pandemic private healthcare institutions have their own procedures with regard to the coronavirus. As a result, certain types of care are not available in the traditional manner, but new services are continuously being introduced.

With your Medihelp international health insurance you can arrange your private healthcare examinations quickly at your preferred facility. In such critical times it is even more important that if you cannot avoid having a medical check-up or examination, then this should take place with the utmost care and protection and at your preferred private clinic if possible.

You can only be treated for the coronavirus as a hospital inpatient in the public healthcare system, but our existing Medihelp insurance pays HUF 15,000 compensation for each day spent in hospital if you have a Hungarian social security card and have contracted the disease.

For clients who do not have a Hungarian social security card (for example foreigners living in Hungary), the insurance reimburses any hospital costs invoiced to them, including patient transfer services too.

But for every health problem it is still worth contacting the service organiser.

  1. You should plot your escape from asset funds with high equity exposure

A wait-and-see approach is much more justified at the minute. The next 12 months may bring even tougher times for the equity markets, and leading stock indices are expected to continue fluctuating heavily. So it is very important to monitor and evaluate current portfolios in the event of unit-linked life insurance, and then make decisions on possibly rearranging the portfolios or just holding off for now to avoid immediate losses.

  1. I can only get my money deposited in life insurance savings back if I terminate the contract

Do not forget about the options of partial surrender or policy loans. If you need money and already have saved enough, and if the contract terms allow it, you may use the partial surrender option. For most life insurance products with a savings component you may take out a policy loan too. This means you can claim a one-year loan against the surrender value of the savings, which, if paid back in time, will not affect the tax-credit of the pension insurance either.

  1. Now is not the time to invest

It is practical to think about investing carefully, broken down into several steps. In the current situation a short-term economic shock is unavoidable, but looking a bit further ahead we can be hopeful of being able to control the situation that is evolving right now. Panic selling will soon lead to a market oversell, so with justified caution it is worth considering step-by-step investments and increasing equity exposure if you are taking a long-term approach.