I’m not an immigration lawyer, but I’ve spent years immersed in Hungary’s immigration system. I write about it, share updates with expat communities, and work closely with legal experts to make sure the advice I pass on is solid. Much of what’s in my ebook comes from that collaboration. So when something starts going sideways, I pay attention – and flag it for others who might be affected.
Lately, a clear pattern has emerged: EUPR rejections in Hungary are climbing. The reason? Applicants are being told their income or savings don’t meet some undefined financial threshold.
But thanks to a sharply written post by Dr. Sánta Szabolcs Miklós, it’s clear: these rejections often contradict EU law and Hungarian courts are now reinforcing the error.
Meet Dr. Sánta Szabolcs Miklós
Dr. Sánta is no stranger to challenging institutional overreach. With 15+ years in criminal and immigration law, he has a strong reputation for winning hard cases – including ones before Hungary’s Constitutional Court, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). He represents the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and hasn’t lost a single residence permit case to date.
In his recent article, he explains how Hungarian authorities and worryingly, even courts, are ignoring the law. They’re rejecting EU long-term residence permit applications based on rigid financial expectations that simply don’t exist in the legislation.
What EU Law Actually Says
Under Directive 2003/109/EC, applicants must show they have “stable and regular resources sufficient to maintain themselves and their family members without recourse to the social assistance system.” That’s it.
There’s no requirement to:
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Earn above the national average,
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Show long-term savings,
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Prove the ability to buy a home.
Hungarian authorities are inventing higher standards that don’t exist in the law and rejecting valid applications based on a warped interpretation of “financial security.”
The Real Goal Here: Find a Legal Challenger
Here’s where you come in. This blog post isn’t just an alert, it’s a call to action. Dr. Sánta is actively looking for a client who meets the following criteria:
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A third-country national,
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Lived legally in Hungary for at least 5 years,
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Recently applied for EUPR status,
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Received a rejection for “insufficient financial resources,”
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Willing to challenge the decision in court.
This case could go all the way to the CJEU, and potentially correct an entire system of unlawful practice. It’s not just about one person’s paperwork. It’s about ensuring Hungary complies with EU law.
Why This Matters to You
If you’ve applied for the EUPR and been rejected on financial grounds, you’re not alone. This wave of EUPR rejections in Hungary could impact many third-country nationals who meet the legal requirements but are being turned away anyway.
And that’s where this post becomes more than an explainer. It’s a request.
Interested? Contact Him Directly
If you or someone you know fits the profile and wants to explore legal action, reach out to Dr. Sánta Szabolcs Miklós for a confidential consultation.
📧 Email: dr*****@*****ta.hu
🌐 Website: www.drsanta.hu
He’s offering significantly reduced fees for this specific case – and, knowing his background, I’d wager your chances in court are stronger than average.
Let’s Not Shrug This Off
Hungarian bureaucracy can wear you down. I get it. But when something this serious starts getting rubber-stamped as normal, we all need to pay attention.
If you’ve been rejected for EUPR on financial grounds, or know someone who has, don’t just chalk it up to “typical Hungary.” This is exactly the kind of thing that deserves a challenge. And thanks to Dr. Sánta Szabolcs Miklós, that legal challenge is ready and waiting for the right person.
Share this post. Pass it on to someone who needs it. And if you’re looking for more practical, real-world insight into life, law, and red tape in Hungary, you’ll find over 375 pages of it in my ebook: HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond.
Let’s not just adapt to the system, let’s help fix what’s broken.
For more info on the EUPR, read about it on the government’s official site.
Anikó Woods is a Canadian-Hungarian writer, technology specialist, and digital strategist who swapped Toronto traffic for Hungarian bureaucracy. She’s the creator of HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond. Since moving to Hungary in 2017, she’s been deep in the paperwork trenches—fact-checking, interviewing experts, and helping others make sense of the madness. Her writing turns chaos into clarity, with a few laughs (and wine recommendations) along the way.