As I’m writing this, it’s 1 May, Labour Day in Hungary. We’re in the countryside for the long weekend. It’s 22 degrees and full sunshine. Later, we’re heading to the chestnut blossom festival in Sümeg with Andrew and our little dog. Tomorrow we go back to Budapest. Sunday is Mother’s Day, and my mum would definitely notice if we didn’t show up. It’s exactly this kind of weekend that gets people thinking about a Hungary stay over 90 days. Not in a big planning sense. Just… could I stay a bit longer?

Two weeks ago, we hosted a live immigration session in Budapest with Dr. Sánta. One of the attendees, an American digital nomad, had just learned he could stay an extra 90 days under one of Hungary’s bilateral agreements. He was relieved. He liked being here. He just wasn’t ready to commit to a full year. Most people don’t realise this option exists. When they do hear about it, the explanation is often incomplete.

If you’re a non-EU citizen without residency, you generally can’t stay in Hungary longer than 90 days. Most people need a residence permit. However, some nationalities, including Canadians and Americans, can stay longer under bilateral agreements with Hungary. This extra time only applies inside Hungary, not across the Schengen Area.

I regularly write about immigration in Hungary, run a monthly newsletter on the topic, and host live sessions with legal experts, including Dr. Sánta, alongside my own experience navigating the system.

Ninety Days Isn’t Always the End

If you’re looking at a Hungary stay over 90 days, the standard rule still applies. Non-EU citizens can stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days within any 180-day period. Hungary follows that rule, and for most people, that’s the limit. There is a narrow exception. Hungary has bilateral agreements with certain non-EU countries. These allow their citizens to remain in Hungary after those initial 90 days without applying for residency.

The list includes Canada, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Israel. It also covers several Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In most cases, the additional stay is up to another 90 days. A few countries, such as Singapore and San Marino, have shorter extensions.

The extra time applies only within Hungary. It does not extend your stay across the Schengen Area. You’re expected to remain in Hungary and leave Schengen from here at the end of that period.

Many People Ask This Wrong

When people look into a Hungary stay over 90 days, they’re usually trying to work out if they can stay longer without dealing with residency. And in some cases, they can, so the idea itself isn’t wrong. But this is where it changes a bit. This option doesn’t work like your original Schengen stay, and it doesn’t give you the same freedom to move around. You’re still limited outside Hungary, so the extra time only really works if you plan to stay put.

At the same time, that’s exactly why it can be useful. If your goal is a longer visit, more time with family, or simply staying a bit longer to see how life here feels, then it gives you flexibility without committing to a full move.

Residency is Still the Main Route

If your plans go beyond a temporary stay, residency is still the route to look at. It gives you structure and removes the need to keep counting days. There are several ways to do it. That could be a work permit, a student permit, family reunification, or the investment-based option often referred to as the Golden Visa. Each comes with its own rules, but they all give you a proper legal basis to stay.

The bilateral option is different. It gives you more time, but it doesn’t change your status. You’re still a short-term visitor, so you can’t work or take up formal studies during that period. If you want to check how these options apply to your situation, it’s worth reviewing the guidance from the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing or the Enter Hungary portal.

It Comes with Conditions

For Americans, the U.S. Department of State is quite clear. The extra 90 days in Hungary only applies if you haven’t already used your full 90 days within the previous six months from your first entry into Schengen. And if you do use that additional time, you’re expected to leave the Schengen Area directly from Hungary.

For Canadians, the Hungarian Embassy in Ottawa says something very similar. Canadian citizens can stay an additional 90 days in Hungary under the bilateral agreement, but they also need to depart from Hungary to a non-Schengen country before that 180-day period is up.

So the flexibility is there, but it comes with a structure. You need to have used your initial 90 days properly, and you need to be clear about how you’re leaving at the end of it.

You Can’t Move Around

Once you move into that extra period, you’re not travelling around Europe in the same way anymore. The additional time is tied to Hungary, so those extra days are meant to be spent here.

If you’re like Andrew and me and want to pop over to Rome for the weekend, this isn’t the setup for that. You’re essentially staying put for that second stretch, and then leaving Schengen from Hungary when you’re done. For some people, that’s completely fine. For others, it changes the plan.

FAQ

Can I stay in Hungary longer than 90 days without residency?
Yes, but only in specific cases. Most non-EU citizens are limited to 90 days within a 180-day period under Schengen rules. However, Hungary has bilateral agreements with certain countries that allow a longer stay in Hungary itself. This does not extend to the rest of the Schengen Area and does not replace residency for long-term plans.

Which nationalities can stay longer in Hungary under bilateral agreements?
Hungary has bilateral agreements with countries including Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Hong Kong (SAR), Israel, Japan, Macao (SAR), Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Most allow an additional 90 days, while some, such as Singapore and San Marino, allow a shorter stay.

Can I travel in the Schengen Area during the extra stay in Hungary?
No. The additional stay applies only within Hungary. Once you move into that period, you are expected to remain in Hungary and leave the Schengen Area directly from here. You cannot use those extra days to travel to other Schengen countries, even if your original 90-day stay allowed it.

Can I work or study during the extra stay in Hungary?
No. You remain a short-term visitor during the additional stay. You cannot work, run a business, or enrol in formal studies. Any activity that requires legal status beyond tourism still requires a residence permit, so this option is best suited for longer visits rather than relocation.

More Time, Less Movement

The people this tends to work for aren’t trying to tick off five countries in a month. They’re the ones who want a bit more time in one place. I see it working well for retirees who want to split the year, for people with Hungarian roots who want to spend a longer stretch here, and for anyone who simply wants a six-month stay without turning it into something formal. It’s also ideal for friends and family visiting, especially once they realise how quickly those first 90 days go.

May is a busy one for us. We’ve got family coming in next week, so I’ll be back in full unofficial tour guide mode, and I’ll be sharing quite a bit of that over on my social channels if you’re curious what that looks like. Our Spring Social on 20 May is already sold out, which I’m genuinely excited about, and it’s always one of those moments where online conversations turn into real ones.

If you’re trying to understand how all of this fits together, including residency, permits, and longer-term options, I cover it in detail in my ebook, HOW TO HUNGARY: Budapest & Beyond. It’s designed to save you from piecing this together across ten different sources.