A Season for Home – and a Webinar Worth Joining

It’s late October in Budapest: fog on the Danube, roasted chestnuts by the trams, and flags already waving for the long weekend marking the 1956 Revolution. My mum’s birthday falls on the 21st (Happy Birthday, Mummy, if you’re reading), which always makes me think about roots and belonging.

And that’s exactly what next week’s free webinar – Making Hungary Home – is all about. On Wednesday, October 29 at 16:00 CET, I’ll be hosting a live online session with Helpers Hungary, the country’s leading immigration specialists, to help newcomers and long-term residents alike make sense of Hungary’s ever-changing residency rules.

Meet the Experts Behind the Event

The speaker, Dr Anna Kőszegi, is a pillar of the Helpers immigration team thanks to her profound knowledge of the new Hungarian immigration law that introduced several new types of residence permits, each with its own conditions and benefits. She also has extensive experience working with the administrators of the Immigration Office – meaning she knows what works in theory and what works in practice.

I’ll be hosting and moderating the conversation, bringing in questions from the HOW TO HUNGARY community and sharing some of my own experiences of settling here. Together, we’ll take an honest look at what it takes to build a legal, sustainable life in Hungary under the 2025 rules.

What You’ll Learn in Making Hungary Home

For sixty minutes, Dr Kőszegi will walk us through the most common pathways to residency and what’s changed this year. Expect a clear breakdown of:

• Work & Employment Permits: including the Hungarian Card, EU Blue Card, and National Card.
• Family Unification: who qualifies and how dependents are handled.
• Starting a Business: what “Guest Self-Employment” actually means and when it applies.
• Permanent Residency: requirements for the National Residence Card and EU Residence Card.

Each option has its own paperwork, timelines, and potential pitfalls and Dr Kőszegi will demystify all of them in plain language.

Why This Webinar Matters Now

Residency law in Hungary rarely stands still. The 2025 changes redefined eligibility categories, fees, and renewal conditions, leaving even seasoned expats scratching their heads.

This webinar is your chance to hear accurate, up-to-date explanations straight from the experts – no translation errors, no Facebook myths, and no legal grey zones. You’ll leave knowing which permit fits your circumstances, what documents to prepare, and when to start the process.

Common Questions Expats Ask

In preparing for this session, I’ve noticed certain questions come up again and again:

• Do I qualify for the new Hungarian Card if I already hold a work permit?
• Can my spouse apply with me, or must we apply separately?
• What happens if my company changes address mid-process?

We’ll be addressing these – and many others – live. You can also submit questions in advance through the registration form or type them in during the Q&A. Just remember that this is an open webinar, not a private consultation, so keep personal data out of chat.

How to Register (It’s Free)

Participation is free but registration is required.
Complete the Helpers Hungary registration form before Tuesday, October 28 at 09:00 CET. You’ll receive your Zoom link by email the day before.

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
🕓 Time: 16:00–17:00 CET
💻 Where: Online (Zoom)
🎙️ Speaker: Dr Anna Kőszegi, Helpers Hungary
🎤 Host: Anikó Woods, HOW TO HUNGARY

Before You Join – Helpful Reading

A little background never hurts. Try these next:

• Hungary’s National Residence Card Rejections
• How to Get Hungarian Citizenship by Descent

And for official details, the Enter Hungary portal remains the one place where real applications and status updates happen.

FAQ: Making Hungary Home Webinar 

Who is hosting the Making Hungary Home webinar?
The webinar is hosted by Anikó Woods, founder of HOW TO HUNGARY, in partnership with Helpers Hungary. The featured speaker is Dr. Anna Kőszegi, a pillar of the Helpers immigration team and an expert on Hungary’s 2025 immigration law.

When and where will the webinar take place?
The webinar takes place online via Zoom on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, from 16:00 to 17:00 CET. Registration is free and open until 09:00 CET on 28 October through the Helpers Hungary website.

What topics will be covered during Making Hungary Home?
The session explains Hungary’s 2025 residency pathways, including employment-based permits such as the Hungarian Card, EU Blue Card, and National Card, family unification, guest self-employment, and permanent residency options.

Can participants ask questions during the webinar?
Yes. Participants can submit questions in advance through the registration form or type them into the chat during the live session. Dr. Kőszegi will answer as many as possible during the Q&A segment.

Does attending the webinar replace a personal immigration consultation?
No. The webinar provides general guidance and clarity on Hungary’s residency system but cannot replace a personalised legal or immigration consultation. For case-specific advice, participants should contact Helpers Hungary directly.

Looking Ahead

After the long weekend of remembrance, candles, and quiet pride, we’ll roll into the final days of October ready to look forward – not back. Hosting this event with Helpers Hungary feels like the perfect way to end the month: helping others find stability, clarity, and maybe even that elusive sense of home.

If that’s what you’re after this year, join us on October 29. It’s free, friendly, and might just make your next steps in Hungary a great deal easier.

Hungary changes fast – and not just the weather. Between new visa rules, residency updates, and shifting paperwork, even locals can’t always keep up. That’s why I started the free HOW TO HUNGARY Immigration Insider Newsletter – one email a month, no spam, no sponsors, just clear updates and practical insights from people who actually live it.

SUBSCRIBE NOW: 📬 https://subscribepage.io/immigration-insider

If you’re moving to Hungary, already here, or simply trying to make sense of the rules, this is the easiest way to stay in the loop (without relying on half-answers from Facebook threads).