How many years of legal residence in Hungary do I need before applying for the EU Residence Card?

The standard route to the EU Residence Card (long-term residence status) requires that you have lived legally and without interruption in Hungary for at least five years. This time is what builds the basis for long-term resident status.

There is a special rule for EU Blue Card holders: they can apply after two years of continuous legal residence in Hungary if they have also accumulated five years of legal residence in EU Member States under Blue Card, researcher or student permits. Because the counting rules have exceptions, it is worth confirming exactly which periods count toward your five years before you apply.