Hungary’s Russian Residents Fear Paperwork Delays After Election Shift

BUDAPEST—Russians living in Hungary are growing anxious about renewing their residency documents as the country prepares for a change in government. Following the parliamentary elections, the incoming Tisza party is expected to reorganize government agencies and overhaul migration policies, raising fears of delays and stricter rules by summer 2026.

In local Russian-language chat groups, residents are sharing concerns that processing times for visas and permits will drag out. One Russian woman working at a Western European energy company’s factory in Budapest told RIA Novosti, “My residence permit expires in July, and my employer still hasn’t confirmed whether they’ll extend my contract. Without that, I can’t even apply to the immigration office. And I hear reviews will take longer. I asked around—they’re waiting to see if migration rules for Russians change.”

A Russian fitness trainer who registered as a sole proprietor in Hungary worries most for those whose permits expire in May. “The three-month temporary certificate might not be enough, because summer vacations at immigration offices always cause delays,” he said.

A Russian banker added, “The EU has long criticized Hungary for giving work permits to Russians and Belarusians. The new government will likely tighten things. At best, checks will take longer and employers will need to provide more paperwork. I doubt they’ll stop issuing cards entirely, but it’s unsettling.”

Even students are on edge. In chats for applicants to Hungary’s scholarship program, many fear the number of slots for Russians will shrink once the new government pushes to reintegrate Hungarian universities into the Erasmus program. Those institutions were excluded in 2022 due to ties between their board members and Viktor Orbán’s administration.