Weary of what she terms “the political nightmare” of the United States, Morse left her native San Francisco in 2020 to continue her retirement in a country she already knew and loved.
“For me, it was time for a change. I had friends who’d passed away, and also my dog, and a dear friend here said, ‘Come to Budapest. You love it!’ So, I did! I packed up everything. My thoughts were, ‘I want to retire here,’” she tells the Budapest Business Journal in an interview.
And for some years, after renting a flat in central Budapest and getting her papers in order, Morse, a HR executive in her professional life, began living her dream.
“The pace here suits me better, and I enjoy spending time with my Hungarian and ex-pat friends, doing normal things like going out for coffee, dinner, the Operetta, jazz clubs, playing Mahjong, and just enjoying everyday life,” she says.
She also rescued Momo, a Welsh Terrier cross-breed, from a dogs’ home. As “the love of my life,” Momo is a catalyst for getting out for walks and meeting folk.
This contented lifestyle continued into 2024, when she began to read worrying news on social media about changes to the laws governing residence procedures for third-country nationals, that is, anyone who is not Hungarian or a citizen of an EU or EEA state.
After consulting several experts, Morse realized that her stay in Hungary could be ending prematurely. At the heart of the problem is a change in immigration law, announced in the last days of 2023.
Under the earlier law, alongside the regulations governing those coming for work or family reunions, there was a category called “other purposes.” For many years, this enabled third-country nationals with sufficient income or pension to obtain a temporary residence visa, typically valid for three years, sometimes five, according to Stuart McAlister, managing director and founder of Inter Relocation, an advisory firm for foreigners seeking to live in Hungary.
“Typically, Americans, Canadians, Brits post-Brexit and others could use an ‘other purposes’ permit to relocate to Hungary for retirement. After three years, they could apply for permanent residence, or simply renew their original permit,” he told the BBJ. But the legal changes in late 2023 abolished the “other purposes” category almost overnight, except for a list of specific sub-categories, which did not include retirees. This caused some ill-prepared, would-be settlers enormous problems.
“I had the very unfortunate situation of being called by a British couple who had, from what they told me, sold up in the U.K. and bought a property at Balaton. Friends had already retired here, and they wanted to go down the same route,” McAlister recalls.
The couple asked him in early 2024 to arrange a residence visa, and he had to tell them it was no longer available. Worse still, after their friends came on the phone to argue the case, McAlister had to inform them that they, too, would likely be in jeopardy when they came to renew that permit. Left in a state of shock, neither couple got back for any further advice.
To McAlister, it soon became apparent that these two British couples were far from alone in facing an uncertain future in Hungary.
“I’m a member of two Facebook groups related to immigration in Hungary, and I wouldn’t say it’s full of people who’ve been rejected [for a visa extension], but it’s a regular theme,” he says.
Helpers Hungary, another company dedicated to assisting foreigners through the immigration hoops into the country, has also seen enquiries on this issue.
“Many foreigners who had relied on the ‘other’ (egyéb) residence permit have found themselves in a difficult position, having to explore alternative residence permit types that might fit their circumstances,” Dorka Csathó-Szabó, head of immigration at Helpers Hungary, tells the BBJ.
“This has proven quite challenging under the new, stricter legislation because, at the moment, all resident permits are issued based on a specific reason, for example, work, business, family, medical treatment or volunteering, as well as the newly introduced investment-based permit, also known as the ‘golden visa,’” Csathó-Szabó adds.
Outside the specific reasons and conditions of the current law, general “other” types of permit are not available, and Hungary currently has no option for residency through mere direct property ownership, she says.
For those who have legally lived in Hungary for at least three years, it is possible to obtain permanent residence under domestic regulations. For anyone who has been resident for five years, a so-called EU permanent residence permit is another option. However, these come with other conditions, notably an exam in Hungarian on the country’s history and culture.
“In our experience, you should show savings of around HUF 4 million or equivalent for a year or more,” says McAlister.
For Jill Morse, whose current permit is valid until February 2027, and who speaks no Hungarian, the stress and uncertainty of the changes have been too much: She is now pondering a move to Spain, Portugal or France.
“I think I could pass the cultural exam, but seriously, asking seniors to take it is as bad as asking kids under 12. I just don’t trust the system anymore,” she says with resignation.
Editor’s Note: The regulations stated here are correct as best the BBJ could ascertain at the time of publication, but are always subject to change. Consult an expert if in doubt about your situation.
While it calls for a continual cycle of upping sticks and travel, for those with a determined mindset, taking advantage of bilateral treaties Hungary has with certain countries allows extended stays through what Stuart McAlister calls the “90 plus 90” agreement. These countries include the USA.
“When first arriving, U.S. citizens get 90 days in Hungary and the entire Schengen Zone, and can travel anywhere in that zone. Once on 91 days, they can stay in Hungary, but only in Hungary, for the next 90 days,” he says.
In those second 90 days, even a day trip to Austria is illegal, risking a fine and deportation, McAlister warns. By the end of the second period, visitors must leave Hungary for a non-Schengen country for at least another 90 days, after which they may return to Hungary or any Schengen zone country.
“I have an American couple who retain a residence in Turkey [plus one in Hungary], and they do 180 days in Hungary, 90 days in Turkey, and then back to Hungary for another 180 days. It’s a nomad life, but it works [for them],” McAlister says.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of November 14, 2025.
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