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Thinking of relocating to Hungary?
Relocating to a new city or country can be a big step especially when you have a new job to face as well. You can only really get a good feel for a country when you have been there, but please keep reading our guide on Hungary to give you an overview of this country and what it has to offer, from the essentials to thedesirables...
Country
Economy
Renting or Buying a Property
Education
Setting up a Bank Account
Language
Currency
Transport
Climate
Visas
Interesting Facts
Country
Hungary joined the EU in 2004 and has a population of 10 million. This beautiful landlocked country is located in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, and borders with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Hungary's capital is Budapest with a population of 1.7 million and is located in the centre of the country. The River Danube runs through the city separating the formally known Pest and Buda regions.
Economy
After the first multi-party elections of 1990 Hungary has successfully transformed its centrally planned economy into a market economy. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian companies is widespread, with cumulative foreign investment totalling more than US$23million since 1989. The Country's main manufactured exports include transport equipment, foodstuffs and chemicals, and since joining the EU economic growth is strong.
Renting or Buying a Property
The most popular neighbourhoods in Budapest for families moving to the country are districts 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 on the green and hilly Buda side, close to international schools. For those who want to live near work and do not mind busy-city noise, recommended areas on the Pest side are the centrally located districts 5, 6 and 7.
Apartments in these districts are usually closer to work-places but are smaller and typically suffer from urban noise. If moving to Budapest is a transitional move of less than four years it becomes more economical to rent property. The average monthly cost of renting a one bedroom apartment in Budapest is 111,195 Hungarian Forint, around £350.
Education
Hungarian students generally start schooling when they reach the age of six and it is mandatory to attend school until the age of 16. Primary school can be attended until the age of 14, however, a lot of students choose to leave primary schools prior to this and enrol with secondary school at the age of 10-12. Secondary education consists of grammar schools, to train pupils for higher education, and technical schools, offering more practical education. The Ministry of Education controls the Hungarian Education system and according to the education report of 1999, the public educational expenditure was approximated at 4.6% of GDP.
Setting up a Bank Account
Most banks require a valid residence permit and residential address in order to open a bank account, however, some banks allow non-Hungarian residents to open an account on presentation of a passport alone. A fee will be charged to open the account, and in addition bank cards and account management services will also have to be paid for. There is usually an option to have segregated currency accounts, for example, Hungarian Forints (HUF) and GBP.
Hungarian, spoken by 98% of Hungary's inhabitants, is a Uralic language and as a result is distinct from most other languages in Europe. Hungarian often sounds completely foreign to speakers of Indo-European and is commonly considered to be one of the most difficult languages for them to master.
The official currency in Hungary is the Hungarian Forint (HUF, symbol Ft) consisting of 100 fillér. Notes are in denominations of Ft20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 200. Coins are in denominations of Ft100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Considerable numbers of commemorative coins are in circulation and these are legal tender.
Hungary's efficient and affordable transport system, includes international, domestic, and commuter trains, buses, trams, and the metro. For frequent commuters, monthly passes that cover all modes of public transport are an even better value option. Taxis are a good form of transport for fast and direct travel but caution should be taken - taxi drivers are notorious for overcharging foreigners, especially those who obviously new to the Country.
Hungary's climate is temperate, with little variation throughout the country. July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures averaging from 26-27 Degrees Celsius. The coldest months of winter are usually January and February when temperatures may drop to -5 Degrees Celsius, during which time snow is common.
For specific visa information relating to your country of origin please contact your local Hungarian Embassy in your home country.
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