Relocation
to Hungary,
Budapest

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you’re thinking of joining Shapr3D and relocating to Hungary. Here’s where that exciting journey begins.

Why relocate in a “work from everywhere” world?

As much as we enjoy working remotely, we believe that companies don’t fail due to their tools – they fail due to culture. At Shapr3D, we’re super ambitious, growing crazy fast, which means that the next couple of years will be vital in building up and scaling our culture too. And let’s face it, establishing a strong, coherent culture and building meaningful relations via Zoom calls is far from ideal. That’s why the way forward at Shapr3D (at least for now) mostly relies on face-to-face interactions.
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We know that moving to another country can be daunting. To help you feel more at ease, we’ve gathered the most important pieces of information for you. Read on to learn more about the support we provide to you (and your family), the Visa process, and some insights into living in Budapest. And keep in mind that moving to a new place is also exciting, with lots of new experiences.

What’s included in our relocation package?

Plane tickets to Budapest (for you and your family/partner if moving together)

Visa and work permit assistance (for non-EU citizens)

Authorities registration support (local registrations, obtaining the social security number, TAX card, etc)

Up to 4 weeks accommodation in Budapest upon your arrival so that you have enough time to find an apartment.

A lump-sum bonus of €1,000 net (paid in HUF with your first salary)

Transportation support (plane tickets for you and your family/partner)

Visa (for you and your family/partner)

Work permit assistance for non‑EU citizens

Authorities registration support (for you and your family/partner)

Up to 4 weeks accommodation in Budapest upon your arrival

A lump-sum bonus of €1,000 net (paid in HUF with your first salary)

Please note that the relocation package is subject to given conditions that will be fully disclosed to you in due time by the People Team.

What does the relocation process look like?

For EU citizens

1

Application

2

Hiring process

3

Offer acceptance

4

Local registrations

5

Move to Budapest

The relocation process usually takes about a month. After you accept our offer, our immigration and relocation support vendor will be in touch and walk you through the process of getting the documents you need to be able to work in Hungary (e.g. tax card and social security number). You’ll also have to find an apartment, as you need a temporary address in Hungary to get the needed documents and a work permit. Once you have that all, you can start your journey with Shapr3D!

For non-EU citizens

1

Application

2

Hiring process

3

Offer acceptance

4

Local registrations

5

Visa application

6

Move to Budapest

Your relocation process can take 3+ months, depending on your country of origin.
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After you accept our offer, the first and most important step is to start the Visa application. Our immigration and relocation vendor will contact you upon your offer acceptance and walk you through the process. They will manage your documents and Visa application, keep you updated along the way, and support and represent you in relation with the Hungarian government and authorities via a power of attorney setup.
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The Visa approval process usually takes 2 to 4 months, and we strongly advise you to resign at your current workplace only once your Visa request is officially approved. After that, we can start planning and booking your move to Budapest. Once here – and before you can start working – you’ll need a tax card, a social security number, and a local bank account. Normally the timeframe for getting all these is about 1 month. You’ll also have to find an apartment, as you need a temporary address in Hungary to get the needed documents.  Finally, once you'll get the residence permit, you can start your journey with Shapr3D!

For more information and regular updates, you can check the Hungarian Government’s website here: Visa application. Alternatively, you can always contact our lovely People Team.

Living in Budapest

We can already feel your excitement and hear your question: and what about Budapest? We believe that Budapest is a beautiful city and a great place to move to as an expat. But we might be a bit biased.

So, don’t just take our word for it, see for yourself! We’ve collected some bits and pieces on moving to and living in Budapest to serve as a good starting point for further research.

See more about the cost of living in Budapest.

Hungarian currency: after joining the European Union, Hungary decided to keep its own currency, the Hungarian Forint, written as “Ft” or HUF. You can check the conversion rates here.

There is a lot to see and do in the inner city of Budapest, but if you’re more into hiking and outdoor activities, nature is also within easy reach around the city. And you can easily travel to all corners of Europe from here as Budapest is a well-connected international hub.

Finding an apartment is not as hard (and surely, not as expensive) as in many other European cities. Depending on your preferences (and budget), you can live in the city center, the Buda side, the Pest side, or in the suburbs. And if you’re wondering about how many expats live here, check out this European Union statistic and report to find out. Spoiler alert: it’s around 7%.

There are many Facebook communities where you can meet and talk with other expats about moving here, and life in Budapest and Hungary in general.

The safety rate is also pretty good compared to other European hubs.

And last but not least, public transportation is affordable, available 24/7, and well connected.

Budapest through the eyes of our expats

We have co-workers from 10 different countries here at Shapr3D. And we asked them what they like about living in Budapest the most.

“Just move in and start discovering. Budapest is a lovely city in many ways. Not too big like the Big Apple or London, but not too small either. Here one can perfectly balance the need for social life with the need of having their "own space" and some calm and quietness around.”
– Andrei M, People Team
“Having lived in very different parts of the world, I find that Budapest offers a perfect balance for an expat like me. It feels as though Western and Eastern Europe connect in this city, creating a perfect mix of striking architecture, diverse food scene, and higher quality of life at a lower price than other European capitals.”
– Hanna L, Growth Team
“Budapest has a burgeoning coffee and craft beer culture which I personally enjoy most! This historic capital has something for everyone with parks, thermal baths, museums, restaurants, and town (city) squares around every corner. There’s an adventure for everyone in Budapest!”
– Ian K, Engineering Team
"Before moving to Budapest, my wife and I came for a quick visit and instantly fell in love with the Danube and the architecture. It's a safe and small city, and the quality of life is pretty good. You can afford to live within walking distance from your workplace in the city center."
– Seb C, Product Team