Malta Digital Nomad Visa vs. Hungary Digital Nomad Visa

Choosing the right digital nomad visa to achieve your goals abroad is not an easy task. With so much information and comparison, it can get confusing and overwhelming. Today, we’ll look at the differences between the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Hungary digital nomad visa to help you make your decision. 

The Malta digital nomad visa was introduced in 2021, while Hungary’s digital nomad visa launched in early 2022. Both countries are part of the European Union and in the Schengen Area. 

While both of these countries are ideal for digital nomads, they are vastly different in culture, price, and environment. 

Malta, the 10th smallest country in the world, is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. They get to enjoy 300 days of sun and access to the crystal blue sea waters year-round. 

Hungary is considered Eastern European and can experience cold winters. However, the spring and summer months are worth the wait! Budapest, the capital city, is lively and perfect for digital nomads that appreciate the hustle and bustle of a city. 

Malta and Hungary both offer great environments for digital nomads thanks to their popular cities, cafes, coworking spaces, and reliable internet connections. However, digital nomad visas are complex and can make it difficult to relocate to your desired country. 

Below are the differences between the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Hungary digital nomad visa to help you make a decision about which one is best for your digital nomad lifestyle.

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

There are over 30 digital nomad visas available around the world. These visas are specifically for remote workers to live abroad temporarily. 

Usually, these visas last for about a year and are renewable a couple of times. However, in some cases, they can lead to permanent residency. 

It’s important to note that digital nomad visas do not allow you to seek local employment in the country. 

You must earn your income working remotely either as an employee or owner of a company or freelance for clients located outside of the country where you hold the digital nomad visa. 

The Importance of Choosing the Right Digital Nomad Visa

Applying for a digital nomad visa is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

While they do not require you to search for a job abroad, there are some serious things to consider, such as how to find an apartment to live, if you can drive in the country, and opening bank accounts if necessary. 

There are also the tax implications of digital nomad visas that you must consider. Sometimes, moving to a foreign country can be detrimental to how much you owe in taxes if you don’t plan accordingly. 

Choosing a digital nomad visa should be something you think deeply about and research. And well, if you’re here reading this article, you’re doing just that! 

Comparing the pros and cons of each visa and imagining what life will be like for you is a crucial part of picking the right digital nomad visa to apply for. 

Malta Digital Nomad Visa vs. Hungary Digital Nomad Visa

In this article, we are comparing the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Hungary digital nomad visa for an easy and straightforward way to assist you in making your decision. 

Nomads Embassy: The World’s First Embassy for Digital Nomads has a mission to make the world more accessible to digital nomads by sharing verified information in an easy and comprehensive way. 

Plus, with our hand-selected local immigration lawyers and our Done-for-You Digital Nomad Visa service, we’ve made the digital nomad visa application process even easier. 

From research to relocation, Nomads Embassy is here to simplify the digital nomad visa process.  

Visa Requirements

Each digital nomad visa has a specific set of eligibility requirements applicants must meet to be considered for approval. 

Below is a comparison of Malta digital nomad visa vs. Hungary digital nomad visa requirements. 

Valid Passport

• Malta – Passport must be valid at the time of applying
• Hungary – Passport must be valid for at least six months after the visa term

You must have a valid passport when applying for both Malta and Hungary digital nomad visas. However, the validity period is different. 

Income Requirement

• Malta – €2,700 per month
• Hungary – €3,000 per month

Malta’s income requirement is less than Hungary’s requirement. 

Work Remotely

• Malta – Yes
• Hungary – Yes

Both countries require applicants to show proof that they work remotely through employment and/or freelance contracts or a business established abroad. 

International Health Insurance

• Malta – Yes, except UK citizens
• Hungary – Yes

Both countries require applicants to have an international health insurance policy that covers them in the country for the duration of their visa. 

However, British citizens can access Malta’s healthcare for free, thanks to an agreement between the countries. Therefore, they do not require an international health insurance policy. 

Clean Criminal Record

• Malta – No
• Hungary – No

Neither country requires applicants to submit a criminal background check when applying for the digital nomad visas. 

Address of Accommodations

• Malta – Yes, after approval in principle
• Hungary – Yes, at time of applying

Both countries require applicants to have proof of accommodations in the country. However, Malta requires your accommodations after receiving your approval in principle, allowing you to visit Malta and search for housing. 

Hungary requires an address of accommodations while applying for the digital nomad visa.

Family Inclusion

• Malta – Yes
• Hungary – No

Hungary’s digital nomad visa does not allow applicants to include family members on their applications. If they wish to bring a spouse, he or she must apply separately and meet the income requirements. 

Malta does allow applicants to include a spouse and dependents below the age of 18. 

Application Process

• Malta – Online application
• Hungary – In person at an embassy or consulate in or near the country of residence or online

The Malta digital nomad visa application is done entirely online. There is no need to visit an embassy or consulate, and you can apply from anywhere in the world. 

If your nationality requires you to apply for an entry visa to Hungary, you must apply in-person at the nearest embassy or consulate to your country of residence. 

However, if you can enter Hungary visa-free as a tourist, then you may apply online.

Time to Approval

• Malta – 30 days
• Hungary – 30 days

After submitting your documents to the authorities, it will take about 30 days to receive an answer from Malta or Hungary.

Visa Term

• Malta – 12 months
• Hungary – 12 months

Both digital nomad visas in Malta and Hungary are valid for one year. 

Renewal Options

• Malta – renewable twice
• Hungary – renewable once

The Malta digital nomad visa is renewable twice, allowing digital nomads to live in the country for up to three years. 

The Hungary digital nomad visa allows you to renew it once to stay in the country for a total of two years. 

Path to Permanent Residency

• Malta – No
• Hungary – No

Neither the Malta digital nomad visa nor the Hungary digital nomad visa will lead to permanent residency. 

Government Fees

• Malta – €300
• Hungary – €220

The government fees for both digital nomad visas are in the same range. 

These fees include the visa application and residence permit fees. 

Tax Implications

• Malta – Tax resident
• Hungary – Tax resident

Malta and Hungary digital nomad visa holders that spend 183 days in the country out of the year will be considered tax residents. 

Difficulty of Applying on Your Own

• Malta – 3/10
• Hungary – 5/10

While it is completely possible to apply for both the Malta and Hungary digital nomad visas on your own, it has not proven to be easy. 

When dealing with embassies or consulates, you can count on long wait times on phone calls, emails, and low-tier custom service. There also tends to be a lot of miscommunication between the consulate, the government, and applicants. 

Applying for a digital nomad visa with an immigration lawyer can ease this stress and miscommunication. Part of the lawyer’s job is to communicate with the embassy, consulate, and other authorities on your behalf so you don’t have to wait on hold for hours. 

Having a local immigration lawyer that speaks the language can also help you get questions answered, push your application faster, and get updates on the status of your application quicker. 

Begin Your Digital Nomad Visa Application with Nomads Embassy

Did this article help you decide which digital nomad visa to apply for? 

After weighing the pros and cons of the Malta digital nomad visa vs. Hungary digital nomad visa, you probably have a better understanding of which is best for your lifestyle and goals. 

Deciding which digital nomad visa to apply for is just the first step. Now, it’s time to connect with a local immigration lawyer to assist you with your relocation process. 

Nomads Embassy is here to help connect you with our hand-selected and verified immigration lawyers worldwide.

To begin your digital nomad visa application process, request our free eligibility check today!