Working in Budapest

Budapest has a large population with some highly skilled citizens in the city. Despite this, there is demand for more skilled labour, and suitably-qualified job-seeking expats have a good chance of securing work in the city.

EU and EEA nationals only need a valid passport to work legally in Budapest. Conversely, non-EU and EEA nationals will need to secure a job before going through the tedious process of acquiring a visa and work permit.

Job market in Budapest

Hungary's working hours are one of the world's longest, and the pay tends not to measure up to other European countries. As a result, Hungary as a whole, and specifically Budapest, are suffering a brain drain due to some of its citizens leaving for better prospects in countries such as the UK or Germany.

At this stage some of the top sectors open in Budapest for job-seeking expats include the information technology industry, education, teaching English, finance and construction. 

Finding a job in Budapest

Many expats secure a job before making their move to the country as this helps to facilitate the visa process. Jobs can be found through online job portals and social networking sites such as LinkedIn. If already in Budapest, expats can also check out job listings in local newspapers.

One of the most common ways to find work in Budapest, and perhaps the most straightforward, is to work for a multinational company and make a transfer.

Work culture in Budapest 

Although English is spoken with increasing popularity by business people, Hungarian is more commonly spoken. Bridging the communication gap can be challenging. To minimise this, it is important that expats pursuing a job in Budapest take the time to learn at least basic Hungarian to ease the adjustment.

Being punctual and dressing neatly are both important aspects of work conduct. Expats can also benefit from observing and copying the conduct of their coworkers.