Work Permits for Hungary

Nationals of countries that are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Union (EU) may work in other member states, like Hungary, with only a passport, so no visa or work permit is necessary.

Unfortunately, expats from countries that are not members of these organisations are not as lucky and will have to deal with the paperwork required to secure a work permit in Hungary.

Applying for a work permit in Hungary

The work permit application is submitted in cooperation with the employer, who must obtain permission from the labour office to hire a foreigner. If the employer can prove that a suitable candidate cannot be found within the EU and EEA areas or Hungary, permission is granted in the form of a labour agreement.

The work permit application hinges on the labour agreement as well as a signed employment contract. Therefore, it is not possible to apply for a work permit in advance and then look for a job at a later stage. It should also be noted that if expats wish to work for a different employer, they will need to apply for a new work permit.

Expats should note that since January 2025, Hungary has significantly limited eligibility for Employment Purpose Residence Permits and Guest Worker Residence Permits. Currently, this is only for nationals who meet specific ‘readmission’ criteria and are from countries listed in a formal annexe. The list currently includes only the Philippines, Armenia, and Georgia. Fortunately, existing permits and applications submitted before 2025 are not affected by this.

Highly skilled workers can apply for an EU Blue Card or a Hungarian Card, which have different eligibility criteria and are less likely to be impacted by the restrictions.

The Hungarian work permit is usually issued within 30 to 60 days of the application’s submission, but it can take longer if the volume of applications is unusually high. The period of validity, which is two years, begins when the visa is issued.

Visa requirements can change at short notice, and expats should contact their respective embassy or consulate for the latest details.