Hungary residence permit for the purpose of employment (guest workers)
This is Hungary's guest worker route, open only to third-country nationals designated by government decree: Annex 1 of Government Decree No. 450/2024 of 23 December currently lists only Georgia, Armenia and the Republic of the Philippines. The permit runs for a maximum of two years and may be extended by one more, but never beyond three years from first issuance. The route deliberately closes several exits: no application for a residence permit on another legal title may be made in Hungary, family members may not be granted family reunification permits — except a child born in Hungary during its validity — and holders may not be granted a national residence card.
Core requirements
A residence permit for employment may be granted to guest workers whose purpose of residence is to perform actual work for or under the direction of others, for remuneration, under a contract for an employment relationship; whose employment is based on an existing employment relationship with an employer established in a third country in order to fulfil an agreement concluded with a Hungarian employer, in which case the Hungarian employer is considered to be the employer; and who are nationals of a third country as defined in a Government Decree. Third-country nationals are non-Hungarian nationals who are not persons with the right of free movement and residence — not EEA nationals or their family members — and stateless persons.
Annex 1 of Government Decree No. 450/2024 of 23 December on the employment of guest workers in Hungary lists the third countries with which Hungary or the European Union has concluded a readmission agreement or, failing that, which have an organisation or office in Hungary, officially recognised by that country, committing to guarantee that its national leaves Hungary and returns there in case of non-compliance with Hungarian and EU law on the admission and residence of third-country nationals. Annex 1 currently lists three: Georgia, Armenia and the Republic of the Philippines. Only nationals of those countries may be employed in Hungary on a residence permit for the purpose of employment.
The minister responsible for employment policy may specify, in a Communication, occupations for which a residence permit for the purpose of employment cannot be granted. As at the page's last edit, no such communication had been issued.
Where entry into Hungary is not visa-exempt travel, the application must be submitted outside Hungary. It must also be submitted only outside Hungary where the applicant may enter visa-free but has submitted an application for a residence permit for the purpose of employment in the past. Applications go to a Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission in the country of nationality or habitual residence; honorary consuls, trade representations and external service providers may also be authorised to receive them. Where there is no consulate or other receiving place in that country, an application may exceptionally be submitted in a country where the applicant is staying legally, on proof of the reasons. A separate visa application is not required, as the residence permit application comprises the application for the visa entitling its holder to collect the permit.
Someone who may enter Hungary visa-free by nationality and does not already hold a residence permit may submit a first application within Hungary. So may a holder of a valid extended residence permit for the purpose of employment whose approved residence — capped by law at three years — is about to expire, but in that case only at least 40 days before the permit expires. Submission in Hungary is available electronically through the Enter Hungary platform or in person before the NDGAP regional directorate competent for the applicant's place of accommodation; where the attorney-in-fact is a legal representative or a legal person, only Enter Hungary is available.
Extension applications may be submitted only within Hungary through Enter Hungary, and an extension is possible only for a period not exceeding three years from the date of first issuance. To reside longer on this permit, a new application for its issuance must be submitted in Hungary at least 40 days before the current permit expires. An extension application is required where the applicant wishes to be employed by an employer other than the one for whom the current permit was granted, or where the position or place of work has changed. Extension is possible only if the applicant holds a valid permit at the time of submission and has resided in Hungary on it for at least 90 days in any 180-day period. The application may be submitted no more than 90 days before expiry, and no later than 30 days before it.
For submission in person the application form must be completed correctly and in full and submitted signed; for Enter Hungary the electronic form on the platform must be completed correctly and in full. A facial photograph and fingerprints are taken for the issuance of a permit containing biometric data. An application submitted through Enter Hungary is deemed received once the administrative service fee has been paid and the facial photograph, fingerprints and signature specimen have been recorded within 15 days of receipt, and the authority then sends a notification. One facial photograph must be attached, and documents on unchanged conditions need not be attached again on extension.
Proof of the purpose of residence is a preliminary agreement on establishing an employment relationship, or a document on the legal relationship of employment. Where the applicant will be employed in Hungary on the basis of an employment relationship with an employer established in a third country in order to fulfil an agreement with a Hungarian employer, the agreement between the Hungarian employer and the third-country employer concerning that employment must also be attached.
One of the following must be submitted as proof of sufficient resources to cover subsistence, accommodation, return or onward travel out of Hungary and healthcare services from legally acquired income and savings: a preliminary agreement, a document on the legal relationship of employment, a certificate from a credit institution in the applicant's name such as a bank account statement, an account statement on savings or stocks and bonds or a bank balance statement, or a document on regular income issued by the employer or the tax authority.
One of the following must be submitted as proof that the applicant owns a residential property suitable for habitation or has legal title to use such real estate: a residential lease contract, a document on accommodation provision by courtesy, a document proving ownership of the residential property, a document proving the reservation of accommodation and payment for it, or a certificate by the employer declaring that it will provide the applicant's accommodation.
Documentary evidence must be submitted that the applicant has access to comprehensive health insurance services covering all healthcare services, or can cover the costs of such services. The condition is met where the applicant qualifies as a person with health insurance services under social security, has access to Hungarian health insurance services under an international convention, treaty or agreement, or can cover healthcare costs on the basis of the documents proving means of subsistence in Hungary.
Meeting the conditions of exit — return or onward travel — must be proved by a valid passport together with valid tickets for the relevant travel, or the amount of money to cover the costs of the travel.
Applications for the issuance and extension of a residence permit for the purpose of employment are examined under the single application procedure. The period for procedural administration is 21 days. In addition to the mandatory attachments, NDGAP may request further documents to clarify the facts of the case or carry out other procedural conduct, and the period for remedying deficiencies and for other procedural conduct is not included in that period. A decision on the merits is adopted within 70 days of the date of submission.
Where the application was lodged at a Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission and the regional directorate approves it, that approval constitutes approval for issuing an entry visa entitling its holder to receive the residence permit, issued by the competent consular officer. Type "D" visas for this purpose are single-entry visas authorising a stay of not more than 30 days and valid for three months. If the applicant does not enter Hungary within three months of the approval and does not start the approved residence, the permit becomes invalid and the accrued right of entry and residence ceases. The document is delivered by post to the address indicated for delivery in the application form; collecting it in person at an NDGAP regional directorate is allowed only on proof that the applicant cannot receive it at that address.
The validity period of the document is a maximum of two years and may be extended by another year, but may not exceed three years from the date of first issuance. The authority determines the expiry date so that the third-country national's travel document remains valid for at least a further three months after the approved residence expires.
During the validity period of a residence permit for the purpose of employment and after its expiry, an application for the issuance of a residence permit under another legal title is not allowed in Hungary.
Family members of a third-country national holding or applying for a residence permit for the purpose of employment may not be granted a residence permit for family reunification. The one exception is where such a holder gives birth to a third-country national child in Hungary during the permit's validity, in which case the child receives a residence permit for the purpose of family reunification after notification of the birth.
Third-country nationals holding a residence permit for the purpose of employment may not be granted a national residence card.
In case of refusal, the decision may be appealed within eight days of delivery, submitted to the first-instance authority or to the Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission where the application was lodged. The authority dismisses an appeal without examination on the merits where it is received after the deadline, is not submitted by an authorised person, introduces new facts of the case that the applicant was aware of before the decision was taken, or is submitted without indicating its grounds or cause.
Official sources
- Residence permit for the purpose of employmentNational Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP), Hungary · Reviewed 2026-09-06
How immigration works in Hungary — the process in order, the current figures with their dates, and what commonly blocks an application.
General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-06.