Hungary work permit and immigration guide for non-EU workers

Overview

Hungary caps employment-purpose and guest-worker residence permits issued in the combined procedure at 35,000 for 2026, and the number may not exceed the average vacancies measured over the previous four quarters. Guest workers can only be employed via a registered qualified temporary-work agency.

Quotas, caps and ratios

• Quota / cap: 35,000 (2026).
• Maximum employment-purpose and guest-worker residence permits issued in the combined procedure for 2026 is 35,000, also bounded by the average number of vacancies over the previous four quarters.

Employer eligibility and restrictions

• Guest workers may only be employed by a registered qualified temporary-work agency.
• Route choice (Guest Worker, Hungary Card, National Card, EU Blue Card) materially changes employer conditions.
• Whether the 35,000 cap reaches every work-related permit subtype needs permit-by-permit mapping.

Main work-permit routes

• Guest Worker residence permit
• Hungary Card
• National Card
• EU Blue Card

Recent vacancies — Hungary

16+ recent vacancies aggregated from Profession.hu, Cvonline.hu. These vacancies are aggregated from public job boards and are time-sensitive — roles may be filled or expired. Always confirm the offer, employer and any fees directly with the source or employer before applying or paying anything.

• Light Steel Structure Hall Construction - Trained Worker — BHHB Industrial Construction Kftconstruction · Apply on Migratalent
• Commercial Warehouse Worker — Comfort Line KftVeszprem · warehouse · Apply on Migratalent
• Production Operator — Ceva-Phylaxia Zrt (Ceva Sante Animale)manufacturing · Apply on Migratalent
• Maintenance Technician — Nitrogenmuvek ZrtPetfurdo · manufacturing · Apply on Migratalent
• Mechanical Maintenance Engineer — Nitrogenmuvek ZrtPetfurdo · manufacturing · Apply on Migratalent
• Cook (Free Accommodation, High Pay) — Yacht Marina Tihany KftTihany · hospitality · Apply on Migratalent
• View all vacancies (16)All Hungary vacancies

Application process

• Job offer & employer registration — Employer via National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP / OIF): The Hungarian employer secures a job offer for the third-country national and registers on the Enter Hungary electronic platform via the Company Portal to be able to file or support the application.
• Labour-market / employment eligibility check — Authority via Minister responsible for employment (specializing authority, via the Government Office): The specializing authority confirms the position is permitted and, where required, that a valid labour shortage exists, issuing its opinion within 8 days for guest-worker or EU Blue Card posts (10 days for exempt posts). (Specializing-authority opinion in 8 days (guest worker / EU Blue Card) or 10 days (exempt posts))
• Application submission — Worker via Consulate / Embassy of Hungary, or National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP / OIF): The worker submits the single (residence + work) permit application at the competent Hungarian diplomatic or consular mission abroad before entry, or, if eligible (visa-free first-time or extension), within Hungary via the Enter Hungary platform or in person. (EUR 110 at a consular mission; HUF 39,000 in person in Hungary; HUF 26,000 via Enter Hungary)
• Biometrics & document verification — Worker via Consulate / Embassy of Hungary, or National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP / OIF): The worker provides biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) and supporting documents; the authority may contact the employer or worker for factual clarification.
• Decision on single permit — Authority via National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP / OIF) — competent regional directorate: The competent regional directorate of the immigration authority assesses the application and issues the combined residence-and-work permit decision. (Maximum 90 days for the single application procedure)
• Entry visa & collection of permit — Worker via Consulate / Embassy of Hungary; National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP / OIF): If applying from abroad, the worker collects the entry visa (visa D) to travel to Hungary and receives the residence permit card upon arrival.
• Start-of-employment notification — Employer via National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP / OIF): The employer notifies the immigration authority within 5 days of the commencement, non-commencement, or termination of the employment relationship. (Within 5 days of the relevant event)

Processing time and government fees

• Overall processing time: The single application (combined residence + work) procedure is decided within a maximum of 90 days; the specializing authority's labour/employment opinion (8-10 days) does not count toward this limit.
• Government fees: Procedural fee for issuing the residence permit: EUR 110 at a Hungarian diplomatic/consular mission; HUF 39,000 for an application submitted in person in Hungary; HUF 26,000 via the Enter Hungary platform. Permit extension: HUF 26,000. (The EU Immigration Portal lists the Enter Hungary fee as HUF 24,000 and extension as HUF 23,000 — the OIF procedural-fees page is the more current authority.)
• Authorities (NDGAP/OIF, consular missions, employment specializing authority), the 90-day single-procedure decision limit, the 8-10 day opinion window, the 5-day employer notification rule, and fee amounts were verified against OIF factsheets and the EU Immigration Portal; the exact guest-worker-specific fee line and the HUF 24,000 vs 26,000 Enter Hungary discrepancy should be confirmed directly on the OIF procedural-fees page before quoting to clients.

Core documents

• Valid passport meeting the destination validity rule
• Signed work contract or binding job offer
• Proof of qualifications / professional experience
• Criminal-record certificate (apostille/legalisation where required)
• Certified translations of foreign documents where required
• Proof of health insurance and accommodation where required

Common questions