How to Apply for a Hungarian Employment Residence Permit

Executive Summary

Hungary’s employment residence permit remains one of the most practical options for non-EU professionals looking to legally work and settle in Central Europe. But starting in 2025, new laws have made the process more selective both for applicants and their future employers.

To qualify, you’ll need a formal job offer from a Hungarian company and a contract that meets new wage standards. The application is part of Hungary’s single permit system, which combines residency and work authorization in one streamlined process.

But the real shift lies in tightened compliance rules, new permit categories, and a more active enforcement of labor market tests. This means employers must prove there’s no suitable EU citizen for the role before offering it to a foreign worker.

This guide covers the updated rules, timelines, and application steps so you don’t get tripped up by outdated advice or incomplete documentation. If you’re serious about working in Hungary, here’s what to know before jumping in.

Understanding the Hungarian Employment Residence Permit

We’ve helped a lot of professionals secure this permit over the years and the biggest mistake we still see? People think they can apply first and find a job later. That’s not how this works.

The employment residence permit is issued under Hungary’s single permit process, which means your right to live and work here is handled in one application. It’s efficient, but not flexible. You’ll need a signed job offer in hand from a registered Hungarian employer before you can even begin.

Once that’s in place, you submit one application that covers both residence and work authorization. And if everything checks out  including your employer’s documentation  you can expect approval within a few weeks. Assuming nothing’s missing, of course.

Key Changes Effective January 1, 2025

1. New Permit Categories

Hungary now splits employment permits into more specific buckets:

• Guest Worker Permit: Aimed at temporary and seasonal workers. It’s short-term, has strict renewal limits, and doesn’t allow family reunification. This is for jobs like warehouse work, cleaning, or seasonal agriculture.
  
• Highly Qualified Worker Permit: This one’s for skilled professionals  developers, engineers, doctors, and others in shortage areas. It comes with a longer stay period and a potential path to long-term residence down the line.
  

You have to apply under the right category based on your qualifications and the job type. Misclassifying your application can cause serious delays or outright rejection.

2. Labor Market Test Requirement

Before an employer can offer a job to a non-EU national, they have to prove there’s no available Hungarian or EU citizen to fill the role. This is called the labor market test, and it adds another layer of paperwork to the process.

The only exception? Certain shortage sector roles are pre-approved and don’t require this step. But if you’re applying for something like office administration or a retail job, your employer will likely need to go through the test.

3. Processing Times

Officially, the government says permits are processed in 21 days. And sometimes that’s true. But in reality, 30 to 45 days is a safer expectation  especially during peak seasons or when there are document issues.

We’ve seen delays stretch beyond two months just because someone forgot to notarize a translation or submitted a contract without the proper salary language.

4. Restricted Occupations

Hungary is focusing its immigration policy on filling real gaps in the labor market. That means some jobs are now effectively off-limits to non-EU workers.

Common restricted roles include:

• Administrative assistants
  
• Cashiers or sales staff
  
• General labor jobs without specialized skills
  

If a job can easily be filled by local workers, it’s not likely to get approved. Stick to high-demand sectors or skilled roles if you’re applying from abroad.

5. Stricter Employer Compliance

Hungarian employers now face tougher consequences for violating immigration laws. If they submit incomplete paperwork or fail to meet wage or contract requirements, they could face:

• Fines
  
• Audits
  
• Bans from hiring non-EU nationals in the future
  

We always recommend checking whether your prospective employer has handled immigration paperwork before. If they’re brand new to the process, the risk of error goes up.

6. Family Reunification Regulations

Family reunification used to be relatively simple. Now it depends heavily on your permit type.

• Guest Worker Permit holders: No family reunification allowed
  
• Highly Qualified Worker Permit holders: Family members may join, but each must submit a separate application
  

So if bringing your spouse or kids is a priority, make sure you’re applying under a long-term category and not something temporary.

7. Minimum Wage Requirements

Starting in 2025, Hungary introduced clear wage floors tied to permit types:

• EU Blue Card: HUF 883,671 per month
  
• Healthcare professionals (e.g., pharmacists, general practitioners): HUF 706,937 per month
  

If your job contract doesn’t meet or exceed the correct salary minimum, your application will be rejected  full stop.

Employment Contract Requirements

This part seems straightforward, but we’ve seen a lot of issues pop up around vague or incomplete contracts. The authorities look for three key things:

• A start date that’s within 120 days of your application date
  
• A salary that matches or exceeds the relevant minimum wage threshold
  
• A standard direct employment relationship  no workforce leasing, no subcontracts
  

Hungary doesn’t allow labor leasing arrangements under these permits. So if you’re technically employed by a staffing agency but working somewhere else, that won’t fly.

Comparison: Hungary vs. Other EU Countries

Hungary is sometimes overlooked in favor of bigger economies, but in terms of process speed and cost of living, it’s actually a strong contender.

Hungary doesn’t offer the same job market size as Germany, but it moves faster and is far more affordable for applicants at the early stage of their European career.

Final Thoughts

Hungary’s employment residence permit system is still very accessible  but it’s not casual anymore. The 2025 rules demand better documentation, more employer diligence, and clearer contracts. If you tick all the boxes, you’ll likely be approved without much hassle. But if your paperwork’s off, even slightly, it can become a long, frustrating process.

So here’s our advice:

• Get a strong, legitimate job offer
  
• Double-check the contract details  dates, wages, structure
  
• Make sure your employer understands the labor market test
  
• Don’t underestimate how strict the authorities have become
  

Need help reviewing your offer or prepping your application? That’s where we come in. At Aegir Consulting, we guide professionals through every stage of the process  from reviewing contracts to managing timelines  so nothing gets lost in translation. If you’re ready to work in Hungary, we’ll help you make it happen.