Work / Employment in Hungary: Requirements and Fees

Single Permit (Employment) — 3 skill tiers

Combined work-and-residence permit for third-country nationals with a Hungarian job offer, subject to a labour-market test.

Processing time: 21-day administrative examination, 70-day statutory cap (labour-market opinion ~10 days, not counted)
Validity: Up to ~3 years, renewable
Language requirement: None for the permit itself
Permanent residence: EU Residence Card after 5 years lawful residence

Requirements

Valid job offer / employment contract
Qualification certificate (skill tiers b/c)
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and comprehensive health insurance
Positive employment-policy / labour-market opinion from the competent Government Office

Required Documents

Valid passport (validity at least 3 months beyond intended permit) required
Job offer / employment contract required
Qualification certificate (skill tiers b/c)
Proof of subsistence required
Proof of accommodation required
Comprehensive health insurance required
One facial photograph required

Official fees

Issuance via Enter Hungary 26,000 HUF
Issuance in person 39,000 HUF

Process Steps

1

Secure job offer

Obtain a job offer / employment contract from a Hungarian employer.
2

Lodge application

Employer and applicant lodge the single application at a Hungarian consulate or via the Enter Hungary platform.
3

Labour-market test

Competent Government Office runs the employment-policy/labour-market test and issues its opinion within 10 days (8 days for preferred employers); this time is not counted toward the case clock.
4

OIF decision

OIF examines (21 days) and decides within the 70-day cap.
5

Entry visa

Consulate issues a Type D single-entry visa (valid 3 months).
6

Enter and collect card

Enter Hungary within 3 months and give biometrics; residence card issued.

Official Sources

OIF — Single Application Procedure Official
OIF — Procedural Fees Official

Guest Worker Permit

This permit category is currently suspended. As of June 2026, there are no third countries whose nationals may be employed in Hungary under a residence permit for guest workers. The programme framework (Government Decree 450/2024, as amended by Decree 92/2026 effective 6 June 2026) remains in law but all eligible nationality designations have been withdrawn; new applications are not accepted.

Processing time: 21-day examination, 70-day cap (labour-market opinion 8 days for preferred employers)
Validity: Maximum 3 years total
Language requirement: None

Requirements

Employment via a registered preferred employer or qualified labour-force lender
Applicant's nationality on the Government-Decree eligible list
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance

Required Documents

Valid passport required
Employment contract via preferred employer / labour-force lender required
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance required
One facial photograph required

Official fees

Issuance via Enter Hungary 26,000 HUF
Issuance in person 39,000 HUF

Process Steps

1

Confirm employer status

Employer must already be a registered preferred employer or qualified labour-force lender.
2

Lodge at consulate

Apply at a designated Hungarian consulate.
3

Labour-market opinion

Labour-market opinion issued within 8 days for preferred employers.
4

Decision

21-day examination, 70-day cap.

Official Sources

OIF — Residence Permit for Guest Workers Official

Hungarian Card

Residence permit for high-qualification employment, executives/owners doing real work, and athletes, coaches, performers and film workers.

Processing time: 21-day examination, 70-day cap
Validity: Max 3 years, extendable by 3-year periods indefinitely
Language requirement: None for the permit itself
Permanent residence: Via National Residence Card / EU Residence Card after qualifying residence

Requirements

Preliminary or valid contract for a high-qualification job (or executive/owner role, or athlete/coach/performer/film worker)
Higher-education/qualification certificate (not required for athletes/coaches/performers/film producers)
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance

Required Documents

Valid passport required
Employment contract for a qualifying role required
Higher-education / qualification certificate
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance required
One facial photograph required
Authenticated parental consent if minor

Official fees

Issuance via Enter Hungary 26,000 HUF
Issuance in person 39,000 HUF

Process Steps

1

Secure contract

Obtain a preliminary or valid contract for a qualifying role.
2

Apply

Apply at a Hungarian consulate or via Enter Hungary.
3

Decision

21-day examination, 70-day cap.
4

Extension

Submit extension 30–90 days before expiry.

Official Sources

OIF — Residence Permit for Hungarian Card Official

National Card (Serbian / Ukrainian + expanded list)

Employment permit for nationals of designated neighbouring countries, applied for at specific consulates; unlike the guest-worker permit it permits a path to permanent residence.

Processing time: 21-day examination, 70-day cap
Validity: 2 years, extendable in 3-year periods
Language requirement: None
Permanent residence: May later apply for permanent residence

Requirements

Employment relationship (including via temporary work agency)
Eligible nationality (e.g., Serbia, Ukraine and expanded list)
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance

Required Documents

Valid passport required
Employment contract required
Proof of eligible nationality required
Proof of subsistence, accommodation and health insurance required
One facial photograph required

Official fees

Issuance via Enter Hungary 26,000 HUF
Issuance in person 39,000 HUF

Process Steps

1

Lodge at designated consulate

Serbia: Belgrade / Szabadka (Subotica); Ukraine: Kyiv / Ungvár (Uzhhorod) / Beregszász (Berehove).
2

Decision

Standard 21-day examination, 70-day cap.

Official Sources

OIF — Factsheets directory (National Card / National Residence Permit section) Official
OIF — Procedural Fees Official

Seasonal Employment Permit

Short-term permit for seasonal work in plant production, forestry, animal breeding or fishery.

Processing time: 21-day examination (15-day expedited if lawfully resided in Hungary within prior 5 years), 70-day cap
Validity: Max 6 months, extendable up to 6 months within a 12-month window
Language requirement: None

Requirements

Employment in plant production, forestry, animal breeding or fishery
Employment agreement
Proof of funds, accommodation and health insurance

Required Documents

Valid passport required
Seasonal employment agreement required
Proof of funds, accommodation and health insurance required
One facial photograph required

Official fees

Issuance via Enter Hungary 26,000 HUF
Issuance in person 39,000 HUF

Process Steps

1

Apply

Apply at a consulate or (if visa-exempt) via Enter Hungary.
2

Decision

21-day examination (15-day expedited if eligible), 70-day cap.
3

Extension

Extend at least 30 days before expiry; cannot change employer without an extension application.

Official Sources

OIF — Residence Permit for Seasonal Employment Official

Intra-Corporate Transfer (ICT) + Long-Term Mobility

Permit for managers, specialists and trainees transferred within a multinational group to a Hungarian entity.

Processing time: 21-day examination, 70-day cap
Validity: Managers/specialists max 3 years; trainees max 1 year
Language requirement: None
Permanent residence: Separate permanent-residence application required

Requirements

At least 3 months prior employment within the corporate group
Intra-group contract / assignment letter
Degree/vocational qualification plus experience (managers/specialists) or degree (trainees)

Required Documents

Valid passport required
Intra-group contract / assignment letter required
Proof of same corporate group required
Degree/vocational qualification + experience (managers/specialists) or degree (trainees) required
Proof of subsistence and health insurance required
One facial photograph required

Official fees

Issuance via Enter Hungary 26,000 HUF
Issuance in person 39,000 HUF

Process Steps

1

Confirm eligibility

At least 3 months prior employment in the group plus an assignment letter.
2

Apply

Apply at a consulate or via Enter Hungary.
3

Decision

21-day examination, 70-day cap.
4

Extension

Extend at least 30 days before expiry.

Official Sources

OIF — Residence Permit for Intra-Corporate Transfer and Long-Term Mobility Official