Working as a guest worker in Hungary



Have you heard about the changes in Hungary, which have been in force from 1st of January? We summarized the most important changes comparison to year 2023. 

First of all, residency based on employment category has been restructured, and applicants have to choose from the following options: 

  • Residence permit for seasonal employment, 
  • Residence permit for employment for the purpose of investment, 
  • Residence permit for the purpose of employment, 
  • Guest worker residence permit. 

Previously, many other articles were published in connection with business immigration, you can check it in our Blog. Let’s see the details on guest worker residence permit. 

1. Residence permit for seasonal employment 

A residence permit for seasonal employment may be granted to a guest worker who wishes to do seasonal work.  

The validity period of the document is maximized in 6 months, which can be extended for the same purpose not exceeding 6 months within a period of 12 months. 

2. Residence permit for employment for the purpose of investment 

May be issued to guest workers: 

  • whose purpose is to perform actual work for or under the direction of others, for remuneration, under contract for employment relationship in order to implement an investment, 
  • whose employer has concluded an agreement or contract with the minister responsible for foreign economic affairs acting on behalf of the Government, or has accepted the offer of support, in order to implement this investment, and 
  • whose employer has a prior approval for group employment defined by law. 

Validity period: is maximized in the realization of the investment according to the time period defined in the approval of group employment, but for the maximum of 3 years. 

3. Residence permit for the purpose of employment 

May be issued to guest workers: 

  • whose purpose of residence is to perform actual work for or under the direction of others, for remuneration, under contract for 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 this case the Hungarian employer is considered to be the employer) 

Validity period: 2 years, and it may beextended for another year. 

Its validity period may not exceed 3 years of time from the date of first issuance. 

4. Guest worker residence permit 

May be issued to guest workers: 

  • whose purpose of residence is to perform actual work for or under the direction of others, for remuneration, under contract for employment relationship, 
  • whose employer is registered as a preferential employer or a qualified temporary work agency (i.e. lender of labour force), 
  • who are third-country nationals as defined in the Decree by the minister responsible for employment of third-country nationals in Hungary, issued with the approval of the Protection Committee, and 
  • who undertake work under employment not precluded by the Communication by the minister responsible for employment policy. 

The relevant regulation sets out the list of third countries whose nationals can be employed with a guest worker residence permit. 

Validity period: 2 years, and it may beextended for another year. 

Its validity period may not exceed 3 years of time from the date of first issuance.