Guest Worker Permit and Single Permit (Hungary)

What are the guest worker permit and the single permit?

A non-EU national who comes to work in Hungary needs a residence permit that also gives the right to work. Most of these permits are issued as a single permit (összevont engedély), the result of a combined application in which the immigration authority decides on both residence and work. The guest worker residence permit (vendégmunkás-tartózkodási engedély) is one of them, created by Act XC of 2023 for workers from designated countries.

Guest worker permits since June 2026

Guest worker permits could only be issued to nationals of countries named by the government, working for a preferential employer, such as a strategic partner of the government, or for a registered qualified temporary work agency. Since 6 June 2026, under Government Decree 92/2026, no country is named, so new applications cannot be filed. Applications submitted, with the fee paid, by 5 June 2026 continue, and current holders can still apply to extend their permit or for a new one under the earlier rules. The government has ordered a full review of the rules on employing non-EU nationals, so further changes are expected.

The routes still open

Other permits are still issued under the existing rules. They include:

• the employment-purpose residence permit (foglalkoztatási célú tartózkodási engedély), currently open to nationals of Georgia, Armenia and the Philippines, valid for up to two years and extendable by one year, to a maximum of three;
• the EU Blue Card, for highly qualified workers paid at least a set monthly salary;
• the Hungarian Card, for graduates in fields such as IT, engineering and natural sciences;
• the National Card, for nationals of eight countries, including Serbia and Ukraine.

For 2026, the number of employment-purpose and guest worker permits issued through the combined procedure is capped at 35,000.

Employer duties

The employer must check, at the latest on the first day of work, that a non-EU employee holds a valid permit to work for that employer, in that job and at that workplace, keep a copy of it, and report the start of employment to the immigration authority, usually within five days of the permit being collected. A new employer, job or workplace needs a new or extended permit. For holders of employment-purpose and guest worker permits, the employer must also make sure the worker leaves Hungary by the sixth day after the employment ends, or face a fine of HUF 5 million.

Work permits when you hire through an EOR

With TopSource as your Employer of Record in Hungary, we tell you which route fits your hire’s nationality and qualifications, provide the employer documents the application needs and, with the employee’s consent where the rules allow it, file it ourselves. As the legal employer, we check the right to work before day one and make the reports the law requires.

Frequently asked questions

Can employers still hire guest workers in Hungary?

Not new ones. Since 6 June 2026, no new guest worker permit applications can be filed, because no country is designated. Holders of current permits can still apply to extend them.

What is a single permit in Hungary?

It is the form in which Hungary issues most work-related residence permits after a combined application, so one decision covers both residence and the right to work.

How many work permits can Hungary issue in 2026?

Up to 35,000 employment-purpose and guest worker residence permits through the combined procedure, under a decree of the Minister for National Economy.

Related terms in Hungary

• Written Employment Information (Hungary)
• Fixed-Term Employment Limits (Hungary)
• Simplified Employment (Hungary)
• Overtime Cap (Hungary)
• Telework and Home Office Rules (Hungary)
• Additional Leave (Hungary)
• Protected Periods and Dismissal Justification (Hungary)
• Termination by Mutual Agreement (Hungary)
• Non-Compete Agreement (Hungary)
• Works Council and Collective Agreements (Hungary)
• Occupational Safety and Medical Aptitude Exam (Hungary)

Sources

• National Legislation Database: Act XC of 2023 on the entry and residence of third-country nationals
• Immigration authority (OIF): change to guest worker residence permits, June 2026
• Immigration authority (OIF): 2026 cap on permits
• Immigration authority (OIF): employment-purpose residence permit
• Immigration authority (OIF): duties of employers of non-EU nationals