In this article I will explain you many details about the Hungarian work permit or residence permit for work in Hungary. First of all, what it is, who can apply to it, where from, what are the requirements, conditions and also two common scenarios which is something crucial for your planning. First, applying from your home country and second, applying while already in Hungary. Read this guide carefully, I live in Hungary since 2006 and have seen many different experiences from friends and colleagues. I used the word planning purposedly. Do not try this process without proper planning and expert advise.
Note: this guide includes what you need to do but excludes what the employer needs to do.
Important: this guide is for third-country nationals and I will explain that term later on. If you are an EU citizen or EEA national, I have a guide specific for you here: Work in Hungary: how EU citizens get the registration card.
Hungarian general work permit
The work permit is a work permit, but in Hungary is called residence permit for work, however there are 9 other different types of work permits; this guide is about the general work permit. I would say this applies for the 80% of the cases. The other types of permits are depending on the employment terms or type, also depending on the employer type or based on your education and qualifications. Even though the work permit of this guide is most likely to apply to you, check all others here: Guide to all types of visas and residence permits in Hungary. After checking, if you are sure this applies to you, come back and continue reading.
Eligibility to apply for the work permit
In very simple terms, you are able to apply to this work permit if you are a third-country national and if you are moving to Hungary to work. It sounds simple, but it is not as simple as it sounds, that is why I wrote this guide.
Third-country nationals
As this term is the one used officially in the Hungarian inmigration´s office´s website, I need to explain what it means in this context. It does not have anything to do with the term third world country. Third-country national refers to an individual who is moving to a foreign country and is processing his or her papers to legally work in that foreign country. Another way of calling an individual on that particular situation is foreign national. In the European Union (and in Hungary as a member state) you are a third-country national. Individuals from any EU member state or from the Economic European Area (EEA national) are referred in the official website as EEA national. I am explaining all this to you because it will be helpful when you will be submitting your application. One thing though, the United Kingdom is no longer a member state of the European Union, neither of the EEA, thus UK citizens in this context are third-country nationals.
By the way, the Hungarian inmigration office is not called like that, I use that term to simplify the guide. Their official name is National Directorate for Aliens Policing.
Documents required for the work permit
As it is a work permit, the main requirement is an employment contract. An employment contract that complies with the Hungarian labour law. You will also need your passport of course, as well as filling different forms correctly and paying the administrative fee.
Additionally, you will also need to submit other documents. Documents which prove that you will be financially self-sufficient in Hungary. Documents which prove you have housing or accomodation and documents which prove you have health insurance coverage.
Applying from outside of Hungary
In the case you apply from your home country, you need to apply to the Hungarian embassy in your country and this is the preferred way. If you do not have Hungarian embassy or consulate in you country or city, you need to look for the closest one. Before sending anything to any embassy or consulate, contact them because every country might have additional country specific requirements.
Applying while in Hungary
You can also apply while in Hungary personally or online, however there is an additional requirement for this, you need to be from a visa-free country. In case you are from a visa-free country, there is one more condition, you need to apply within the visa-free period allowed for your country. You need to be very sure of all this before doing anything.
Application process and processing period
In general, the process will be of between 4 and 6 months. However the process will depend on the 2 scenarios I explained above. If you apply from your home country and the permit is approved, you will get an interim visa to come to Hungary to pick up the permit itself. That interim visa has a 30 days validity. In case you apply while you are in Hungary, if the permit is approved, you just need to go personally and get your work permit. The process nevertheless does not ends there, you will also need to do some more paperwork to be able to legally work in the country. You need to request a tax card, an address card and also a social security card. About the work permit, you will find information in English in the official inmigration´s office´s website (link below). About the tax, address and social security cards there is information only in Hungarian language.
Work permit validity period
The validity period of your permit will depend mainly on two things, the employment period and the validity of your home country documents. In general though, it will have a validity of maximum 2 years.
Personal documents to live and work in Hungary
- The work permit card or residence permit for the purpose of work
- Address card or in hungarian lakcímkártya
- Tax card or in hungarian adókártya
- Social security card or in hungarian TAJ kártya
Do you need help?
I can assist you in different ways!
Have a good day,
Renato
Immigration´s office website: Residence in Hungary (bmbah.hu)
