Hungary
Hungarian guest investor programme
Hungary's guest investor programme grants a 10-year residence permit for investments starting at EUR 250,000, renewable for another 10 years.
News · Hungary
Hungary closes new applications for guest-worker residence permits
The Hungarian Government has ended new applications for guest-worker residence permits by decree. According to the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF), the application rules for residence permits issued for other purposes have not changed.
Summary
In brief
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Government Decree 92/2026 (VI. 5.) was published in the Hungarian Official Gazette (Magyar Közlöny) on 5 June 2026 and entered into force the next day.
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Since 6 June 2026, new guest-worker residence permits can no longer be requested.
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Applications filed with the fee paid by 5 June are decided under the previous rules. Anyone who held a valid guest-worker permit on 5 June 2026 can request its extension under the previous rules.
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The decree also changed the rule for the employment-purpose residence permit under Section 28(3) of the Hungarian Residence Act (Btátv.).
Background
What happened
Government Decree 92/2026 (VI. 5.) amended Government Decree 450/2024 (XII. 23.) on the employment of guest workers in Hungary. Under the amendment, the Government designates no third country whose nationals may be employed with a guest-worker residence permit. As a result, new applications could no longer be filed from 6 June 2026.
According to the OIF, applications filed with the fee paid by 5 June are decided under the previous rules. Anyone who held a valid guest-worker permit on 5 June 2026 can request its extension or reissue under the previous rules.
The decree also rewrote the rule for the employment-purpose residence permit issued under Section 28(3) of the Residence Act. Under the new Annex 1, nationals of Georgia, Armenia and the Republic of the Philippines may be employed with this permit, subject to further conditions.
The decision followed Government Resolution 1153/2026 (V. 18.) on the employment of third-country nationals in Hungary, which ordered a comprehensive and urgent review of the rules. According to the OIF, further legislative changes are expected.
For you
What it means for you
- Other residence purposes: if you come to Hungary for a purpose other than employment – for example as a remote worker with a White Card, as an investor or through family reunification – the OIF says the rules for these applications have not changed.
- Employment rules are being reshaped: the review is ongoing. For employment-related plans we always check the current rules before filing – for the employment-purpose permit, including nationality.
- We do not place people in jobs: we handle work permits for people who already have an employer in Hungary.
Programmes
Related programmes
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- Hungary
Hungarian White Card
The White Card is the residence permit for remote workers based in Hungary: 1 year, renewable once by 1 year.
Sources
Sources
Last checked:
- Magyar Közlöny 2026/64 – Government Decree 92/2026 (VI. 5.) – 5 June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF): change to the guest-worker residence permit rules (opens in a new tab)
- Magyar Közlöny 2026/53 – Government Resolution 1153/2026 (V. 18.) – 18 May 2026 (opens in a new tab)