Work Permits for Hungary

Expats moving to Hungary require a work permit. The process of getting a work permit (sometimes referred to as a residence permit) in Hungary is generally hassle-free provided you have an offer of employment from a company based in Hungary, once you have an offer of employment you will need to apply for a Hungarian employment permit.

A basic step-by-step breakdown of the process follows:
1. Obtain an offer of employment from a Hungarian business or the Hungarian office of a multinational company
2. The company should supply you with an invitation letter for a business visa or a Hungarian employment permit (which is obtained from the Labour Authority of the County, or Budapest) for a work visa.
3. In your home country you will need to submit the invitation letter/employment permit, contract of employment, a document certifying occupancy in Hungary, as well as a valid passport, five passport photos and a completed application form and supporting documents giving information about where you will stay in Hungary and that you have sufficient funds and health insurance for the initial part of your sojourn in Hungary.

The processing fee is US$80 and the visa is usually issued within 30 days of submission of application. The period of validity begins from when the visa is issued. Expats travelling with their partners will have to apply for a separate work permit if their spouse also intends to work in Hungary. Once you have arrived in Hungary and have a permanent address in the country you will have to apply for Hungarian Identification Card. Expats wishing to stay in Hungary for longer than a year are required to have an HIV test.