Hungary closes the guest worker route for all third-country nationals

Hungary closes the guest worker route

Hungary stopped accepting new guest worker residence permit applications on June 6, the day after Government Decree No. 92/2026 entered into force amending the country's guest worker employment rules. The decree withdrew the list of eligible third countries, so no nationality currently qualifies to file.

The government has framed the move as an early step in a wider immigration overhaul that began with the immigration law that took effect Jan. 1, 2024. Earlier ministerial decrees had already capped combined employment and guest worker permits at 35,000 per year for 2025 and 2026 and narrowed eligibility largely to Georgia and Armenia.

Applications filed and paid for by June 5 continue to be processed under the prior rules and existing guest worker permits remain valid until their stated expiry. Holders can still extend or renew under the previous framework. Officials have ordered a review of the system, though no replacement scheme has been published.

Who feels the change

Third-country nationals planning to enter Hungary through the guest worker route are blocked, along with the staffing agencies and "preferred employers" that used it as a fast-track channel for lower-skilled hires. Citizens of countries previously on the eligibility list, including the Philippines, lose their access entirely.

Tourists and Schengen visitors are unaffected. So are applicants for the standard Residence Permit for Employment Purposes, family reunification, study permits and the guest-investor route tied to qualifying real estate fund investments.

Digital nomads on the White Card also see no change from this decree. The White Card remains open, with the 3,000 euro ($3,240) net monthly income threshold and address rules set during 2025 reforms still in force.

Practical next steps

Employers that relied on agency-based guest worker hiring will need to pivot to the standard employment residence permit, which carries stricter documentation and is counted against the same annual quota. Workers mid-application should confirm with their employer or counsel that fees were paid before June 5 to keep their file alive.

Remote workers eyeing Hungary should plan around the White Card income floor and budget for proof of stable foreign-source earnings over the past six months.

Read our full Hungary guide for the complete picture or browse more visa updates.