Who can get an EU Blue Card in Hungary?

Read this article to learn more about the following topics:

• The EU Blue Card is a type of work permit
• Comparing the EU Blue Card and the U.S. Green Card
• Hungarian EU Blue Card benefits for employees
• EU Blue Card benefits for employers
• Requirements for the EU Blue Card
• FAQ

The EU Blue Card is a type of work permit

Since the European Union is not one single entity but an assembly of autonomous member state, the EU Blue Card is not a single work permit either. Each member state* has a version of it, with similar main features, but with slightly different details:

• The EU Blue Card is a work permit.
• It requires higher professional qualifications.
• It typically has high salary requirements.
• It offers easy transfer between jobs and member states (after the first 12 months)

*Please note that Ireland and Denmark do not participate in this scheme, even though they are also EU member states.

Blue Card, Green Card

The concept of the EU Blue Card was originally based on the Green Card available in the U.S. The Green Card is a document well-known around the world, allowing holders to live and work anywhere in the United States based on several premises (not just employment, but also family ties or other reasons). It is technically a type of permanent residence permit.

In contrast, the EU Blue Card is a work permit. High-skilled professionals can apply once they have a contract (or at least preliminary contract) with an employer, and their stay in the EU will be tied to their employment – although the EU Blue Card typically offers better unemployment protections than other work permits. Since it is not a permanent permit, it is valid for just a few years, but it can be extended as many times as necessary.

The benefits and requirements for the EU Blue Card are slightly different in each member state. Below, you will find information relevant to the EU Blue Card if you apply through Hungary.

Hungarian EU Blue Card benefits for employees

The Hungarian version of the EU Blue Card offers significant benefits compared to other work permit types currently available in Hungary. Most importantly:

• Longer validity: while other work permits are typically valid for 1-3 years and some of them cannot be extended, the EU Blue Card may be valid for up to 4 years, and it can always be extended.
• Family unification is allowed – which is not the case for every Hungarian work permit type.
• Easier to move to other EU countries: if you find employment in another EU country, you can more easily apply for a local EU Blue Card there than if you were applying for a new work permit from scratch.
• Better unemployment protections: most Hungarian work permits are strictly tied to employment, meaning that you have to leave the country within a tight deadline if your employment ends. In contrast, if you have an EU Blue Card, you will have 3 months to find a new job if your employment ends withing the first 2 years, and 6 months if it ends after that.
• Easier to start a new job: with other work permits, when you want to start a new job, you need to submit a new work permit application (and wait for its approval before you can start). In contrast, with an EU Blue Card, you are supposed to be allowed to switch jobs without applying for a new permit, and you only have to make a report the change instead of waiting for a permit (unfortunately, Hungarian law is yet to fully include this leniency).
• Eligibility for permanent residency: after a few years of continuous residence in Hungary, you will qualify for permanent residency (both the Hungarian National Residence Card and the EU Residence Card), which will allow you even better protections and opportunities.

EU Blue Card benefits for employers

While there are several Hungarian work permit options available currently, each option has quite strict requirements. As long as there is no “general” work permit in Hungary, the EU Blue Card might be the best option for you to bring talent to your business.

The EU Blue Card offers greater freedom and better protections to your employee. This in turn can make your business more attractive to employees and result in higher employee commitment and motivation. That will also reduce turnover in the long run, which will reduce costs related to recruitment.

Requirements for the EU Blue Card in Hungary

Since the EU Blue Card was created to attract highly skilled workers to Hungary, its main requirements pertain to qualifications and salaries:

• Qualifications: You must have either a tertiary degree (so a university or college diploma) in a field relevant to the position to be filled. For specific IT positions, significant professional experience might be enough instead of a diploma.
• Salary: You must receive at least 1.5 times the average salary of the year before the last (so in 2026, you should get at least gross HUF 1,001,048, or ca. EUR 2,800 monthly based on data from 2024; from January 2027, this increases to gross HUF 1,091,244, or ca. EUR 3,000 monthly based on data from 2025).
  • In certain healthcare related professions, only 1.2 times the average salary is allowed (which is gross HUF 800,838, or ca. 2,500 monthly in 2026, to be increase to gross HUF 872,995, or ca. EUR 3,000 monthly in 2027).
  • You and your employer must make sure that your salary always remains above the current minimum.

Work permit application with expert help

When both the position and the eligible are eligible for the EU Blue Card in Hungary, this work permit can be an excellent choice for attracting talent – based both on the high salary and the significant perks this permit offers compared to other Hungarian work permits.

Our services include not only assistance with work permit application, but also consultancy. If you are not sure whether this is the right permit for you, contact us, and let us discover together which work permit would make the most sense for you. Helpers has more than 20 years of experience in supporting international clients in Hungary, including both business owners and their employees. Tell us what you need, and we will do our best to find the best solutions for you.

If you want to learn more about living, working, and doing business in Hungary, follow us on Facebook or sign up for our monthly newsletter.