How to hire foreign workers in Hungary

Registration card or residence permit?

The most important question is where your new hire is coming from?

• If they are EU citizens, all they need is a registration card, since citizens of all EU member states can freely travel and live within the EU. Application takes only a few days, so your employee can start working for your company quite soon.
• If your new employee is coming from a non-EU country, they will need a combined residency and work permit. Application might take as long as 70 days, and your new hire can start working only when their work permit is granted, so make sure you plan your business activity accordingly.

Tax Card and Social Security Card

In order to take salary in Hungary, your new employee will need a tax number and social security number – in order to pay taxes and the social security contribution after their salary. Accordingly, if you hire foreign workers, they will need to apply for a tax card and a social security card.

Diplomas and qualifications

If you hire foreign workers in Hungary, it is most probably because they have special skills. If the position you want to fill requires special qualifications, your new employee should have documents that confirm they have these qualifications. Even if it is just a high school or a BA degree, you will be asked to present a hard copy of it, together with a certified Hungarian translation.

Labor contract and registration

In Hungary, all who enter employment should sign a labor contract with their employer. The labor contract should indicate the gross salary and the first day of employment, together with the exact position and its FEOR code (a government-recognized code for the tasks of the position). Your foreign employee will need to be registered at the tax authority at least one day before they start.

>> Click here for a detailed checklist for hiring an employee

>> Click here to see what your employee should watch out for when they already have a work permit in Hungary

>> Click hire to see our brochure for corporate work permit application