In the seventh part of our FAQ series on the new Hungarian immigration law and its new regulations for foreigners in Hungary, we write about the new options available to third-country nationals who currently hold or have been planning to apply for a work permit. There are various options, mostly depending on the qualifications required for the job. Read on to find out more.
No, it is not true. Third-country nationals will still be able to apply for residency based on employment. However, this residency category is restructured, and applicants will have to choose from the following options:
Alternatively, you can also apply for a Hungarian Card or an EU Blue Card. If you have been a resident of Hungary for more than 3 years, permanent residency is also an option.
Yes, you will be able to apply for a new work permit that will be a guest worker residence permit, even as an unskilled worker. The renewed permit will have a validity period of 1+2 years (meaning that you have to renew it after 1 year for an additional 2 years).
However, please note that family unification will not be available to you anymore (so you cannot bring your spouse and underage children to Hungary if they are not already here), and the work permit issued for unskilled jobs does not count towards permanent residency.
While there has been some changes to residency based on employment, it is still an option both for skilled and unskilled workers. However, in light of the recent changes, the Hungarian Card (“Magyar Kártya”) and the EU Blue Card offer significant benefits.
Holders of both the Hungarian Card and the EU Blue Card are eligible for family unification, so their spouse and underage children can become Hungarian residents too. Moreover, after 3 years they become eligible for the National Residency Card (“Nemzeti Tartózkodási Kártya”), which is the equivalent of the previous national permanent residence permit.
It is important to note that both cards require high qualifications. The Hungarian Card can be issued for 3 years, and the EU Blue Card for up to 4 years.
Same as the previous work permit, the Hungarian Card is tied to one specific employer. If you change employers, you will be required to apply for a new card.
During the first 12 months of the validity period of the EU Blue Card, you can work only for the employer on which you based your application. After that, you are allowed to switch employers without applying for a new card.
Your current work permit issued under the previous system will still count towards Hungarian permanent residency now represented by the National Residency Card. When your permit expires, it will make sense to apply for the Hungarian Card. After 3 years of residency, you will be able to apply for the National Residency Card.
The Helpers Team has been providing administrative assistance to expats in Hungary, and we work on making life easier for them. Follow our series to gain more insight and get clarifications about the new Hungarian immigration law as we navigate these shifts together.
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