Hungary

Hungary is a country of 9.5 million people with an employment rate well above the EU average: 81.1% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).

Unemployment went up from 3.6% in 2022 to 4.5% in 2024 and was 4.4% in 2025 – below the EU average of 6.0%. Youth unemployment is also lower than in the EU as a whole: 13.9% among people aged 15–24, compared with 15.2%.

As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen you do not need a work permit – you can move, look for a job and start working on the same terms as Hungarians. For most jobs you apply in Hungarian: CVs are written in Hungarian and, depending on the post, also in English. And if you are under 25, you pay no personal income tax on your salary.

According to EURES labour market information (published in 2025), the occupational groups with the biggest shortages in Hungary in 2024 were:

• building and related trades workers (excluding electricians),
• personal service workers,
• labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport.

Sectors expected to grow include renewable energy, car manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, IT and technology, tourism and hospitality, and transport and logistics.

In 2023 job vacancy rates were highest in administrative and support services (4.9%), health and social work (3.9%) and education (2.5%). Agriculture also employs seasonal workers – on average 35,500 a month in 2023.

In Hungary the public employment service is the National Employment Service (Nemzeti Foglalkoztatási Szolgálat – NFSZ), which works through the county and district government offices. Vacancies are also published by private employment agencies and on job portals. Start here:

• Virtual Labour Market Portal (Virtuális Munkaerőpiac Portál – VMP) – the official job portal with current vacancies and a CV database (in Hungarian),
• EURES Hungary – EURES advisers at the employment service who help with moving for work,
• EURES – the EU job portal with vacancies from all EU countries.

You can also register as a jobseeker with the NFSZ and use its services; the information is on nfsz.munka.hu (in Hungarian).

For step-by-step advice on job search, CVs and interviews in any EU country, see our How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides.

A Hungarian application usually contains:

• a CV – in Hungarian and, depending on the job, also in English; one or two pages with your personal data, education (most recent first), work experience, IT and language skills and driving licence; you can use the Europass CV,
• a cover letter addressed to the organisation advertising the job – signed by hand if you send it on paper.

Diplomas: diplomas of EU citizens are generally recognised. For recognition of foreign degrees, and of professional qualifications under the EU directives, contact the Hungarian Equivalence and Information Centre of the Educational Authority (Oktatási Hivatal) – contact details are on the ENIC-NARIC page for Hungary.

• Minimum wage: HUF 322,800 a month in 2026 (Eurostat). A higher guaranteed minimum wage applies to jobs that require at least secondary education or a vocational qualification.
• Contract: employment contracts must be in writing – this is the employer’s responsibility. The contract states your job, place of work and basic salary.
• Working time: normally 8 hours a day; at most 12 hours a day and 48 hours a week.
• Overtime: the employer may order up to 250 hours a year; another 150 hours are possible with a written agreement. Work on Sundays is paid with a 50% supplement.
• Holidays: 20 working days of basic leave a year, plus extra days by age – 1 day from age 25, rising to 10 days from age 45. Fathers get 5 extra days when a child is born.
• Deductions: 15% personal income tax (employees under 25 are exempt) and an 18.5% social security contribution are deducted from your gross pay.

Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland can work in Hungary without any permit, on the same terms as Hungarian students.

• School cooperatives (iskolaszövetkezet): this form of work is mainly for full-time day students. It is not an employment relationship but a civil-law contract; the pay may not be lower than the proportionate part of the minimum wage.
• No income tax under 25: employees under 25 are exempt from the 15% personal income tax on income up to HUF 715,765 a month (2026).
• Seasonal work: agriculture employs seasonal workers – on average 35,500 a month in 2023.

Students from outside the EU with a study residence permit (or a student mobility permit) may work up to 30 hours a week during term time, and full-time for up to 90 days a year outside the study period.

Thinking of studying there first? See Studying in Hungary – practical information.

1. Registration certificate (regisztrációs igazolás): if you stay longer than 90 days, apply in person at the regional directorate of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF) where you live, or online via Enter Hungary. Bring your passport or ID card, proof of the purpose of your stay (e.g. employment contract), proof of sufficient funds, health insurance and proof of accommodation. Fee: HUF 1,000; the certificate is valid indefinitely (together with a valid passport or ID card).
2. Address card (lakcímkártya): after your right of residence has been recognised, the government office issues your official address card automatically and sends it by post.
3. Tax and social security numbers: as an employee you get your tax identification number (adóazonosító jel) and social security number (TAJ szám) through your employer.
4. Tax: personal income tax is a flat 15%; employees under 25 are exempt on income up to HUF 715,765 a month (2026). Your employer deducts it, together with your 18.5% social security contribution.

Problems with your rights as an EU worker? Your Europe Advice and SOLVIT help for free.

If you are not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you need a residence permit that allows you to work. The main routes:

• Graduates of Hungarian universities who studied on a study (or research) residence permit can get a residence permit for job seeking or starting a business – valid for up to 9 months and not renewable. Apply no later than 15 days before your current permit expires.
• Hungarian Card (Magyar Kártya) – a residence permit for workers with professional qualifications specified by the minister responsible for higher education, and for some other groups (e.g. athletes, artists, film professionals). It is valid for up to 3 years and can be renewed for another 3 years.
• EU Blue Card (EU Kék Kártya) – for highly qualified jobs that meet the minimum salary set by Hungarian rules.

All residence permit types, required documents and fees are explained by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing on oif.gov.hu.

• Eurostat – population on 1 January, unemployment by age, employment rate, monthly minimum wages in national currency – dataset earn_mw_cur (data for 2025 and 2026),
• EURES – Living and working conditions: Hungary, Labour market information: Hungary,
• National Employment Service – nfsz.munka.hu, Virtual Labour Market Portal, EURES Hungary,
• National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing – registration certificate for EEA nationals, students, job seeking after studies, Hungarian Card, work with a university degree,
• National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) – tax allowances 2026 (in Hungarian),
• Educational Authority – ENIC-NARIC Hungary,
• Your Europe – working abroad.

Updated: October 2026.