By means of a decree published on 5 June 2026, the Government is restricting the large-scale admission of guest workers to Hungary. In practice, the tightening of the rules on guest worker residence permits mainly affects temporary work agencies. The tightening also affects Hungarian companies that have so far employed third-country guest workers under this permit type, typically including, for example, citizens of the Philippines.
The essence of the amendment is that, as of 6 June 2026, third-country nationals may no longer apply for a guest worker residence permit. For guest workers who are already staying in Hungary, the extension of their permits remains possible under the unchanged rules.
The change does not affect pending cases where the administrative service fee related to the application registered on the Enter Hungary platform was paid by 5 June 2026 at the latest.
The amendment does not affect other residence permits available for employment purposes, such as the residence permit for the purpose of employment, the National Card, the EU Blue Card and the Hungarian Card.
Further legislative changes may be expected in the future, as the Government has ordered a comprehensive and expedited review of the legislation concerning the employment of third-country nationals in Hungary.
We are continuously monitoring legislative changes and the development of authority practice, and will inform you without delay of any relevant developments.
In the knowledge base section of our website, you can find continuously updated overviews of the permit types available in Hungary, as well as our latest professional news and informational materials.
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