Guest worker situation after regulations change in Hungary: What companies can expect

According to the Official Gazette published last Thursday, the government has included the Republic of the Philippines in the new list of countries from which foreign workers can continue to arrive in Hungary. “The decision is a major relief for companies. In addition to being the next largest proportion of guest workers after Ukrainians, the number of guest worker permits issued to them each year is growing most dynamically. At the same time, companies with a larger number of Kyrgyz, Mongolians and Kazakhs will have to rethink their sources of staffing needs after the current permits expire,” says Magdolna Mihályi, Managing Director of Jobtain HR Services.

The government amended its regulation on the employment of foreign workers in Hungary over Christmas. Under the changes, the maximum number of guest worker residence permits and residence permits for employment purposes that can be issued has been capped at 35,000 in 2025. At the same time, the list of third countries from which foreign workers can be imported has been significantly reduced.

Far fewer countries to send guest workers in 2025 than before

According to the decree, as of 1 January, nationals of Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Belarus, Moldova, the Republic of Montenegro and the Russian Federation will continue to be employed as guest workers in Hungary with a National Card. Georgia and Armenia, and, under Thursday’s decision, the Republic of the Philippines, as new countries, are now allowed to work as guest workers or with a residence permit for employment purposes.

“In September 2024, the Philippines opened its office in Hungary – Labor Office of the Philippine Embassy – where they will represent the interests of Filipino workers working in Hungary and in the neighbouring countries and ensure full compliance with the requirements of the Hungarian Government, if necessary,” said Magdolna Mihályi. She adds that the Philippine Government attaches the utmost importance to ensuring that its nationals working abroad comply with the labour and immigration laws of the host country during the period of their residence permit.

Other possibilities for the importation of guest workers

In the future, guest workers can only be imported from a country with which Hungary or the European Union has a readmission agreement or which has a state-recognised organisation in Hungary that can arrange for the third-country guest worker to leave Hungary and return to their home country if necessary. “It is also very important to underline that those who have been working in Hungary with a valid permit on 31 December 2024, or who have applied for this permit by the last day of the year and the administrative fee has been paid after them, can complete their contract and receive the 1-year extension. Thus, the employment of previously contracted foreign workers will not be terminated immediately. This means that companies will have enough time – up to 1-2 years – to prepare for the employment of nationals of another nation, should the need arise. Foreign labour can continue to be brought in for priority investments in the national economy without restriction. South Korean and Chinese companies are likely to continue to make use of this possibility,” said the Jobtain expert.