Hungary’s government has officially introduced its long-promised guest worker restrictions, but the new regulation does not completely shut the door on foreign labour. While applications for new guest worker residence permits have been suspended from 6 June, workers from certain countries may still enter Hungary under a separate, more restrictive employment permit system.
New guest worker permits suspended
According to Hungary’s National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, it is no longer possible to apply for new guest worker residence permits from 6 June because there are currently no third countries whose citizens are eligible to receive this type of permit.
The regulation, published on Friday, suspends the country list that previously allowed citizens of designated non-EU states to obtain guest worker residence permits in Hungary.
The move had been widely anticipated. The governing Tisza Party pledged during its election campaign to halt the import of non-European guest workers from 1 June 2026, arguing that the measure would help Hungarians who have been pushed out of the labour market and contribute to higher wages.
What actually changes?
Despite the political messaging surrounding a “guest worker stop”, the regulation only affects one specific category of permit: the guest worker residence permit.
Hungarian law distinguishes between guest worker residence permits and employment-purpose residence permits. The latter remain available and were not altered by the new regulation.
As a result, foreign workers can still legally come to Hungary under employment-purpose permits, although the application process is significantly more demanding and time-consuming.
Industry experts say this distinction is crucial because the guest worker permit system had become the main channel for bringing large numbers of foreign workers into Hungary through licensed labour hire agencies.
The Philippines most affected
In practice, the measure primarily affects workers arriving from the Philippines.
In July 2024, the previous government designated ten countries whose citizens could obtain guest worker permits in Hungary. By December 2024, that list had already been reduced to just three countries: the Philippines, Georgia and Armenia.
However, relatively few workers arrived from Georgia and Armenia, meaning the latest restrictions mainly target recruitment from the Philippines through large-scale labour leasing companies.
Workers from the Philippines may still be able to enter Hungary under employment-purpose permits, but the process is expected to be slower and subject to stricter scrutiny.
Existing workers are not affected
The new rules do not apply to guest workers already living and working in Hungary.
Those who submitted their permit applications and paid the required fees by 5 June will also remain eligible under the previous framework.
Furthermore, previously issued permits can still be extended. Extension applications will continue to be assessed according to the former country list and previous regulations.
Employers face a more complicated system
Recruitment specialists interviewed by Telex said the remaining employment-purpose permit route is considerably more bureaucratic than the guest worker permit system.
Péter Bogdanovits, managing director of recruitment and headhunting firm Aarenson Consulting, said obtaining employment-purpose permits can be so slow and complicated that many businesses may find it impractical as a solution for hiring foreign workers.
He argued that while Hungary will continue to need guest workers in the future, the current system would benefit from a more stable and carefully designed framework that does not change every few months.
Another labour market expert offered a different perspective, arguing that the abolition of the simplified guest worker permit restores fair competition by removing advantages previously enjoyed by certified labour hire agencies.
According to this view, the stricter employment-purpose permit system may lead to higher rejection rates, but it could also improve security by ensuring that those entering Hungary genuinely intend to work.
More changes may be coming
Experts expect further modifications to Hungary’s foreign labour regulations in the coming months.
One frequently mentioned possibility is expanding the list of countries whose citizens can apply for employment-purpose residence permits.
Such a move could help employers continue addressing labour shortages while maintaining tighter controls on foreign recruitment.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Guest worker ban in Hungary
Does Hungary’s new rule completely ban foreign workers?
No. It only suspends the guest worker residence permit system. Foreign workers can still come under employment-purpose residence permits, but under stricter conditions.
Who is most affected by the new regulation?
In practice, the biggest impact is on workers arriving from the Philippines through large-scale labour recruitment agencies.
Can existing guest workers stay in Hungary?
Yes. The new rules do not affect foreign workers who are already in Hungary with valid permits.
What happens to pending applications?
Applications submitted and paid for by 5 June 2026 are still processed under the previous rules.
Will companies still be able to hire foreign workers?
Yes, but mainly through the employment-purpose permit system, which is slower, more complex, and subject to stricter approval.
