Hungary restricts guest worker visas, bans entry from 10 countries
Hungary has recently made changes to its guest worker permit system, lowering the cap on the number of permits issued to non-European Union nationals to 35,000 for the year 2025. This decision was made in a decree issued by the national economy minister, with the aim of prioritizing the protection of Hungarian families, employees, and the labor market.
According to the National Economy Ministry, this new cap is less than half of the regulatory maximum, which is the average number of unfilled workplaces in the previous four quarters, estimated to be around 71,000. The ministry highlighted the importance of activating the Hungarian labor reserve and attracting job seekers and inactive individuals to fill job vacancies.
In response to the tightening of guest worker regulations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that the government’s policy is focused on utilizing the Hungarian labor force rather than relying on migrant workers. Orbán emphasized the need to only allow guest workers into the country as needed, following a similar model to Qatar.
The new regulations will only allow employment of third-country nationals if Hungary or the European Union has a readmission agreement with the individual’s home country. Exceptions to this rule include Georgia and Armenia, while permits issued before December 31, 2024, will not be affected.
Despite these changes, the Hungarian government continues to face challenges related to emigration of Hungarian workers to countries with higher wages. The government’s low-wage policy, aimed at attracting foreign investors, has resulted in a workforce deficit in various sectors, further complicating the issue.
As Hungary navigates through these changes in its guest worker policies, the government is expected to make further decisions in the coming months to address the labor market challenges and optimize the utilization of the country’s workforce.
