Hungary: Potential Changes to Guest Worker Permit Regime – Preliminary Overview

The TISZA Party is expected to form the next Government of Hungary in mid‑May. Based on the party’s published program and public statements, further restrictions may be introduced for Guest Worker permit applications from 1 June 2026. At this stage, no legislative changes have been adopted; this summary is therefore based solely on the party’s program and publicly available announcements.

Currently available information indicates uncertainty as to whether any future measures would:

• restrict new applications only, or also affect extensions of existing permits,
• apply across all Guest Worker‑type permits or only to specific categories.

Possible scenarios range from a full freeze - covering both new applications and extensions - to more moderate approaches, such as allowing existing workers to remain in Hungary until the statutory maximum duration (typically up to three years), or limiting restrictions to specific permit types only. These developments may have broader implications for business continuity and workforce planning, extending beyond immigration compliance alone.

As next steps, we recommend the following strategic actions:

I. Workforce mapping and risk assessment

• Identify affected guest workers and assess exposure under best‑ and worst‑case scenarios.
• Assess eligibility for alternative permit types or statuses.

II. Employee communication

• Prepare clear, consistent communication to avoid uncertainty and panic.
• Emphasise that no legislative change has been adopted and assessments are ongoing.

III. Exit management planning

• Review employee and employer obligations if permits cannot be extended, including:
  • statutory deadlines for leaving Hungary,
  • allocation of associated costs (e.g. exit travel),
  • termination‑related obligations.
• Prepare a controlled and legally compliant exit strategy, aligned across immigration, employment law, and operations.

IV. Ongoing permit strategy

• Review feasibility and timing of:
  • initiating new permit applications, and
  • renewal or exchange of existing permits, taking into account risk exposure and potential implementation timelines.

We are closely monitoring legislative developments and will share further updates once more concrete information becomes available.

Please contact us if you would like to assess your potential exposure or discuss workforce planning options.