If you are already living in Hungary or are planning on moving there to live for a while, then you will most like want to seek out some type of employment. Before you start looking though the want ads and responding to hiring signs, you might want to know if you can legally work in Hungary or if you will need a visa or permit, or maybe even both. There is a pretty good chance that you cannot legally work within the borders of Hungary unless you have a valid work permit and work visa. And unlike some countries, a residence permit does not give you the right to take up employment in Hungary. If you already have a residence permit you will need to also apply for a work permit and possibly a work visa.
Hungary is a member country of the European Union, which means that almost all non European Union citizens and only a few European Union citizens are required to be in possession of a valid work permit and work visa to be able to legally work in Hungary. Currently, citizens of the following countries do not need to be in possession of a work permit and work visa: the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Immigration laws are constantly changing though, so your country might be on the list if it has been updated recently. It is always a good idea to check in with your local Hungarian consulate or embassy for the most up to date information.
There are also two instances in which you will not need to apply for a work permit and work visa. If you are the spouse of a Hungarian citizen, then you will not need a permit to seek employment. Also, if you fall into the category of needing a work permit and visa but you have already working in Hungary for at least a year in the same position for the same company, then you will not need to have a work permit.
If you are a citizen of a country not on the list above and you do not meet one of the two conditions above, then you are required to have a work visa and a work permit to legally be employed in Hungary. Your employer in Hungary should take care of the application for your work permit for you.
To get a work visa, you will have to provide three pieces of documentation. You will need to have a valid work permit, a labor agreement and proof of accommodations for your stay in Hungary.
The total application process usually takes no more than a month. When issues, the work permit and work visa will be valid for a period of one year. Both of these documents can be renewed as long as you continue to meet the requirements for each.
