Resources for employers in Hungary
Resources for employers in Hungary
We use "refugees" to encompass forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers, and other people in need of international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Why hire refugees and stateless people in Hungary?
Central and local government entities, civil society, faith-based organizations, and the general public have shown solidarity, provided vital support to refugees arriving from Ukraine, and helped them settle into the country and find employment. However, 9% of refugees are unemployed (among the labor force), and 25% of working age refugees are out of the labor force. Additionally, close to 60% of refugees with jobs stated that they are somewhat or significantly underemployed, meaning that they are working below their level of professional skills or qualifications. (UNHCR - SEIS 2025, Hungary)
Read the article “Best Practices to Address Key Labour Market and Labour Mobility Challenges in Hungary."
Companies can make a real difference by offering employment to displaced individuals in Hungary. In return, refugees contribute considerably to the Hungarian economy, leading to an estimated 1-1.5% increase in the Hungarian labour force. Integrating refugees into the labour market and supporting them to access positions corresponding to their qualifications and skill levels can propel the Hungarian economy and fill current labour shortages. In 2023, there were over 60,000 unfilled vacancies in Hungary, the most affected sectors being manufacturing, with a shortfall of 23,000
Learn more about the Hungarian labour market on the Working Right platform
A good example
From 2020 to 2024, IKEA ran the "Skills for Refugees" project with the Menedék Association, a UNHCR partner. The Association provided 4-month Hungarian courses and job clubs focusing on the most critical Hungarian labour rights, CV writing and preparation for the job interview. After the preparation phase, the participants learned about IKEA's vacancies. They received support with the application process for 32 positions in the stores in Budapest designated for refugees. The successful candidates received support to integrate into their new workplace, and the rest of the IKEA staff received intercultural training. Learn more about the program here or listen to the podcast interview featuring the program on the IKEA channel.
How many refugees and stateless people are there in Hungary?
In 2025, there were approximately 70,500 refugees in Hungary, around 65,000 of whom came from Ukraine, while smaller numbers from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. The number of refugees is remarkably low, considering that 5 million conflict-affected people fleeing Ukraine have entered the country, meaning that for most of them, Hungary is a transit country. Most refugees from Ukraine are women (47%) and children (35%).
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
According to 2025 UNHCR data, at the end of 2025 68% of refugees within the working age bracket (15-64) were employed. The most common sectors where refugees are employed include manufacturing, construction, hospitality/tourism services, education, and agriculture. You can find more information about this in the sections below.
View the 2025 update on Hungary by the UNHCR Regional Refugee Response for the Ukraine Situation
What are the main challenges?
As per data from NGOs, the biggest challenge for beneficiaries of international and temporary protection to access the labour market is the lack of knowledge of the Hungarian language and the insufficient opportunities for language learning, followed by the need to recognize their qualifications, the unavailability of daycare and the difficulty of securing a job with decent pay (UNHCR’s SEIS 2025). There is also a risk of informal labor, with 21% of refugees lacking employment contracts. Overall, “underemployment”, the employment of refugees under their actual educational and skills level is high, mostly because of the language barrier and the burdensome process for recognition of qualifications for proper job matching. Stateless people need to obtain a work permit prior to accessing employment, which is a very significant barrier in practice. Stateless people without legal recognition or status are not entitled to work legally and may face significant barriers in finding employment.
Read the AIDA Hungary report on Access to the Labor Market
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? | Process |
| Asylum-seekers | Individuals who have applied for asylum but have not yet received a decision on their case. | Asylum seekers have the right to work after 9 months have passed since the start of their procedure, following the general rules applicable to foreigners. | Employers must request a work permit (by submitting a labor request and an application for authorization) - valid for one year and renewable - from the local employment office. Asylum seekers can only apply for jobs that are not taken by Hungarians or nationals of the European Economic Area. No work permit is needed for employment in asylum reception centers. Employers must keep the permit for the duration of employment and for three years after its termination and present it officially inspected. Employers also have to request a social insurance (TAJ) card for their employees at the local government office. |
| Beneficiary of international protection | Individuals whose asylum application is approved may receive refugee status or subsidiary protection. Refugees have a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. Those not qualifying for refugee status may receive subsidiary protection if they risk suffering serious harm if they return to their country. | Refugees and people with subsidiary protection have access to the labour market under the same conditions as Hungarian citizens. | No prior authorization is needed to employ a beneficiary of international protection. Employers must notify the local government office both about the establishment and the termination of employment. Failure to do so can be fined up to HUF 500,000. Employers must keep the documentation on the establishment and termination of employment for at least three years after it ends and present and present it if there is an official inspection. |
| Beneficiary of temporary protection | Individuals who are Ukrainian citizens and their families, refugees, and stateless people residing in Ukraine have access to an accelerated procedure. However, third-country nationals who had permanent residence in Ukraine are not eligible for temporary or permanent asylum in Hungary. | Beneficiaries of temporary protection have access to the labour market under the same conditions as Hungarian citizens. | No prior authorization is needed to employ a beneficiary of international protection. Employers must notify the local government office both about the establishment and the termination of employment. Failure to do so can be fined up to HUF 500,000. Employers must keep the documentation on the establishment and termination of employment for at least three years after it ends and present and present it if there is an official inspection. Employers also have to request social insurance card (TAJ card) for the temporary protection holders, because they typically do not have it (unless they have prior work history) at the local government office. |
| Beneficiary of tolerated status/Humanitarian protection | Individuals registered for temporary protection after fleeing the war in Ukraine. However, they received tolerated status instead of temporary protection status because they arrived before 24.02.2022 for work and studies in Hungary or are nationals of third-world countries. | Beneficiaries of tolerated status are issued a humanitarian residence permit granting the right to stay in Hungary. They can be entrepreneurs but need a work permit to be employed. | Employers must request a work permit (by submitting a labor request and an application for authorization) — valid for one year and renewable — from the local employment office. They need to keep the permit for the duration of employment and for three years after its termination and present it officially inspected. Employers have to request a social insurance (TAJ) card for their employees at the local government office. |
| Stateless person | A stateless person is someone who is not considered as a citizen by any country (whether recognized as such or not) | Stateless persons need to obtain a work permit to access the labour market. Stateless applicants do not have the right to work. | Employers have to submit a labor request to the local government office, then he/she needs to conclude a preliminary agreement with the stateless person with a validity period of at least two years. Following that the stateless person requests a work permit through the single application procedure from the asylum authority (National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing) attaching the preliminary agreement with the prospective employer. As the result of the procedure, stateless people receive a residence permit which entitles them to stay and work in Hungary. |
| Dual citizen | Individuals with Hungarian and Ukrainian citizenship primarily from the Zakarpattia Oblast region in Ukraine (making up 15% of the newcomers). | They have the rights of Hungarian citizens regarding labour labour. | The hiring process is the same as for Hungarian citizens, except that in most cases, they do not have social insurance (TAJ) cards like Hungarian citizens, and the employer has to apply for a card for them at the local government office. |
For more information on the legal framework, see the Hungary Help Page by UNHCR.
Bear in mind
A new asylum system (the so-called embassy procedure) was introduced in May 2020, which requires - with very few exceptions – that persons in need of international protection first submit a “statement of intent” to seek asylum form at the embassies of Hungary in Belgrade (Serbia) or Kyiv (Ukraine). Following that they can only be authorized a single-entry permit to Hungary to seek asylum there if they are invited to an interview at the embassy and based on the outcome of that interview, which is a rather lengthy and incidental procedure. This system makes it challenging to apply for asylum, and in 2024 there were only 53 applications and 105 in 2025 together with the in-land applications compared to 117,000 in 2015. Most individuals arriving from Ukraine apply for temporary protection or are dual citizens of Hungary and Ukraine.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection may not take up a job or hold an office or position that is required by law to be fulfilled by a Hungarian citizen. Typically, public and civil servant positions demand Hungarian citizenship.
Did you know?
The government has facilitated the integration of healthcare professionals by introducing rules that make it easier for those who fled Ukraine to start working in Hungary. A person holding a health professional qualification obtained in Ukraine is entitled to perform healthcare activities as long as they apply for a recognition or naturalization procedure no later than the commencement of the healthcare activity. More information can be found here (page 18) and here.
How do I connect with refugee and stateless talent?
Companies can contact NGOs that work with refugees and stateless people, which may help disseminate vacancies. The UNHCR Operational Data Portal offers a service map with all organizations working in Hungary's livelihoods and inclusion field, which can be filtered by county and type of service. UNHCR also has a list of livelihood and inclusion partners in the context of the Ukrainian refugee crisis, also in the Guide for employers (pages 43-48). Some NGOs supporting refugees in labour market integration include the Menedék Association, Devai Fogado, Lutheran Diaconia and From Streets to Homes Association.
What can I do to support refugee and stateless employees?
Offering or subsidizing Hungarian language classes is the most beneficial first step to supporting refugee employees. In addition, on-the-job counselling, mentorship, or peer support programs can help refugees and stateless people who lack knowledge of the local labour market and work culture or need to extend their social network and meet more colleagues and locals. To address skills mismatches, employers are encouraged to consider the skills and experience of the candidates, even if they do not possess formal qualifications, or these still need to be recognized, and to give them opportunities to prove themselves, such as paid traineeships or internships.
Useful resources
UNHCR guide for employers in Hungary
This guide is intended to help local and multinational businesses in Hungary employ refugees. UNHCR outlines the profiles of the refugees residing in the country, demonstrates why adopting refugee-friendly employment practices is “good business,” and gives information on how to hire refugees and where to turn for help. This guide is available in English and Hungarian.
Government support for accommodation and childcare
Employers can claim allowances for housing, childcare, or language classes for their refugee or dual-citizen employees. Employers can apply for an accommodation allowance or a subsidy to organize childcare and Hungarian language classes for their Ukrainian employees.
Job fairs
Employers interested in connecting with refugee job seekers can attend job fairs organized by international organizations and Hungarian NGOs. In May 2024, a refugee job fair was held at Devai Inn in Budapest, organized by UNHCR and partners, with over 200 attendees. This followed a successful job fair in November 2023, where 157 refugee job seekers took part.
Legal and recruitment support
Hungarian NGOs can work with employers to facilitate refugees' hiring and help them understand the legal framework. For example, the Menedék Association provides legal information and workshops. At the same time, the Lutheran Diaconia offers employers a full suite of recruitment assistance services.
A report on the Economic Inclusion of Refugee Women from Ukraine by the IOM.
An IOM report on the Access to Labour Markets and Employment in Europe for Refugees from Ukraine.
Working Rights is a platform that provides information on the labour rights of refugees in Hungary.