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, between 40% and 30% of displaced people from Ukraine in Hungary are still looking for a job.
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 2023, there were 63,000 refugees in Hungary, 57,000 of whom came from Ukraine, followed by smaller communities of refugees from Afghanistan and Syria. The number of refugees is remarkably low, considering that 5.4 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 children (44%) and women (42%).
As of mid-2024, there were approximately 101 recorded stateless people and people of undetermined nationality in Hungary.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
How many of them are working?
According to UNHCR data, at the end of 2023, 71% of refugees within the working age bracket (16-64) were employed. Based on surveys conducted by IOM, the most common sectors where refugees are employed include construction, manufacturing, ICT, financial and insurance services, education, and agriculture. Refugees’ access to employment may depend on their legal status (i.e. beneficiaries of international protection vs temporary protection). You can find more information about this in the sections below.
View the 2023 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 knowledge of the Hungarian language, followed by the need to recognize their qualifications and the unavailability of daycare. Even though they have access to the National Labour Office under the same conditions as Hungarian citizens, finding English- or Ukrainian-speaking case officers takes much work. There is also a risk of informal labour, with 11% of refugees lacking employment contracts. In addition, the risk of overqualification of refugees is very high due to the need for a straightforward process for recognition of qualifications and skills assessment for proper job matching. 57% of temporary protection holders indicate that their current job in Hungary differs from their educational background and professional experience. Stateless people need to obtain a work permit prior to accessing employment, which is a very burdensome 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. | The employer must request a work permit—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 reception centres. |
| 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. | Employers must notify the immigration authority on or before the first day of employment of the person holding international protection. Then, one shall make a copy of the permit, which will be held/filled in employment records for the entire duration of employment. The employer is to also notify the immigration authority of the termination of the employment. |
| 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. | Employers need to notify the immigration authority on or before the first day of employment that the person holds a TP card and shall make a copy of the permit, which will be kept for the entire duration of employment. The employer must also notify the immigration authority of the termination of the employment. |
| 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. | The employer has to request a work permit – valid for 1 year and renewable – from the local employment office. Employers need to notify the immigration authority on or before the first day of employment that the person holds a humanitarian residence card and shall make a copy of the permit, which will be kept for the entire duration of employment. The employer must also notify the immigration authority of the termination of the employment. |
| 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. | |
| 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 that for Hungarian citizens, except that in most cases, they do not have social insurance cards like Hungarian citizens, and the employer has to apply for a card for them. |
For more information on the legal framework, see the Hungary Help Page by UNHCR.
Bear in mind
A new asylum system (embassy procedure) was introduced in May 2020, which requires that asylum applications for applicants coming from countries other than Ukraine only be lodged after the asylum authority approves a declaration of intent from the Hungarian embassy either in Kyiv (Ukraine) or Belgrade (Serbia). This system makes it challenging to apply for asylum, and in 2022, only 44 people could do so, 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.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection and Ukrainian-Hungarian dual nationals do not have a TAJ number, as they only become entitled to it once they start working. Employers are obliged to submit the application for the TAJ to the health insurance body of the local government office or request its issuance online.
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 (pages 47-48) 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. Some NGOs supporting refugees in labour market integration include the Menedék Association, the Maltese Charity Service, Devai Fogado, 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
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 labour service of the Maltese Charity Service 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.