HUNGARY: Quota Introduced for Non-EEA National Workers

November 13, 2015


Hungary have declared to take action to limit immigration, having sought a Government decree in July 2015, to limit numbers of non EU Workers to levels below the monthly job openings.

The policy has resulted in the immediate introduction of an annual quota, on the maximum number of non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals who may be employed in the country. This introduction is to affect those under its Standard work permit and unified work-and-residence permit arrangements.

The quota, allows 59,000 work permits or combined work and residence permits to be issued to non-EEA nationals until the end of 2015. Once the annual quota is reached, companies will be restricted from hiring non-EEA nationals in Hungary, until new quota slots are available the following February.

It has been announced that the quota is calculated on the monthly average reported workplace demand in the previous year. Employers are encouraged to consider recruiting non-EEA nationals earlier in the year when there is less risk of the quotas being reached.

It has also been announced that foreign–owned companies considering applying for work permits, or combined work and residence permits, must also submit a statement outlining the number of non-EEA nationals on their payroll or working on assignment in the last quarter, this is instead of the headcount statement for the last full calendar year, which was to be provided previously. Applications without this information on non-EEA workers will be rejected.

For further information on how this affects you as an individual or an organisation, please contact us.