At a glance
Hungary's EU Blue Card lets highly qualified workers live there for an approved job with a Hungarian employer. Your contract, qualifications or experience, and pay must meet the Blue Card requirements, which differ from those for ordinary employment and guest-worker permits.
- Job offer required?
- Yes; contract or agreement of at least 6 months
- 2026 monthly pay
- HUF 1,001,048 generally; HUF 800,838 only for listed healthcare occupations
- Qualifications
- Relevant credentials or accepted ICT experience
Summary
Hungary's EU Blue Card lets highly qualified foreign employees live and work there in a suitable job, with a contract of at least six months and accepted qualifications or specified IT experience. The general 2026 monthly salary floor is HUF 1,001,048, with a lower HUF 800,838 rate confined to listed healthcare roles.
Housing, health coverage and general residence conditions also apply. The category can support separate family applications where other Hungarian work permits may not, but the job must independently satisfy the Blue Card rules. Permission to work in another European country still needs that country's applicable process.
Eligibility
A qualifying contract lasts at least six months and concerns work requiring high qualifications. Relevant credentials, or the permitted ICT experience, must match the role.
In 2026, monthly pay must reach HUF 1,001,048, or HUF 800,838 for the specifically listed healthcare occupations. Housing, health coverage, and the general residence conditions also apply.
More about this route
That distinction can make a practical difference for a household. Eligible family members can apply under the family rules, whereas some other Hungarian residence categories cannot support ordinary family reunification. The employment must still qualify for a Blue Card in its own right; a wish to bring family does not change the job requirements.
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Highly qualified employment Confirm a contract of at least six months.
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Relevant qualifications Document recognized credentials or permitted ICT experience.
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Salary and residence evidence Use the correct occupational threshold and provide housing and health coverage.
The listed healthcare occupations have a different salary threshold from other Blue Card jobs.
What This Route Allows
The Blue Card allows you to live and work in Hungary in the approved qualified employment. Eligible family members can apply separately under the family rules.
For a household, the employment application and each family member’s application need to be considered together. A Blue Card held by one person does not replace the documents required for a spouse or child.
What This Route Is Not
An EU Blue Card from Hungary does not immediately authorize employment anywhere in Europe. Moving to another member state has its own mobility and application requirements.
Next Steps
The employer and applicant can establish the occupation, recognized qualifications, and salary before filing through the Hungarian immigration procedure.
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