Planning a workation or a business trip in Budapest? Learn the essential information you and your employees need to work safely and compliantly while traveling in Hungary, including working conditions, safety and health regulations, tax treaties, social security, and more.
Capital city
Budapest
Telephone code
+36
Official language
Hungarian
Currency
HUF (Hungarian Forint)
Time zone
CET (UTC+1)
Social security compliance
When working remotely abroad, your employees may become subject to the social security scheme of the destination country, which means you, as an employer, would need to pay social security premiums accordingly.
As part of the European Union, Hungary follows regulations that coordinate social security among EU/EEA member states and Switzerland. One key regulation is Regulation (EC) No 883/2004, which ensures that social security systems operate smoothly across borders.
Additionally, Hungary has entered into numerous social security treaties with other countries to avoid dual contributions, available here.
To ensure your employees remain compliant with these treaties, they must possess a valid A1 certificate (if traveling from another EU country to Hungary) or a Certificate of Coverage (CoC) (if traveling from a country outside the EU).
Tax compliance
As a member of the OECD, many of Hungarian tax treaties are based on the OECD Model Tax Convention. This framework provides guidelines for structuring tax treaties and covers various types of income, including dividends, interest, royalties, and employment income. In addition to these guidelines, Hungary has signed tax treaties with numerous countries, available here.
Despite the existence of many tax treaties and the adoption of the OECD Model Tax Convention, the issue of Permanent Establishment remains a significant compliance concern for employers with employees temporarily working in Hungary, whether for a workation or a business trip. If a traveling employee is deemed to constitute a Permanent Establishment in the destination country, the employer may be required to register the company locally, allocate profits to the local business (branch), and file corporate taxes, leading to substantial administrative burdens.
To avoid this scenario, here are some key strategies:
If your employees are traveling for a workation, they should refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during the trip. Additionally, they should avoid visiting clients or any office, including the employer's local office in the destination country. Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risk for the employer related to permanent establishment.
If your employees travel for business, it may be impossible to refrain from the activities above. In this case, please make sure to inform your (tax) compliance department of this matter. If you and your organization are a WorkFlex user, this topic is covered through the WorkFlex platform.
PWD notification obligations
Under European law, employers are generally required to register their employees’ postings with local labour authorities in the destination country, i.e. to submit a PWD notification. This notification serves several important purposes, including balancing worker mobility with the protection of their rights. PWD notification obligations apply in Hungary.
As a consequence, to stay compliant with the PWD obligations, employees traveling to Hungary must comply with several local working conditions, notably must receive at least the same pay as local employees in similar roles. The remuneration conditions are outlined in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements, which consider factors such as the relevant sector and the employee's seniority. Information about specific sector’s wage or salary level can be asked directly to Hungarian trade unions, listed here.
Further, it is recommended to reach out directly to the Department of Labour Inspection (employment) from the Ministry of National Economy via email at munkavedelmi-foo@ngm.gov.hu.
Visa
To work legally while in another country, employees generally need a valid work title. It's important to keep in mind that the consequences of entering without the proper documentation can be significant for both the employee and the employer.
For those planning work-from-anywhere trips to Hungary, here’s a quick overview:
- Short-term stay: If you’re a citizen or residence permit holder from a Schengen Zone country, you can enjoy a stay in Hungary for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa. If you're coming from a non-Schengen country, you’ll likely need a Schengen Visa (Type C) for short stays of up to 90 days.
- Long-term stay: Planning to stay longer than 90 days? In that case, you’ll probably need to apply for a residence permit or a long-stay visa.
For those planning business trips to Hungary, here’s what you need to know:
- Short-term trip: If you’re a citizen or a residence permit holder of a Schengen country, you can enter Hungary for short business trips without needing a visa, and you can stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. For travelers from non-Schengen countries, you’ll likely need a Schengen Business Visa. This visa allows you to move freely throughout the Schengen Area for your business activities.
- Long-stay visa: If your business plans involve staying longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a specific long-stay visa. The requirements can vary based on the nature of your business activities, so it's a good idea to check the specifics in advance.
Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.
Working hours
Most employees in Hungary work from Monday to Friday, with a standard workweek consisting of 40 hours. The workday is usually from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a lunch break of about 1 hour.
To remain compliant during your trip abroad, here are some suggestions to follow:
- Avoid working overtime: Regulations regarding overtime can differ significantly and may be much stricter compared to those in your home country.
- Refrain from working outside regular hours: The rules surrounding working outside regular hours may vary and could be stricter than in your home country.
- Do not work on weekends: If the weekend days differ from those in your home country, please avoid working on both your regular weekend days and the local weekend days.
Public holidays
- January 1: New Year's Day
- March 15: National Day
- Easter Sunday: Date varies
- Easter Monday: Date varies
- May 1: Labor Day
- August 20: St. Stephen's Day
- October 23: Revolution Memorial Day
- November 1: All Saints' Day
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: Second Day of Christmas
Depending on the region you are traveling to, there may be additional regional holidays.
To comply with labor laws, please refrain from working on national or regional holidays during your trip. These days hold significant importance for locals and provide a great opportunity for you to blend in and celebrate with the community.
Working activities
When considering travel for work purposes—whether for a workation or a business trip—it is crucial to understand the implications of Permanent Establishment (PE) and associated tax risks. PE is a significant compliance concern for companies and can become costly due to the administrative burden if the compliance requirements for employees working abroad are not properly managed. To help mitigate these risks, here are a few guidelines to follow.
If you are traveling for a workation, please:
- Refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during your trip.
- Avoid visiting clients or any office, including your employer's local office in the destination country.
Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risks related to Permanent Establishment for your employer.
If you are a business traveler, it may be difficult to avoid the activities mentioned above. In this case, please ensure you inform your employer's compliance department about this matter. If you and your organization are WorkFlex users, this topic is addressed through the WorkFlex platform.
Data protection
Data protection is fundamentally about keeping our information safe from unauthorized access, breaches, theft, or damage. This responsibility is important for everyone, regardless of where they are working.
When employees work temporarily from abroad, data protection involves ensuring continued coverage and compliance with the data protection regulations of both, the home country and the destination country. In addition to adhering to your home country's regulations, it’s important to note that since Hungary is a member of the EU, the GDPR will be applicable during your trip.
For WorkFlex users, a comprehensive list of data protection activities is available in the profile, but here are some general data protection guidelines to keep your data safe:
- Adhere to your company's internal data policies: Familiarize yourself with and follow your organization’s specific data protection protocols.
- Use secure network connections: Always connect through secure networks, especially when accessing sensitive information.
- Be aware of phishing: Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by verifying the authenticity of emails and messages before clicking on any links.
- Utilize strong passwords and multi-factor authentication: Create complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
- Keep your devices in a secure location: Always store your devices in safe places to prevent unauthorized access.
- Lock your screen whenever applicable: Ensure your screen is locked when you're away from your device to protect your information.
Travel health insurance
When traveling to Hungary for work—whether for a short business trip or an extended workation—it’s essential to have adequate health insurance coverage to ensure access to medical care.
For business trips, the employer typically arranges the employee's travel health insurance. However, for workations, responsibility can sometimes be less clear. Regardless of whether insurance is provided by the employer or purchased by the employee, international coverage is crucial for a safe and secure trip.
For travelers using WorkFlex
If you’re traveling with WorkFlex, comprehensive health insurance is automatically included if your employer has activated this feature. For more details, please refer to your trip request on the WorkFlex platform.
For other travelers
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) grants access to public healthcare services within Hungary's national health system, covering essential services like doctor visits, hospital treatments, and prescription medications (urgent or necessary medical care to the same extent as for local residents). The EHIC is valid only at public healthcare facilities, so check your private health insurance policy to confirm whether additional coverage is provided for private healthcare services.
- Citizens of other countries: Ensure you have travel health insurance with worldwide coverage, whether for a workation or business trip, so that you can receive adequate medical treatment in case of an emergency.
Urgent safety information
For travelers using WorkFlex:
Please refer to your trip's risk assessment under the "Health and Security" dimension to review any urgent security information relevant to your travel.
For other travelers:
Please visit official authority websites to check for any current threats or urgent security advisories:
Terrorism
Follow the general cautionary measures.
Crime
Petty crime such as pickpocketing and handbag theft occurs particularly in markets, train stations, subway and tram stops, public transport, shopping centers, and highly frequented tourist areas. Burglary and theft in vacation homes, even in the presence of residents, are not uncommon, especially around Lake Balaton. Occasional car thefts and fraud schemes—such as claims of damage to vehicles to force drivers to stop and impersonators posing as police officers—do occur. Tourists may also encounter excessively inflated bills during chance acquaintances and invitations to bars or clubs, often recommended by taxi drivers, which are then aggressively collected.
Safety Tips:
- Keep money, identification, driver’s licenses, and other important documents secure; consider storing electronic copies/photos. This facilitates the issuance of replacement documents in case of theft or loss.
- Prefer cashless payments and only carry the cash needed for the day, avoiding unnecessary valuables.
- Be particularly vigilant in large crowds, such as at airports, train stations, and on public transport, and watch your valuables closely.
- Do not leave valuables or documents in vacation homes for extended periods.
- Only park vehicles in secured parking lots and do not leave valuables or vehicle documents inside the car.
- Do not stop on the roadside; continue to the next gas station to check the car for damages.
- Verify that police officers have a badge with a five-digit service number and, if necessary, a credit card-sized ID badge.
- Be skeptical of unfamiliar emails, phone calls, lottery notifications, chance acquaintances, and invitations; inquire carefully about prices. Do not share personal information; instead, verify credibility in person if necessary or contact the local police if needed.
Hungary has a temperate continental climate characterized by four distinct seasons.
- Summer (June to August): Temperatures can range from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F), with occasional heatwaves.
- Winter (December to February): Temperatures typically range from -5°C to 5°C (23°F to 41°F), with snowfall common in January and February.
- Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November): Mild temperatures with spring flowers blooming and autumn foliage creating picturesque landscapes.
Airports
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
- Location: Budapest, the main international airport.
- When to use: Serves as the primary gateway for international travel, with connections to numerous destinations across Europe and beyond.
Debrecen International Airport (DEB)
- Location: Debrecen, for domestic and limited international flights.
- When to use: Suitable for accessing eastern Hungary.
Train stations
Budapest Keleti Railway Station
The main rail hub in Budapest, connecting to domestic and international destinations.
International connections: Services to Austria, Slovakia, Romania, and more.
Budapest Nyugati Railway Station
Description: Another key station in Budapest, serving international routes primarily to Western Europe.
Ride-hailing services
- Bolt
- Local taxi services
Public transportation
Buses
An extensive network connects cities and towns throughout Hungary, with major operators like Volánbusz.
Trains
The Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) operates domestic and international train services.
Trams and Metro
Budapest has an extensive tram network and a metro system, making it easy to navigate the city.