Hungary's new migration restrictions don't affect the White Card

As of 6 June, Hungary has stopped accepting new residence permit applications for sponsored foreign workers. However, the restrictions do not apply to the White Card — a separate residence permit for digital nomads.

The changes affect the guest worker residence permit category. Hungarian authorities have withdrawn the list of countries whose citizens could obtain this permit, effectively halting new applications under this programme.

Procedures already underway are not being cancelled. Applications will still be processed if they were submitted and paid for by 5 June. Foreigners already in Hungary with a valid guest worker permit can also renew it under the established rules.

Other grounds for residing in the country are not automatically affected. In particular, the White Card continues to operate under the same scheme. It remains available to citizens of non-EU countries who live in Hungary but work remotely for a foreign employer or run a business outside the country.

This is an important clarification for applicants. Amid tightening migration policy, it might have seemed that Hungary was fully halting work and long-term visas for foreigners. In practice, the decision concerns a specific type of residence permit aimed at attracting workers from third countries.

The White Card is not a regular work permit and does not allow employment at a Hungarian company. So the new restrictions do not directly affect digital nomads with foreign-sourced income.