Hungary is in the EU and Schengen, but its residence permit for employment is listed for nationals of Georgia, Armenia and the Philippines; Pakistan is not on that list. Ukraine’s work permit has no nationality list: a registered employer files, the decision comes within 7 working days, and the D-04 visa (USD 404) within 10.
Ukraine and Hungary side by side
Every line carries its source. Hungarian fees are left out: the OIF factsheet points to a separate fee page, and we quote only what we checked.
| Point | Ukraine | Hungary |
|---|---|---|
| EU and Schengen | Outside the EU and the Schengen area | EU member since 1 May 2004, Schengen since 21 December 2007europa.eu |
| Nationalities covered | Any foreign national with a registered Ukrainian employerLaw 5067-VI, Art. 42-2 | Residence permit for employment: nationals of Georgia, Armenia and the PhilippinesGovernment Decree 450/2024, Annex 1 · OIF |
| Who files | The Ukrainian employer files with the State Employment Service; decision within 7 working daysLaw 5067-VI, Art. 42-6 | The foreign national, at a Hungarian mission abroad; extensions through the Enter Hungary platformOIF factsheet |
| Decision term | Permit 7 working days, D-04 visa 10, residence card 15Art. 42-6; Res. 118 para. 19; Res. 322 para. 5 | 21 days of administration; decision on the merits within 70 days of filingOIF factsheet |
| How long the permit runs | Up to 2 years (3 for seconded workers and intra-corporate transferees), extendable; an extension costs one subsistence minimum lessLaw 5067-VI, Arts. 42-3, 42-4 | First permit up to 2 years, extension by 1 year, 3 years in total at mostOIF factsheet |
| Long-term status | Immigration permit after 5 years of continuous TRP on work or founder grounds; permanent card valid 10 yearsLaw “On Immigration”, Art. 4(2)(11) | EU long-term resident status after 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residenceDirective 2003/109/EC |
Hungarian facts checked on europa.eu and the OIF factsheet “Residence permit for the purpose of employment” (last edited 10 March 2026) on 31 October 2026.
Who may work in Hungary on an employment permit
Hungary’s National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing sets out the rules in its factsheet on the residence permit for the purpose of employment. Annex 1 of Government Decree 450/2024 names the countries whose nationals may be employed with it: Georgia, Armenia and the Philippines. The applicant files personally, at a Hungarian mission abroad; the authority has 70 days to decide; and the permit runs for at most three years from first issue, two plus an extension of one.
For a Pakistani applicant, that list is the first thing to read. A recruiter promising a “Hungary work visa” for a Pakistani passport should be able to say which Hungarian permit it is and on what legal basis, before any money changes hands.
What the Ukrainian route gives you
- No nationality list. A registered Ukrainian employer can file for any foreign national; the State Employment Service decides within 7 working days (Art. 42-6).
- Extendable permits. Issued for the contract term, up to 2 years, and extendable, with the employer paying the fee (Arts. 42-3, 42-4).
- A permit you can check. Each decision is published within 2 working days (Art. 42-7), so a fake shows up before you buy a ticket. See how a fake work permit looks.
- Residence, family, then permanence. The TRP is issued within 15 working days (Resolution 322); your spouse and minor children can join you once it is issued; five years of continuous TRP on work grounds lead to an immigration permit.
What the employer files and what you bring are in Ukraine work visa requirements for Pakistani applicants; the difference between the permit and the visa is in work permit vs visa.
Which route fits whom
Ukraine fits when
- you hold a Pakistani passport and have a registered Ukrainian employer
- you want a permit you can extend with the same employer
- you want each stage on a statutory clock
Hungary fits when
- you are a national of a country on Hungary’s decree list
- you need residence inside the EU and Schengen
- a stay of up to 3 years on one permit suits your plan
Questions about Ukraine vs Hungary
Can a Pakistani citizen get a work permit in Hungary?
Who applies for Hungary’s residence permit for employment?
How long does Hungary take to decide, compared with Ukraine?
How long is a Hungarian employment permit valid?
Is Hungary in the Schengen area?
Which gives permanent residence, Ukraine or Hungary?
Read next
- Ukraine vs SerbiaSerbia’s online single permit and its visa rule for Pakistanis
- Best Ukrainian routes for Pakistani citizensWork, study, founder and family grounds side by side
- Ukraine work permit timelineEach statutory term from filing to residence card
- Fake visa agentsHow to check an agent before paying
Sources
Get a written answer on your own route.
Eligibility assessment, $99: a lawyer-validated note sets out the routes open to you in order, an indicative timeline for each and your first action, within 3 working days. Have a Ukrainian job offer? Employer verification, $199, checks the company behind it.
Last reviewed: 31 October 2026. Facts about other countries are taken from the official pages listed under Sources on that date and can change without notice; Ukrainian terms are statutory maximums. Decisions rest with the authorities of each country. This page is general information; advice on your own case comes from a lawyer under a written engagement.