Central & Eastern Europe: A Hiring Comparison
With labour shortages across the EU, employers are weighing their options between Romania, Poland and Hungary as destinations for international workers. Here’s a practical comparison.
Work Permit Processing
| Country | Processing Time | Government Fee | Annual Quota (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 30–45 days | ~€100 | 100,000 |
| Poland | 30–60 days | ~€50 | No fixed quota |
| Hungary | 15–30 days | ~€60 | 65,000 |
Minimum Wage (2026)
Romania: €620/month | Poland: €700/month | Hungary: €580/month
However, market wages for skilled trades are 40–80% above minimum wage in all three countries.
Worker Availability
Romania has the most aggressive expansion of its work permit quota, making it easier to bring larger teams. Poland’s flexible “employer declaration” system remains popular for short-term placements. Hungary offers the fastest processing but stricter sector restrictions.
Our Recommendation
For large-scale, long-term deployment (50+ workers), Romania offers the best combination of quota availability, competitive costs and supportive immigration policies. For short-term or seasonal needs, Poland’s employer declaration route is hard to beat.