Sick leave rules in Hungary at a glance
Statutory rules for Hungary, checked against official government guidance on 15 October 2026.
| Tell your employer | Ask your employer |
|---|---|
| Self certification | None found |
| Doctor's certificate needed from | Day 1; doctor contracted with the national health insurer |
| Certificate deadline | No fixed deadline found; benefit claim through the employer, up to 6 months back |
| Waiting days | None found |
| Employer pays | 15 working days a year at 70% |
| State sickness benefit | 60% (50% with shorter insurance), up to HUF 21,520 a day |
| Maximum duration | Up to 1 year |
| Last checked |
Who pays sick pay in Hungary?
In Hungary, employer pay: 15 working days a year at 70%. State sickness benefit: 60% (50% with shorter insurance), up to HUF 21,520 a day.
- Employer15 working days a year at 70%
- State sickness benefit60% (50% with shorter insurance), up to HUF 21,520 a day
Work out your own figures with the sick pay calculator.
When do you need a doctor's note in Hungary?
In Hungary, a doctor's certificate is needed: day 1; doctor contracted with the national health insurer.
Self certification. None found
Certificate deadline. No fixed deadline found; benefit claim through the employer, up to 6 months back
Telling your employer. Ask your employer
Check your own dates with the "do I need a note" tool, or see how to get a doctor's note in Hungary.
Worked example: 10 days off sick in Hungary
How a 10 day absence runs in Hungary, step by step. No money is worked out here.
| When | What happens | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tell your employer | Ask your employer |
| From day 1 | A doctor's certificate is normally needed | Day 1; doctor contracted with the national health insurer |
| During the absence | Employer | 15 working days a year at 70% |
| During the absence | State sickness benefit | 60% (50% with shorter insurance), up to HUF 21,520 a day |
Maximum duration: Up to 1 year
For your own figures, use the sick pay calculator. It reads the same checked data as this page.
What is different about sick leave in Hungary?
In Hungary the certificate must come from a doctor contracted with the national health insurer.
Your employer pays up to 15 working days a year at 70%, and you claim the benefit through your employer, up to 6 months back.
What if you work in Hungary but live in another country?
If you work in Hungary and live in another country, you are usually covered by the social security system where you work, so the rules on this page apply.
Ask your employer how and when to report sick, and send any certificate to the body that pays you.
If your doctor is in another country, ask the paying body which format it accepts.
More on working in one country and living in another. Related tool: Fit to fly readiness checklist
Frequently asked questions
The certificate deadline in Hungary: no fixed deadline found; benefit claim through the employer, up to 6 months back.
Waiting days in Hungary: none found.
The maximum duration of sick pay in Hungary: up to 1 year.
Self certification in Hungary: none found.
Sick leave rules in neighbouring countries
Compare Hungary with Austria and Slovakia, or see all 42 countries side by side.
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