Hungarian village introduces settlement fee specifically for foreign workers from the Far East

A small village in eastern Hungary has sparked controversy by explicitly stating it wants to prevent Far Eastern foreign workers from settling in the community, introducing a substantial financial barrier to discourage their arrival.

The local council of Sáránd, near to Debrecen, passed an ordinance last week that requires newcomers to pay 500,000 forints (approximately €1,200) as a “settlement contribution fee” before they can register their residence. While such fees exist in other Hungarian municipalities, what makes Sáránd’s case particularly notable is the openly stated motivation behind it. The village currently has 2,100 inhabitants.

Targeting foreign workers from Asia

According to HAON, Mayor András Dézsi made the policy’s intent clear in a public comment on the municipality’s social media post. While emphasising that the village welcomes everyone with good intentions, he explicitly stated:

“We want to avoid the concerns that have arisen among our residents as a consequence of Far Eastern guest workers moving in. In 2023, we promised to do everything in this regard.”

The mayor added that the local government doesn’t aim for financial gain, and that 99 percent of “well-intentioned families choosing Sáránd” will likely receive exemptions from the fee. However, the message about who is and isn’t considered “well-intentioned” appears unmistakable.

How the system works

The new ordinance, which takes effect on 1 March, introduces restrictions in two main areas:

Property purchases: Local residents and the municipality itself will have pre-emptive rights to purchase properties before they can be sold to outsiders.

Address registration: Before registering a new address at the government office, newcomers must first obtain a certificate from Sáránd’s mayor’s office. This requires either proof of exemption or payment of the 500,000-forint settlement fee.

Who gets exempted?

The fee can be waived for those who:

• Were born in Sáránd
• Currently live in the village
• Meet other criteria to be determined by the local council