Hungary Guest Investor Programme
Hungary HUN
Hungary's Guest Investor Programme, launched in 2024, grants a 10-year renewable residency permit to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment of at least €250,000 in an approved Hungarian real estate fund. The programme provides immediate EU-based residency with Schengen access, no minimum stay requirement, and a pathway to permanent residency upon arrival, with Hungarian citizenship available after eight years of legal residency. Hungary's powerful EU passport and flat 15% income tax make it a compelling destination for global investors.
Program Details
- Category
- Investment
- Processing Time
- 3 months
- Application Fee
- $1,000
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- $270,000
- Family Included
- Spouse and dependent children under 18 may be included at no additional investment requirement
- Path to PR
- Yes — 0 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 8 years
- Physical Presence
- No mandatory minimum stay requirement; permit must be renewed every 10 years
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Holders without habitual residence in Hungary are generally not considered Hungarian tax residents; those who establish a domicile or spend 183+ days per year become tax residents subject to Hungary's flat 15% personal income tax on worldwide income
- Renewal Cost
- $500
Application Timeline
Apply
3mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 0 years
Citizenship
After 8 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Minimum investment of €250,000 in an approved Hungarian real estate investment fund
- ✓Alternatively, a €500,000 donation to a designated Hungarian higher education institution
- ✓Valid passport with at least 6 months validity
- ✓Clean criminal background check
- ✓Valid health insurance covering Hungary
- ✓Proof of lawful source of investment funds
- ✓Investment must be maintained for the duration of the residency permit
Am I eligible for Hungary Guest Investor Programme?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Minimum investment / capital
Programme requires $270,000.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA and Swiss nationals are not eligible as they already enjoy free movement rights
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Choose qualifying investment
home countryTwo routes: €250,000 investment in Hungarian public real estate fund (min 5 years) OR €1,000,000 direct real estate investment (rentals not primary residence). Hungarian Guest Investor Programme relaunched 2024 replacing prior Golden Visa.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 02
Engage Hungarian legal counsel
onlineHungarian attorney coordinates investment, fund subscription, documentation.
Typical duration: 2 weeks
- 03
Complete investment
destinationFund subscription or real estate purchase with full AML documentation.
Typical duration: 4-12 weeks
- 04
Apply for Guest Investor residence
destinationSubmit application to National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (OIF). 10-year permit initially, renewable.
Typical duration: 4-12 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Proof of investment (fund / real estate) | Fund or notary | No | — | — |
| Source of funds documentation | Bank/professional | Yes | hu | 90 |
| Clean criminal record | Home country | Yes | hu | 90 |
| Health insurance | Insurer | No | hu | 365 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, apostilles, health_insurance_first_year, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Excludes the €250k / €1M qualifying investment itself. Fund route is refundable (at risk); real estate route depends on market.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait0–0 weeks
- Residence card issuance12 weeks
- Total to residence card20–32 weeks
Programme relaunched July 2024 — processing patterns still establishing.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 120 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 120 months
- Renewal fee
- $300
- Requirements
- Maintain qualifying investment.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 3
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 8
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
- Minimum coverage
- $30,000
Examples: Generali Hungary, Allianz, Cigna Global
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse included but separate work permit needed
- Child school enrolment
- Public Hungarian + international schools in Budapest
- Parent inclusion
- Eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Programme RELAUNCHED July 2024 — historical processing data limited
- ⚠Real estate investment route restricts to rental properties (not primary residence)
- ⚠8-year citizenship path + B1 Hungarian (harder than Romance languages for many)
- ⚠Hungary in EU + Schengen — but residence here ≠ EU-wide residence rights
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Work without separate authorisation
Common Rejection Reasons
- •AML concerns
- •Incomplete criminal record disclosure
- •Investment not qualifying
Recent Legislative Changes
2024-07-01
Hungarian Guest Investor Programme launched replacing prior Golden Visa scheme.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the old Hungarian Golden Visa?+
No. The prior scheme (which allowed government bond investment) ended years ago. The Guest Investor Programme (2024) is a relaunch using fund investment or real estate. Its rules are different.
Can I buy a primary residence with the real estate route?+
No. The real estate route requires rental property investment (€1M minimum). Primary residence purchase does not qualify.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.