Greece Golden Visa vs Hungary Guest Investor Programme
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Hungary Guest Investor Programme is faster: 3 months vs 4 months for Greece Golden Visa.
- ›Faster to citizenship: Greece Golden Visa at ~7 years, vs 8 for Hungary Guest Investor Programme.
- ›Lower capital: Greece Golden Visa (250,000 USD) vs 270,000 for Hungary Guest Investor Programme.
Greece Golden Visa Greece · investment | Hungary Guest Investor Programme Hungary · investment | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Greece | Hungary |
| Category | Investment | Investment |
| Application Fee | $2,200 | $1,000 |
| Minimum Income | — | — |
| Minimum Investment | $250,000 | $270,000 |
| Processing Time | 4 months | 3 months |
| Family Included | No additional investment required; covers spouse and dependent children up to 21, as well as parents and parents-in-law | Spouse and dependent children under 18 may be included at no additional investment requirement |
| Path to PR | Yes — 5 years | Yes — 0 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 7 years | Yes — 8 years |
| Physical Presence | No minimum annual stay required to maintain the Golden Visa; 7 years of actual residence required for citizenship | No mandatory minimum stay requirement; permit must be renewed every 10 years |
| Dual Citizenship | Allowed | Allowed |
| Tax Impact | No mandatory tax residency triggered by the visa; those who choose to tax-reside may benefit from Greece's non-dom lump sum tax of €100,000/year on foreign income for up to 15 years | 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 |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Yes | Yes |
| Renewal Cost | $2,200 | $500 |
About Greece Golden Visa
Greece's Golden Visa is one of Europe's most accessible investment-residency programmes. Originally a uniform €250,000 real-estate threshold, the 2024 reform raised investment minimums sharply: €800,000 in high-demand zones (Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, islands over 3,100 inhabitants), €400,000 in other regions, with the legacy €250,000 threshold preserved only for commercial-to-residential conversions and specific listed-building restorations. Alternative routes include €500,000 in Greek capital-company shares, €500,000 in mutual funds or AIFs, or €500,000 bank deposit. The visa grants 5-year renewable residence with no minimum physical-presence requirement — making it one of the lowest-effort EU residency permits and a popular passive-investment route for non-EU HNWIs. Holders gain Schengen visa-free travel but cannot acquire Greek citizenship through this route directly; standard naturalisation requires 7 years of physical residence plus B1 Greek language. Greece levies progressive income tax to 44%, but a flat-tax regime for qualifying HNWIs taxes worldwide income at €100,000/year for up to 15 years. Property tax (ENFIA) applies annually to the underlying real-estate investment.
Full Greece Golden Visa profile →About Hungary Guest Investor Programme
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.
Full Hungary Guest Investor Programme profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Greece Golden Visa
- ⚠September 2024 reform raised thresholds significantly; Athens/Thessaloniki/Mykonos/Santorini now €800k minimum
- ⚠No physical presence required, but also no path to citizenship without 7 years actual residence
- ⚠Greek Golden Visa ≠ EU Schengen freedom; allows visa-free Schengen travel but not residence
- ⚠Property cannot be rented short-term (Airbnb) in Athens/Thessaloniki districts under some interpretations — consult lawyer
- ⚠Citizenship requires 7 years of genuine residence, B1 Greek, civic test
Hungary Guest Investor Programme
- ⚠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
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.