Hungary Guest Investor Programme
Hungary HUN
Hungary's Guest Investor Programme, relaunched in July 2024, is a golden-visa route granting a 10-year renewable residence permit to non-EU investors; EU/EEA and Swiss nationals are ineligible. The defining requirement is a qualifying investment—€250,000 in an approved Hungarian real estate fund (restricted to rental, not a primary residence) or a €500,000 donation to a designated higher-education institution—which must be maintained and shown to derive from lawful funds.
Application-side fees run about $1,000, with realistic first-year costs of $7,000–17,000 excluding the qualifying investment itself. Nominal processing is three months, but card issuance stretches total time to 20–32 weeks as the relaunched programme settles. Spouse and children under 18 are included at no extra investment.
A standout feature is no mandatory minimum stay; permanent residency is available with minimal delay and citizenship after eight years (B1 Hungarian), with dual citizenship allowed. Holders without a Hungarian domicile are generally not tax residents; establishing domicile or 183+ days brings a flat 15% tax on worldwide income.
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 — 3 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 3 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
Some details in this section are industry estimates or general guidance rather than officially verified — confirm against the official source before relying on them.
- Mandatory
- Yes
- No co-pay required
- No
- Minimum coverage
- $30,000
Examples: Generali Hungary, Allianz, Cigna Global
Banking Setup
Some details in this section are industry estimates or general guidance rather than officially verified — confirm against the official source before relying on them.
- Open account before arrival
- Possible with bridge fintechs
Bridge fintechs
Local banks accepting applicants
OTP Bank, K&H Bank, Erste Bank Hungary
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
Before You Arrive — Checklist
- Engage Hungarian legal counsel
- Prepare source-of-funds documentation
- Identify qualifying investment
After You Arrive — Checklist
- Complete investment
- OIF application + biometrics
- Register with Hungarian tax authority
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 ↗
Last known legislative update for this programme: 2024-07-01.
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.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified