Residency by Investment in Hungary
- Flexible and affordable
- Route to EU citizenship
- Live, work and study in Hungary
Minimum Investment Amount
€250,000
Processing Time
2-3 months
Key Residency Benefit
Route to Hungarian citizenship
Why is Hungary a popular investment location?
Hungary, a landlocked country in Central Europe, is known for its rich cultural heritage, historic architecture and scenic landscapes.
Budapest is the country’s capital, a vibrant city that straddles the Danube River and features iconic sites like Buda Castle and the Parliament Building. Hungary boasts a diverse culinary tradition, renowned thermal baths, and a profound history influenced by various empires.
With its unique language, Magyar, and a blend of Eastern and Western European influences, Hungary offers a captivating mix of tradition and modernity.
About the Hungary Residency by Investment programme
The Hungarian government launched the Hungary Residence by Investment Programme in 2013. It has undergone some changes and will launch its latest version, the “Guest Investor Program,” on 1 July 2024.
Under the new Hungarian Immigration Act, a non-EU citizen whose stay is of national economic interest can obtain a guest investor residence permit and stay in Hungary for a 20-year period.
The programme requires an investment of either €250,000 in a real estate fund or €500,000 in a residential property, thus making it one of Europe’s most affordable residency programmes.
As a member of the Schengen zone, the European Union, and NATO, Hungary’s powerful and well-respected passport allows visa-free/visa-on-arrival travel to 168 countries.
What are the Benefits of Residency by Investment in Hungary?
Path to EU citizenship after eight years
No minimum stay requirement
Visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area
Includes spouse and children under the age of 18
Permits dual citizenship
Accessibility to Schengen counties
How to obtain Residency by Investment in Hungary
Real estate funds investment
Purchase of an investment certificate issued by a real estate investment fund registered by the Central Bank of Hungary (CBH) with a value of at least €250,000.
A real estate fund can invest in:
- Domestic or foreign real estate
- Shares in real estate companies
- Property rights
- Securities and financial instruments
- Derivative instruments
A 15% withholding tax applies to foreign investors on dividends paid and the sale of the investment unit. This option requires fewer administrative and investment decisions for investors.
Property investment
This option is applicable from 1 January 2025.
Purchase of a residential property located in Hungary with a value of at least €500,000. Commercial and industrial properties do not qualify.
The investor must own the residential property exclusively for at least five years. Joint ownership by one or more family members is permissible.
With this option, a 4% transfer tax, estimated based on the property’s market value, is applicable after the property’s purchase.
Key Benefit of Residency by Investment in Hungary
The applicant and their qualifying spouse and children will receive a residence permit valid for 10 years. The permit is renewable for another 10 years if the investment is maintained.
To obtain permanent residence (a.k.a. long-term residence), holders of a guest investor residence permit must have resided in Hungary for at least three consecutive years.
After eight years of demonstrated permanent residency, an applicant can apply for naturalisation to become a citizen of Hungary. This comes with mandatory passing of a Hungarian cultural exam.
Frequently asked questions
The investor must lock in the investment for at least 5 years to enjoy residency status for the first 10 years. Residency renewal after 10 years will depend on whether the investment is in place.
Yes. To do that, the investor must first obtain permanent residency status. The applicant can then apply for citizenship through naturalisatio
The guest investor residence status entitles the holder to live in Hungary, conduct business activities, work with a local company, and rent a residential property.
There is no minimum requirement to stay in Hungary to maintain the guest investor residence status. However, if you want permanent residency and/or citizenship in the future, you must fulfil minimum days of living requirements.
Which programme is right for you?
| Citizenship or Residency Programme? | Citizenship or Residency Programme?Residency | ||
| Minimum Investment Amount | Minimum Investment Amount€250,000 | ||
| Minimum Stay Requirement | Minimum Stay RequirementN/A | ||
| Initial Permit Duration | Initial Permit Duration10 years | ||
| Time to Residence | Time to Residence2-3 months | ||
| Time to Citizenship | Time to Citizenship8 years | ||
| Family Inclusion? | Family Inclusion?Spouse and children under the age of 18 | ||
| Right to Work? | Right to Work?Yes | ||
| Type of Document Received | Type of Document Received?Residency permit, leading to passport | ||
| No. of Visa-Free Countries with Passport? | No. of Visa-Free Countries with Passport?171 | ||