hungary

Minimum investment

€250,000

processing time

2-3 Months

key residency benefit

Route to Hungarian Citizenship

Benefits of Residency by Investment in Hungary

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    Path to EU citizenship after eight years

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    No minimum stay requirement

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    Visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area

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    Includes spouse and children under the age of 18

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    Permits dual citizenship

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    Accessibility to Schengen countries

discover hungary

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 hungary

The Hungarian government launched the Hungary Residence by Investment Program 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.

How to obtain Residency by investment in hungary

  • 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.

  • 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.

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. In order to do that, the investor must first obtain permanent residency status. The applicant can then apply for citizenship through naturalization.

  • 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.