Hungary joined the EU in 2004, and it is one of the European countries that people want to reside in. Therefore, the country felt the necessity to launch Hungary Golden Visa, also called the Hungarian Guest Investor Program (GIP), in 2024. To draw more foreign capital to Hungary, the program has two investment options. The first one includes investing at least 250,000€ in a real estate fund. The second one includes a €1 million non-refundable public trust donation.
Once issued, a Hungarian residence permit will be valid for 10 years, renewable for a further 10 years. Now, let us walk you through the requirements and benefits. This article will show you how to get a Hungarian residency permit.
What to Discover in This Guide?
- Hungarian Golden Visa Program in 2025
- Hungary Citizenship by Investment Program Timeline
- Benefits of the Hungary Golden Visa Program in 2025
- Eligibility Criteria for Hungarian Golden Visa
- Investment Options for Hungary Residency by Investment
- The Cost of Hungarian Citizenship by Investment
- Requirements of Hungary Golden Visa Program
- How to Apply for Hungarian Guest Investor Program (GIP)
- How to Get Permanent Residency in Hungary
- How Can You Get Hungary Citizenship by Investment
- Golden Visa Countries Comparison in 2025
Hungarian Golden Visa Program in 2025
It is possible to apply for a long-term residency permit with a ten-year validity period through the new Hungarian Golden Visa. The program is called a Guest Investor Residence Permit. You can renew the permit ongoing basis for life.
In addition, you can also upgrade your permit to permanent residency if you reside in Hungary full-time for five years. The new Hungarian Golden Visa is not a citizenship-by-investment program. And there is no direct relation to Hungarian citizenship, as you observe in some other European countries. So, it is better to consider this according to your goals when you apply.
Hungary Citizenship by Investment Program Timeline
March 1, 2024: Hungary launched a new Golden Visa program called the Guest Investor Residence Permit. It offered three ways to qualify:
- €250,000 investment in a special fund
- €500,000 investment in residential real estate
- €1 million donation to a Hungarian university for research or arts.
July 1, 2024: Only two options became available:
- The €250,000 fund investment
- The €1 million donation
- The €500,000 real estate option was postponed and could only be used for property bought after January 1, 2025.
January 15, 2025: The government removed the €500,000 real estate option completely. Only the fund investment and donation options remain.
Benefits of the Hungary Golden Visa Program in 2025
Here are some of the benefits of this program:
Processing Time
Considering other Golden Visa countries, Hungary offers a short processing time for residency by investment. It typically takes 4-6 months. Therefore, if you do not want to struggle with heavy bureaucracy or long backlogs, you can opt for Hungarian residency, which will be valid for 10 years and let you stay in the EU.
Renewal Option
Once you get your Hungarian residency permit, it will be valid for 10 years. At the end of this period, you can renew your residence permit for another 10 years. Note that only in the initial 5 years you apply for the Hungary Golden Visa, you have to hold your investment. After 5 years, you can exit the fund.
Visa-Free Travel
Located in the European Union, Hungary passport allows its holders visa-free travel to 174 countries, including the Schengen Area. Thus, you can take advantage of global mobility. You can travel to many countries without worrying about paperwork. All you need to do is get your tickets, make your reservation, and pack your bag.
The capital, Budapest, is close to Vienna, Prague, Bratislava, Romania, Belgrade, Ljubljana, and Zagreb. Within a few hours of driving, you can reach these cities, enjoy their culture, and meet new kinds of people.
No Minimum Stay Requirement
Normally, Golden Visa countries require you to stay in that country for a specific period to get your residence permit. For example, the Portugal Golden Visa requires its applicants to stay in the country for at least 7 days a year.
Nevertheless, Hungary Residency by Investment program does not apply this rule. You can get your residence permit without any minimum stay requirement unless your aim is to get permanent residency or citizenship. If so, you have to live three years in the country to apply for a permanent residence and 8 years for citizenship.
Tax Benefits
To be considered tax-resident in Hungary, you have to reside for at least 183 days. Therefore, if your stay does not exceed 183 days in Hungary, you are entitled to pay taxes. However, if you do, you should know that Hungary has one of the lowest tax rates in the EU:
- Income Tax: 15%
- Corporate Tax: 9%
- Inheritance Tax: 18%
Lower Cost of Living
Many Western European countries offer a higher cost of living. Thus, the necessity to find an affordable place to live gains importance. Located in Central Europe, Hungary stands out as a strategic location.
With a 2,265.9€ monthly cost for a family of four, below is the table of basic life costs:
Safe Investment
Within the frame of Hungarian Golden Visa, you can invest your money after initial approval. Once you decide and make your submission, you will receive a D-type visa called the Guest Investor Visa.
During this process, the migration office will analyze your application and complete due diligence checks. Therefore, if you obtain your Guest Investor Visa, you will not likely get rejected, and your investment will not be futile.
Family Inclusion
The Hungary residency by investment program will allow you to include your family members in your application. You can add your spouse, children, and even parents on condition that they meet the requirements.
Live and Work in the European Union
As a Hungarian Golden Visa holder, you have the right to live and work in the European Union as much as in Hungary. This will allow you to experience the benefits of European life. You can join expat communities and digital nomads and embrace life with a relaxed lifestyle.
Life also opens you many job opportunities for you to make a living, as many European countries speak commonly in English. The most common options include a foreign language teacher, customer service, and the hospitality industry. You can also find jobs in finance and technology. It depends on your capabilities and interests.
Healthcare
With a healthcare system ranking 34th out of 195 countries, Hungary offers universal healthcare to its residents. It is available for free. The doctors and service providers are well-trained and provide you with a good quality of service.
On the other hand, private healthcare is also available. It is one of the European countries with the lowest healthcare costs in private healthcare. You can opt for them in case you do not want to wait for a long time. At this point, you should also be aware of this: the more you get away from the city center, the less likely you are to come across English-speaking healthcare personnel.
Path to Permanent Residence and Citizenship
Although the Hungarian residency by investment program does not provide a direct route to permanent residence and citizenship, you can later apply if you meet the minimum residency requirements.
- Residing for 3 years to apply for permanent residency
- Residing for 8 years to apply for Hungarian citizenship
Eligibility Criteria for Hungarian Golden Visa
As an applicant, you will need to meet specific requirements to be eligible for the Hungarian Golden Visa. These requirements will be the foundation for your investment journey.
Main Applicant
- Over 18
- With a clean criminal record
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
- Having a valid health insurance
- Reliable source of income
- With a second passport if coming from the US
- Making a qualifying investment
Family Members
- You can also include your spouse or children under 18 in your application.
- If your children are over 18, you can still have the opportunity to include them. But in this case, your children must prove financial dependency, study, and be unmarried.
- You can also include your parents. Your parents should be 65 years old and over. And they do not need to prove dependency.
Note that if you want additional dependents in your application, you will need to pay extra fees.
Investment Options for Hungary Residency by Investment
From 2025, there will be two remaining investment avenues available for investors. Here are the options:
-
€250,000: Real Estate Investment Fund
-
€1 million: Non-refundable Public Trust Donation
There used to be a real estate investment option, starting from €500,000. However, this option was abolished in January 2025 due to the rising housing prices in Hungary.
With the remaining options, if you plan to apply for a Hungary Golden Visa in 2025, you will also need to budget for a selection of legal, application, and processing fees. These will depend on the number of your family members applying and the investment avenue you choose.
Option 1: Real Estate Fund Investment
You invest at least €250,000 in a special kind of real estate investment fund. This fund must be:
- Registered with the Hungarian National Bank, and
- You must get a certificate proving that the investment is in your name (if you’re from a non-EU country).
This certificate can come from:
- The fund manager, or
- The company that sold you the investment.
Option 2: Non-refundable Public Trust Donation
You donate at least €1,000,000 to a Hungarian university that is:
- Run by a public trust and serves a public mission (like education or research).
- You need to get a certificate from the university proving that they received your donation.
A list of eligible universities is available online on the government website.
The Cost of Hungarian Citizenship by Investment
Requirements of Hungary Golden Visa Program
To complete Hungary Golden Visa program, there are certain requirements you need to follow up. These are listed below:
- A completed and signed application form
- A declaration stating which investment (real estate fund or university donation) you plan to make during your visa’s validity.
- Proof of funds from a Hungarian or foreign bank showing you have enough money to cover the investment and that the funds are permanently available.
- Proof of the legal origin of funds, which can be:
- An official public or private document proving ownership or the source of the funds, or
- Proof of regular taxable income from employment or business.
- A document showing your accommodation address in Hungary.
- Valid passport.
- One passport-sized photograph.
- The investment must be finalized within 93 calendar days from the date the investor first enters Hungary
- Health insurance
- CV for the main applicant and dependents over 18
- Marriage certificate
- If available birth certificate
How to Apply for Hungarian Guest Investor Program (GIP)
Now that you have learned the benefits, investment options, and requirements for Hungary Golden Visa program, it is time to move on with the application process.
Step 1: Get in touch with Get Golden Visa
Get Golden Visa is a consultancy firm that specializes in residency and citizenship by investment programs. Our experienced team helps individuals and families obtain residency or second citizenship through different investment options.
Before applying for Hungary Golden Visa, you can contact our experts to streamline your application process. They will help you find the best option and guide you through the whole procedure.
Step 2: Gather documents and get your Guest Investor Visa
After you decide on your investment path with Get Golden Visa, you are now ready to gather the necessary documents and apply for a Guest Visa. Our team will provide you with the list of necessary documents. Once you collect the documents, you can apply for the Guest Investor Visa. If you get approval, you will have 6 months to enter the country.
Note that if your passport allows you to enter Hungary without a visa, you do not need this. You can directly enter the country.
Step 3: Visit Hungary and apply for residency
You are required to travel to Hungary to finalize an agreement with the fund or the higher education institution. Besides, they need to buy or rent a house to provide proof of address for residency cards.
The submission of the application can be done through the Immigration office, and you need to give your biometric data, such as fingerprints.
Step 4: Make your investment and get your residence permit
You will have three months to make your investment. If you complete this process successfully, within 3 months, you will receive your initial 10-year residence card. After that, you can renew your residence card for another 10 years.
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How to Get Permanent Residency in Hungary
As it is stated earlier, Hungary Golden Visa is a residency by investment program. Therefore, it does not provide you with a pathway to obtain permanent residency or citizenship. Once issued, it will be valid for 10 years, with a renewal option for a further 10 years.
If you wish to get a permanent residence, you must stay in Hungary for 3 years, which means 183 days per year. Then, you will receive your permanent residence. However, you must renew it every 5 years.
You can either apply for a National Residence Card or the EU Residence Card.
How Can You Get Hungary Citizenship by Investment
The Hungarian Citizenship Act and the Hungarian Act on Foreigners regulate the pathways to citizenship in Hungary. Hungarian citizenship can be acquired through birth, descent, marriage, family reunification, declaration, and naturalization.
Accordingly, when you invest in a Golden Visa program, it initially gives you a 10-year residence permit card with no minimum stay requirement. However, if your main aim is to get European residency, you need to reside in Hungary for 8 years. You must not be away from the country for more than 45 days per year. Besides, during the Hungarian citizenship application process, you must prove:
- Prove Hungarian language proficiency,
- Pass the cultural written exam
- Sufficient means of subsistence,
- A clean criminal record.
If one of the criteria below applies to you, you can apply for Hungarian citizenship after living 3 years in the country:
- If you are married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 3 years,
- If your children are Hungarian,
- If you are adopted by a Hungarian citizen,
- If you are a refugee
- If you are stateless.
Note that dual citizenship is allowed, allowing third-country nationals to maintain their previous citizenship.
Golden Visa Countries Comparison in 2025
Frequently Asked Questions on Hungary Citizenship by Investment
Which are the European Economic Area (EEA) countries?
The European Economic Area (EEA) comprises EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, allowing them to be part of the EU’s single market. The EEA countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
What is the Hungarian investment immigration program?
The Hungarian investment immigration program offers a golden visa option for investors. It allows them to purchase bonds from the Hungarian National Bank or donate to a designated institution, granting ten years of residency.
Can I apply for a new Hungarian residency program?
The Hungarian residency program is open to all nationalities. It is expected to include Russians, Belarusians, and Iranians. The new program was launched in January 2024.
Can I get residency in Hungary if I buy a house?
No, Hungarian authorities do not grant residency upon purchasing a house. However, there was a real estate investment option starting from €500,000, which was abolished in January 2025.
How much is the Golden Visa for Hungary?
Typically, it depends on the investment or donation route you choose and the number of dependents. This way, the Golden Visa for Hungary will cost 250,000€, without the extra government fees.
Can I obtain a Hungarian Passport by applying Hungarian Golden Visa?
Hungary Golden Visa doesn’t offer a direct route to Hungarian citizenship; this program is also not a citizenship-by-investment program. Therefore, it is not directly possible to obtain a Hungary passport through the Hungary Golden Visa. Once the residence permit is obtained through the Golden Visa program, it is possible to naturalize for Hungarian citizenship after 8 years of living in the country. Therefore, a Hungary passport might be obtained.
How strong is a Hungarian Passport?
The Hungarian passport is strong. It allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 180 countries.
How long can I live in Hungary as an American citizen?
You can stay in Hungary up to 90 days without a visa. For longer stays, you need a residence permit.
Can I buy property in Hungary as an American citizen?
Yes, Americans can buy property in Hungary with the issuance of a permit by the Land Registry.
