Hungary

Hungary Guest Investor Program Overview

Hungary’s Guest Investor Program is open to non-EEA third-country nationals; grants a 10-year residence permit in exchange for a qualifying investment in a Hungarian real estate fund or a donation to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust. 

The permit is issued for 10 years and can be extended once for a further 10 years. There is no minimum stay requirement at any stage of the permit. 

The investment must be completed within 3 months of first entry into Hungary on the Guest Investor Visa. 

The main applicant may include a spouse and dependent family members, who apply separately under a family reunification residence permit.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must hold a valid passport and demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves and any included family members throughout their stay. 

2 routes are available.

Real Estate Fund Route

• Minimum acquisition of investment fund shares valued at €250,000 (approx. US$295,000), issued by a real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank
• Shares must be held for a minimum of 5 years from the date of acquisition
• The fund must appear on the qualified market list of real estate fund managers published by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing at oif.gov.hu
• At least 40% of the fund’s net assets must be invested in Hungarian real estate at the time of the share acquisition

Educational Donation Route

• Minimum donation of €1,000,000 (approx. US$1,180,000) to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission in Hungary
• The donation must be designated for educational, scientific research, or artistic creation activities
• No minimum holding period applies; the donation is non-refundable

Route to Citizenship

Guest Investor permit holders who establish continuous legal residence in Hungary can follow the standard naturalization pathway to Hungarian citizenship. 

After 3 years of continuous residence on the Guest Investor permit, holders become eligible to apply for permanent residency. After holding permanent residency for 8 years and residing in Hungary for a total of 11 years, holders may apply for citizenship by naturalization.

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Hungarian and pass a basic knowledge examination covering Hungarian history, culture, and the constitution. 

Approval is subject to the assessment of the relevant authorities and is not automatic upon meeting the residence criteria.

Hungary permits dual nationality. Applicants are not required to relinquish their prior citizenship under Hungarian law.

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

The Guest Investor residence permit grants holders full Schengen Area travel rights, allowing visa-free movement across all 29 Schengen member states for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. 

This applies for the full duration of the permit and its extension, giving holders frictionless access to the wider European travel area without requiring additional visas for short stays.

Upon acquiring Hungarian citizenship, holders become EU citizens and gain the right to live, work, and study in any of the 27 EU member states, as well as in the EEA countries of Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, and in Switzerland under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons. 

Hungarian citizens can access approximately 183 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and all EU and Schengen member states. 

Tax

Hungary does not impose personal income tax on foreign-sourced income for non-resident permit holders. 

Guest Investor permit holders who do not establish Hungarian tax residency by spending 183 days or more per year in Hungary are not subject to Hungarian income tax on income earned abroad. 

Holders who establish tax residency in Hungary are subject to a flat personal income tax rate of 15% on all income, one of the lowest in the European Union. 

There is no wealth tax, no inheritance tax between direct family members, and no capital gains tax on the sale of shares held for more than 5 years. 

How to Apply

The program is administered by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing under Act XC of 2023. 

Applications for the Guest Investor Visa are submitted at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. 

Once in Hungary, the residence permit application is submitted either electronically through the Enter Hungary platform or in person at the competent regional directorate based on the applicant’s place of accommodation. 

Applicants in Budapest or Pest County must submit in person with a prior appointment. 

The process typically runs as follows.

• Step 1: Select the investment route and identify a qualifying real estate fund from the official qualified market list, or identify a qualifying higher education institution for the donation route; engage a legal representative to prepare documentation.
• Step 2: Apply for the Guest Investor Visa at the Hungarian embassy or consulate abroad; submit all required documents, including a valid passport, proof of financial means, and a declaration of intent to invest.
• Step 3: Enter Hungary on the Guest Investor Visa and complete the qualifying investment within 3 months of first entry; obtain documentary proof of the investment, such as fund share certificates or donation receipts.
• Step 4: Submit the application for the Guest Investor residence permit within 30 days of first entry via the Enter Hungary platform or in person at the competent regional directorate; appear in person to provide fingerprints and a facial photograph even if the application was submitted electronically.
• Step 5: Attach proof of the completed investment to the residence permit application via the Enter Hungary platform within the deadline specified on the visa; failure to do so within that deadline may result in the revocation of the visa.
• Step 6: Receive the 10-year Guest Investor residence permit; submit an extension application before expiry to obtain a further 10-year term, subject to continued compliance with the investment conditions.