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Hungary Golden Visa: Residence Through Investment
A 10-year residence permit for an investor and their family under Hungary's state program, with no requirement to live in the country permanently.
In 2024 Hungary launched the Guest Investor Program, which is what most people mean by the Hungary golden visa. The investor and family members receive a residence permit for 10 years straight away, renewable for the same period if the conditions are still met. The main investment option is units in real estate funds registered in Hungary, from €250,000, held for at least 5 years. The alternative is an irrevocable donation of at least €1,000,000 to a Hungarian university.
The program law sets no nationality restrictions: a citizen of any non-EU country can apply. Every applicant, however, is screened against UN and EU sanctions lists, and the police and national security services give their opinion. The investment amount and government fees are paid separately from our support. We do not give investment advice: we help you through the immigration side and prepare documents on the source of funds.
The investment amount is paid separately from our support.
Who it is for
- Investors who want a long-term EU residence permit without having to live in the country
- Families who want status for a spouse and children at the same time
- Entrepreneurs who want a backup base in the Schengen Area
- Citizens of any non-EU country who can document the legal origin of their funds
Requirements
- An investment of at least €250,000 in units of an approved real estate fund, held for at least 5 years, or a donation of at least €1,000,000 to a state university
- Proof of the legal origin of funds: tax returns, bank statements and contracts
- No criminal record and no bans on entering the Schengen Area
- Health insurance
- Funds to live on in Hungary
- Screening against UN and EU sanctions lists, with opinions from the police and national security services
What we do
- Check whether you qualify for the program, including sanctions restrictions
- Help you assemble the source-of-funds documents for review
- Prepare your guest investor visa application
- Support entry, confirmation of the investment and the residence application
- Arrange status for your family members
- Advise on renewal and the next step, permanent residence
Key documents
- Passport valid for at least one year
- Guest investor visa application form
- Source-of-funds documents: tax returns, bank statements and contracts
- Proof of the investment
- Criminal record certificate
- Health insurance policy
- Marriage and birth certificates with an apostille and translation
How it works
- Eligibility checkcitizenship, source of funds and family members
- Guest investor visafiling the document package; after approval, entry to Hungary
- Investmentbuying units in an approved fund or making the university donation within the set deadline
- Residence applicationfiled after the investment is confirmed, followed by background checks
- 10-year cardresidence permits issued for the applicant and family
Timeline
Timing depends on the guest investor visa review, the investment step and the background checks by Hungarian authorities.
Timelines are approximate: government agencies, consulates and banks set them.
What to watch out for
- Citizens and residents of Russia and Belarus without an EU residence permit cannot hold deposits above €100,000 in an EU bank, so the transfer of the investment amount has to be planned in advance
- Doubts about the origin of funds are the main reason for refusal
- Selling the fund units early or withdrawing the donation means losing the status
- The program conditions changed in 2024 and may change again
- Funds carry their own risks and costs, and the investment decision is yours
FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is on request. Government fees, translations, insurance and other mandatory costs are paid separately; we send the full estimate before you sign.
How much do I need to invest for the Hungary golden visa?
The main option is at least €250,000 in units of real estate funds approved for the program, held for at least 5 years. The second is an irrevocable donation of at least €1,000,000 to a state university or research institution. Government fees are paid separately (€110 for a visa or residence application at a consulate), as are the fund's own costs.
Are there nationality restrictions?
The program law does not restrict participation by nationality, and you don't need a second passport. Every applicant is screened against UN and EU sanctions lists. Citizens and residents of Russia and Belarus without an EU residence permit also face a €100,000 limit on deposits in a single EU bank. We check your case before you start.
Do I have to live in Hungary to keep the permit?
The program has no minimum stay requirement: the status remains valid as long as the investment conditions are met. If you later plan to apply for permanent residence or citizenship, though, you will have to actually live in the country. Tax residence also depends on your physical presence.
Which family members can get residence?
A spouse and minor children are included in the investor's application. Adult children and parents face additional conditions, such as being in education or financially dependent. We discuss your family members and the documents for each of them in advance.
Can I sell the fund units after 5 years?
After 5 years the fund units can be sold, and according to available information the residence permit stays valid until it expires. To renew for another 10 years, the investment conditions must be met again. We do not assess fund returns or advise on where to invest: that is the investor's decision.
Does the golden visa lead to citizenship?
There is no direct path. After several years of actual residence you can apply for permanent residence, and later for citizenship through naturalization with an exam. That requires really living in Hungary, not just holding the investment.
Do you guarantee the result?
No. Decisions are made by government agencies, consulates and banks. We are responsible for preparing and checking documents, filing and support, and we tell you about the risks upfront.
Let’s discuss your case
We will check whether the program fits your citizenship, income and family, and send an estimate with the full list of costs.
