Hungary Guest Investor Program: Requirements and How It Works

The Hungary Guest Investor Program is a residence route for non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment in Hungary. The official Immigration Office pages list two options: at least EUR 250,000 in units of a real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank, held for 5 years, or a donation of at least EUR 1,000,000 to a university run by a public-benefit endowment foundation.

You get a guest investor visa valid for 6 months, then a residence permit valid for up to 10 years, extendable. It is the closest thing Hungary has to a golden visa, but it is an investment with risks. Check the official guest investor permit page before you commit, and see our Moving to Hungary guide.

Who qualifies

The program is for third-country nationals, meaning people who are not EEA citizens or their family members. The stay must serve a "national economic interest", which the law defines through the qualifying investments. Sanctions checks apply, and you must prove the lawful origin of your funds.

Investment requirement

Real estate fund units. At least EUR 250,000 in investment units from a fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank. At least 40% of the fund's net asset value must be invested in Hungarian residential real estate, and the fund manager must be on the qualified list. The units must be held in a sub-account locked for at least 5 years.

Donation. At least EUR 1,000,000 given to a higher education institution run by a public-benefit endowment foundation, for education, research or the arts, with confirmation from the institution that the funds were received.

Direct property purchase is not listed as a qualifying route; secondary sources say it ended in January 2025. Confirm with a Hungarian lawyer.

Documents you'll need

• Proof of the qualifying investment, or a signed declaration of what you will invest during the visa's validity plus a bank certificate that the sum is available
• Proof of the lawful origin of your funds
• Proof of a Hungarian accommodation address
• A valid travel document, one passport photo and the application form
• For fund units, a custodian document showing the units locked for 5 years; for a donation, the institution's confirmation

Step-by-step application

1. Choose a qualifying investment and speak to a Hungarian lawyer.
2. Apply for the guest investor visa at a Hungarian consulate in your country of residence or citizenship.
3. Enter Hungary on the visa, which is valid for 6 months.
4. Apply for the residence permit within 30 days of your first entry, through Enter Hungary or the regional directorate (appointments are recommended and required in Budapest and Pest County).
5. Provide proof of the investment as a supplementary document within the visa's validity.
6. Provide biometrics, then wait for the decision. Report any changes to the investment within 5 days.

Costs and timeline

The government fees listed by the Immigration Office are EUR 110 for the visa and EUR 110 for the permit if applied abroad. Applied for in Hungary, the permit costs HUF 26,000 online (about €71 at the ECB rate of 2026-10-07) or HUF 39,000 in person (about €106), and an extension costs HUF 26,000. These exclude legal costs, fund fees and currency risk.

The permit procedure takes 21 days, excluding time spent waiting for investment proof. Extensions are filed in Hungary through Enter Hungary at least 30 days before expiry. Fund-unit investors must still hold the units at filing, while donors can extend without a further investment.

Taxes once you're resident

Holding the permit does not by itself make you a Hungarian tax resident, but a permanent home, center of vital interests or long stays can. Hungarian personal income tax is a flat 15% on most income. The IRS lists the US-Hungary income tax treaty as terminated, which matters for US citizens. This is not tax advice; ask a cross-border tax professional.

Family members

The official page notes that a family cohabitation permit can be linked to the guest investor permit. Details on which relatives qualify and what they pay are not on that page, so confirm them with the Immigration Office.

Alternatives

If you would rather not invest, the Hungary White Card needs EUR 3,000 net a month instead. Elsewhere, see the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa, the Czech zivno visa and the Poland work permit.