How to get Hungary citizenship after a Golden Visa in 2026

Hungary Golden Visa: investment path to residence and citizenship

Hungary’s Golden Visa, officially the Guest Investor Visa, allows foreigners to secure a 10-year residence permit in exchange for an investment starting from €250,000.

Eligible options include:

• purchasing units in one of the approved real estate funds;
• making a donation to a recognised higher-education institution.

For non-EU nationals, the Hungary Golden Visa is a strategic, asset-backed route that provides free travel across Europe, access to business opportunities and, over time, the possibility of citizenship in the European Union.

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Acquiring citizenship in Hungary as an investor

Before granting citizenship to third-country nationals, Hungary requires applicants to build strong connections with the country and integrate into the local community. In particular, candidates must obtain a registered address, meet residency requirements, learn Hungarian, and pass a citizenship exam.

In total, it takes at least 11 years to obtain Hungarian citizenship after a Golden Visa.

Step 1: obtaining the Guest Investor residence permit

The Guest Investor residence permit allows temporary residence in Hungary for 10 years. This is longer than most other Hungarian residence permits, which are valid for 1 to 3 years.

The investor permit is still temporary. It can be renewed once for another 10 years. If the investor wants to stay longer, they can apply for a new Golden Visa, or move to Hungary and apply for permanent residence. The latter option leads to citizenship.

Step 2: getting permanent residence — in 3 years

After receiving the Guest Investor residence permit, investors may apply for permanent residence once they have lived in Hungary for at least 3 years. During this period, the applicant must reside in the country continuously, without absences exceeding 270 days in total or 90 days at a time.

Another requirement for obtaining permanent residence is passing a cultural knowledge exam. The exam includes questions on Hungarian history, main holidays, arts and literature, and laws [1]. 

Finally, candidates are recommended to prove that granting them permanent residence aligns with Hungary’s national interests. This can be demonstrated through recommendation letters from Hungarian nationals, a long-term lease contract, or a work contract. Essentially, the applicant needs to show their established ties with Hungary and an intention to stay in the country long-term.

Step 3: applying for citizenship — in 8 years

Citizenship becomes available after a further 8 years of living in the country as a permanent resident[2]. 

Throughout these 8 years, the candidate for naturalisation should not leave Hungary for longer than 6 consecutive months. This requirement is not directly tied to naturalisation, but long absences can result in revocation of the permanent residence permit.

Before applying for citizenship, it is also necessary to pass the Hungarian citizenship exam, which covers national history and the constitution. The exam is held only in Hungarian, and the required level of language knowledge is at least B2.

Other requirements for citizenship by naturalisation include: 

• absence of a criminal record or other legal issues;
• compliance with all public and national security requirements of Hungary;
• stable and legal source of income;
• permanent registered address in Hungary.

Citizenship is granted for life and is not lost through long absences. 

Difference between Hungary temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship

Expenses of obtaining Hungary citizenship after a Golden Visa 

The Golden Visa route to Hungarian citizenship involves several expenses, including the investment itself, accommodation costs for living in Hungary, and state fees for obtaining a D visa, permanent residence and citizenship by naturalisation.

Golden Visa costs: investment options

There are two investment options approved for the Guest Investor Visa:

1. €250,000 — purchase of real estate fund units. The fund must be included on the list of qualified market operators maintained by the Constitution Protection Office, and at least 40% of its assets must be allocated to residential real estate in Hungary.
2. €1,000,000 — donation to a higher learning institution. The institution must be managed by a public interest trust foundation carrying out a public task [3].

Individual cost calculation for residence by investment in Hungary

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Fund-related costs under the Golden Visa

In addition to the investment itself, applicants must pay associated fees, particularly when investing in real estate funds. These include:

1. Administrative fee: €20,000 for the main applicant and €1,000 for each additional applicant.
2. Subscription fee: €8,700.
3. Service fee: €110. Paid during the initial application at the consulate only by applicants who need a visa to enter Hungary. 

Costs for applying for permanent residence and citizenship

When applying for permanent residence and citizenship in Hungary, applicants must also cover government processing fees:

1. Permanent residence processing fee — HUF 1,500, or ≈ €4[4].
2. Passport issuance fee — €6 to 26, depending on the applicant’s age.
3. ID card issuance fee — €5. 

Accommodation costs

At each step of the citizenship acquisition process, the investor must have a registered address in Hungary — this is a mandatory requirement for the Guest Investor permit, as well for permanent residence and citizenship.

Accommodation can be either rented or purchased — in both cases, the total spendings depend on the location and preferences of the applicant. Generally, real estate in the capital is more expensive than in the rest of the country.

A one-bedroom apartment in the center of Budapest, on average, costs €660 per month to rent. Three-bedrooms in a similar location cost around €1,300. 

For purchase, the average price is €4,300 per square meter for apartments in the center of Budapest and €2,950 per square metre for real estate outside of the center [5].

Examples of real estate in Hungary

Hungary, Budapest

€642,000+

Classic three-bedroom apartment, Ujbuda, Budapest

150 m²

3

3

Hungary, Budapest

€530,000+

Modern apartments with 3 bedrooms, center of Budapest

83 m²

3

2

Hungary, Budapest

€560,000+

Elegant apartments with 2 bedrooms, Fifth district, Budapest

100 m²

2

2

Documents required for Hungary Golden Visa and citizenship

Applying for residence and later citizenship in Hungary requires preparing multiple sets of documents, depending on each stage of the naturalisation process. Each stage has specific requirements to confirm the applicant’s identity, financial reliability, and ties to Hungary.

List of documents for a Guest Investor Visa 

1. Completed application form.
2. Statement of investment type.
3. International passport — valid for at least 3 months, with at least 2 blank pages, and issued within the past 10 years.
4. Two passport-sized photos.
5. Proof of funds in a bank account — minimum of €250,000.
6. Confirmation of the source of funds, such as contracts, tax statements, or similar documents.
7. Proof of payment of the visa D service fee.
8. Proof of address in Hungary.

List of documents for a Guest Investor residence permit

1. Completed application form. 
2. International passport. 
3. Proof of fulfillment of the investment condition: a certificate issued by the real estate fund manager or by the higher education institution the investor donated to. 
4. Proof of accommodation in Hungary: a lease contract or a property deed for residential real estate. 
5. Photo.  

List of documents for permanent residence

1. Completed application form. 
2. International passport. 
3. Marriage and divorce certificates, if applicable.
4. Photo. 
5. Residence permit, valid for 3—4 months.
6. CV. 
7. Proof of accommodation: property deed or lease contract.
8. Documents proving means of subsistence: financial statements, property documents, certificate of regular income, etc. 
9. Certificate of passing the Hungarian cultural knowledge exam. 
10. Document confirming a clean criminal record, issued by the country of the applicant's previous permanent residence.
11. Cover letter highlighting the applicant’s potential positive impact on Hungary’s economy and cultural scene. 

List of documents for citizenship by naturalisation

1. Completed Honosítási kérelem form in Hungarian — application for naturalisation. 
2. International passport.
3. Two recent photos.
4. Proof of passing the Hungarian language and Constitution knowledge test.
5. Marriage and divorce certificates, even if the spouse is not a Hungarian citizen.
6. Income certificate from the Hungarian Tax Service or from the employer.
7. Housing contract — purchase or rental agreement in Hungary.
8. Registration extract confirming the applicant’s residence period in Hungary.
9. Receipt of duty payment.

Hungary Golden Visa and citizenship for investor’s family members

The Hungary Golden Visa is more than an individual investment — it secures long-term stability for the whole family. Spouses, children and even dependent parents or siblings can join, creating a generational pathway to EU residence and citizenship alongside capital growth.

Who can get a Golden Visa along with the investor

Eligible dependants include:

1. Spouse — or a registered partner.
2. Children under 18 — biological or adopted children of the main applicant or their spouse, provided they are unmarried.
3. Parents of the investor or spouse — eligible if fully supported by the investor. Their only permissible income may be a pension, and there are no age limits.
4. Siblings of the investor or spouse — may be included if medically dependent.

Applications are usually staggered: the main applicant applies first, and once residency is approved, family members can submit their applications at a Hungarian embassy. 

If the family already holds passports that allow visa-free entry to Hungary, all members can apply at the same time, though they must travel to Hungary together.

How family members obtain permanent residence and citizenship

Family members follow the same path as the main applicant. This means spouses, children, parents, and even dependent siblings can eventually obtain a Hungarian passport, provided they maintain residence and meet all legal requirements.

After 3 years of residence in Hungary, family members may apply for permanent residence. Like the main investor, they must pass the cultural knowledge exam, present a clean criminal record, and prove that granting them permanent status aligns with the national interests of Hungary.

After 8 years of permanent residence, family members may become eligible for citizenship through the standard naturalisation process. They must pass the citizenship exam in Hungarian, demonstrate a permanent address in Hungary, and show strong ties with the local community.

7 benefits of Hungarian citizenship

1. Visa‑free travel to 170+ countries. Hungarian citizens enjoy exceptional global mobility, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 170 countries and territories. This includes all Schengen Area states, the UK, the US, Australia, and China.

2. Freedom to live, work, and study across the EU. Holding Hungarian citizenship grants full EU rights, enabling individuals to live, work, and study in any of the 27 member states without permits. 

3. Access to EU banking, healthcare, and education. As EU citizens, Hungarians can access public services and institutions across the EU under the same terms as local citizens. 

4. Dual citizenship is allowed. Hungary permits dual citizenship, meaning investors can retain their original nationality while becoming a Hungarian citizen — unless restricted by their home country.

5. Favourable tax and business environment. Hungary features one of the lowest tax regimes in Europe: a flat personal income tax of 15%, corporate tax of 9% and relatively low property stamp duties. 

6. Affordable, high-quality living in a safe location. Life in Hungary is significantly more affordable than in Western Europe, without compromising safety or quality. 

One month’s expenses for one person with a moderate lifestyle in Budapest are around €720, excluding rent. The same lifestyle in Berlin or Paris would cost over €1,000 monthly, and around €1,200 in Amsterdam or London. Meanwhile, life in Hungary is safer than in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK[7].

7. Political and consular protection worldwide. Hungarian citizenship grants the right to consular protection from any EU member state while abroad if your own country’s consulate is unavailable.

While formal citizenship offers full access to rights, many of the perks — such as Schengen mobility, business rights, healthcare access, and local banking — are available to Golden Visa holders from day one. This means investors can begin leveraging tangible benefits early, even as they progress towards citizenship.

Vladlena Baranova,
Lawyer, AML Compliance officer, certified CAMS specialist

Key takeaways for investors looking to obtain citizenship in Hungary

1. The Hungary Golden Visa provides a structured route to EU citizenship, typically requiring 3 years of residence for permanent status and a further 8 years for naturalisation — a total of around 11 years.
2. Investors aiming for citizenship in Hungary follow the standard naturalisation path, which includes living in Hungary permanently before applying, learning the Hungarian language, and passing the citizenship exam.
3. With careful planning, the Hungary Golden Visa combines asset growth with tax efficiency, business expansion opportunities, and long-term security through EU citizenship.

Sources

1. Source: Hungarian cultural knowledge exam
2. Source: Pathways to citizenship for third-country nationals in EU Member States
3. Source: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, describing the rules of obtaining residence in Hungary as a foreigner
4. Source: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, describing the rules of obtaining permanent residence in Hungary
5. Source: Numbeo.com, providing crowd-funded data about prices in Budapest
6. Source: Hungarian Central Statistical Office
7. Source: Global Safety Index, comparing safety levels in countries based on the police reports, kidnapping data, and other safety-related rankings 

Frequently asked questions