Hungary Golden Visa

Yes, Hungary has a Golden Visa, also known as a Guest Investor Visa. It is offered in exchange for an investment of at least €250,000 in fund units. Another option is a donation of €1,000,000 to a higher education institution.

The visa grants a 10-year temporary residency, with the possibility of renewal for another 10 years.

Under the Golden Visa Program, investors have the following options:

• purchase of fund units valued at €250,000;
• donation €1,000,000 to a member higher education institution of the Foundation for the Management of Assets in the Public Interest.

No, it is not possible to get a Hungary investment visa by purchasing a house. The country’s government removed this option at the end of 2024.

As of 2025, two options are available:

• €250,000+ — purchase of investment fund units;
• €1,000,000+ — donation to a higher-education institution.

Investors can obtain a Hungarian residence permit through the Golden Visa program if they contribute at least €250,000 to the country’s economy. 

Those with a monthly income of at least €3,000 and working remotely for companies outside Hungary can qualify for the White Card. Business residence permit might be obtained by entrepreneurs opening a company in Hungary with a minimum share capital of €7,700.

The Golden Visa offers more benefits in terms of validity period and residency conditions compared to the options for remote workers and entrepreneurs.

The Golden Visa holders can apply for permanent residence after three years of living in Hungary, and after another eight years, they can apply for citizenship.

A Hungarian passport enables visa-free access to 173 countries, including the USA, the UK, Japan, and Singapore.

Residence permits for digital nomads and business owners do not lead to permanent residency or citizenship.

The Hungary Golden Visa is a residency route that allows wealthy foreigners to become Hungarian residents by investment. The qualifying sum is €250,000, contributed to buying investment fund units. Another option is a charitable donation of €1,000,000+. Residency is granted for 10 years and can be extended once for the same period.

One of the main advantages is the opportunity to live in Hungary, including its capital, Budapest, with the Golden Visa and travel freely across the Schengen Area.

Other benefits include:

• access to Hungary’s public healthcare and education systems; 
• residency for 10 years;
• prospect of obtaining permanent residence and citizenship;
• tax optimisation.

Yes, Hungary permits dual citizenship. Foreigners who obtain a Hungarian passport do not need to renounce their other passports, provided their home country also allows dual citizenship.

This depends on the country of your citizenship. Nationals with visa-free Schengen access can begin the process in Hungary, while others must start it from abroad.

If you are visa-exempt, you can simply enter Hungary and submit your application for the residence permit inside the country. Before submitting the application, you must sign an agreement with the fund or higher education institution and complete the investment within 93 days.

If you are not visa-exempt, you first need to apply for a Guest Investor Visa at a Hungarian embassy or consulate abroad. The visa allows you to travel to Hungary, where you then fulfil your investment and apply for a residence permit within 93 days after the first entry.

To be eligible, investors must meet the following Hungary Golden Visa requirements:

• be over 18;
• have no criminal records;
• confirm the legality of income.

US citizens can apply only if they hold another citizenship.

Spouses and registered partners, children under 18, and dependent parents can be included in the application.

The application for Hungarian residency by investment can fail if, for example, the investor cannot prove the lawful origin of funds, does not provide all the required documents such as accommodation and a valid travel document, does not complete the investment proof on time, or raises security or public-order concerns.

The Hungary residence by investment is valid for up to 10 years and can be extended for another 10 years.

The renewal procedure depends on the option under which you received your residence permit. If you purchased fund units, you must still hold them at the time of renewal. If you sold them beforehand, you need to reinvest. If you made a donation, reinvestment is not required; confirmation that you made the donation the first time is sufficient.

Immigrant Invest helps investors renew their residence permits, by gathering documents and filing applications to the immigration service.

The Hungary Golden Visa offers two investment options:

• €250,000+ — purchase of units of investment funds registered with the Hungarian National Bank;
• €1,000,000+ — donation to an eligible higher-education institution maintained by a public-interest trust.

The €500,000 direct residential property purchase route was abolished in January 2025.

If you have visa-free access to the Schengen Area, you can enter Hungary and file an application for a Guest Investor residence permit inside the country. You must sign an agreement with the fund or higher education institution and complete the investment within 93 days.