Hungary Guest Investor Programme (Golden Visa)

The minimum investment is EUR 250,000 for the real estate fund investment pathway, which requires a 5-year holding period. The investment must be made in a government-approved real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank, with at least 40% of the fund's net assets allocated to Hungarian residential properties. The fund manager must be approved by the Constitution Protection Office.

Alternatively, applicants may make a non-refundable donation of EUR 1,000,000 to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust foundation. This donation supports educational, scientific research, or artistic activities and carries no holding period requirement.

The complete process typically takes 5 to 6 months from initial application to residence permit issuance. The Guest Investor Visa application is processed within up to 6 months, during which time the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) conducts comprehensive due diligence.

After receiving the visa and entering Hungary, applicants must submit the residence permit application within 30 days and complete the investment within 93 days of first entry. The residence permit application itself is processed within 21 days (maximum) from receipt of complete documentation, with the permit card issued within 7 days of approval.

The Guest Investor residence permit is initially valid for 10 years and can be renewed once for an additional 10 years, providing up to 20 years of continuous residence authorization. The permit does not require minimum physical presence in Hungary to maintain validity, though renewal applicants with previous Hungarian residence permits must demonstrate at least 90 days residence within any 180-day period prior to renewal.

The permit validity may exceed the holder's passport validity period. Hungarian authorities do not limit the residence permit duration based on travel document expiry.

Yes. Eligible family members include spouse, minor children (under 18 years), dependent children between 18-25 years enrolled in education, and dependent parents. Family members receive residence permits for family reunification with the same validity period as the principal applicant (10 years, renewable once).

Family member residence permits grant full work rights in Hungary identical to the principal applicant's authorization. No additional investment is required, though separate government fees apply for each family member's application. Family members must meet standard eligibility criteria including clean criminal records, health insurance, and absence of security concerns.

After 8 years of continuous legal residence in Hungary, Guest Investor permit holders may apply for Hungarian citizenship. The pathway requires first obtaining long-term residence status after 5 years of uninterrupted lawful residence, which includes passing a written Hungarian cultural knowledge examination.

After securing long-term residence status, applicants must maintain continuous legal residence for an additional 3 years (totaling 8 years) before citizenship eligibility. Citizenship applicants must demonstrate Hungarian language proficiency, knowledge of the Hungarian Constitution, stable financial circumstances, and absence of criminal record. Hungary permits dual citizenship, so applicants are not required to renounce their original nationality.

Yes. The Guest Investor residence permit provides unrestricted right to work throughout Hungary without requiring additional employment authorization or permits. Holders may enter employment relationships, establish and operate businesses, engage in entrepreneurial activities, and work as self-employed professionals without restrictions.

This contrasts with many other residence permit categories that require separate work permits or restrict employment scope. Employers hiring Guest Investor permit holders must report the employment to Hungarian authorities as part of standard reporting obligations for third-country nationals.

Real Estate Fund Option (EUR 250,000): Applicants invest in government-approved real estate funds registered with the Hungarian National Bank. The investment must be held for a minimum 5-year period, during which the fund invests at least 40% of assets in Hungarian residential properties. This option provides potential for capital appreciation and returns, with investment certificates issued in the applicant's name. Currently, two government-approved funds are available.

Education Donation Option (EUR 1,000,000): Applicants make a non-refundable donation to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust foundation with public-service mission. The donation supports educational, scientific research, or artistic activities. This option carries no holding period and represents a one-time philanthropic contribution with no expectation of returns.

Both pathways lead to the identical 10-year residence permit with full work rights, Schengen access, and family inclusion. Selection depends on investment budget, preference for potential returns versus philanthropic contribution, and comfort with 5-year investment commitment.

Yes. Hungary Guest Investor residence permit holders can travel visa-free throughout the Schengen Area for short stays without applying for separate visas. The residence permit authorizes entry to all 27 Schengen member states (26 Schengen countries plus Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) for tourism, business, family visits, or other short-term purposes.

Travel is limited to 90 days within any 180-day period for visits to other Schengen countries. Permit holders may remain in Hungary without limitation as it is their country of residence. When traveling, holders must carry both valid residence permit card and passport.

If the Guest Investor Visa application is refused, applicants may submit a new application after addressing the circumstances that led to the refusal. Common refusal reasons include incomplete documentation, insufficient proof of legitimate source of funds, security concerns, or alerts in the Schengen Information System.

The visa application stage includes comprehensive due diligence before any investment commitment is required. Applicants who have only declared intent to invest (rather than completing the investment) face no financial loss if the visa is refused. However, applicants should work with qualified advisors to ensure proper documentation and eligibility before applying to minimize refusal risk.

Hungary's Guest Investor Programme is available to third-country nationals (non-EU, non-EEA citizens) from most countries. However, Hungarian authorities conduct security assessments in consultation with law enforcement and national security services, which may result in increased scrutiny for applicants from certain jurisdictions.

Applicants must not be subject to United Nations or European Union restrictive measures (sanctions). The National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing reviews each application against security databases including the Schengen Information System. Applications from individuals with alerts for expulsion, entry bans, or security concerns will be refused.

Additionally, investment funds must not violate UN or EU restrictive measures. NTL International conducts preliminary compliance reviews to identify potential issues before application submission.