viaHungary

The Hungarian Golden Visa, officially known as the Guest Investor Residence Permit, is Hungary's residency by investment program for non-EU/EEA nationals. It allows qualified investors to obtain long-term Hungarian residency through a financial commitment to the country, providing a direct pathway to European residency with exceptional flexibility and benefits. 

No, Hungary does not offer direct citizenship through investment. However, the Guest Investor Residence Permit provides a foundation for future citizenship eligibility. After maintaining continuous residence in Hungary for several years you qualify for permanent residence which is the next step towards Hungarian citizenship. 

The program is open to non-EU and non-EEA nationals from most countries worldwide. To qualify, you must:

• Demonstrate the financial capacity to make the required investment
• Provide proof of legal income sources
• Pass security and background verification
• Have no entry bans or alerts in the Schengen Information System

Certain nationalities from high-risk jurisdictions may require enhanced due diligence. We assess individual eligibility during your initial consultation.

As of 2025, there are two pathways to qualify:

1. Real Estate Fund Investment – Minimum €250,000 in a qualified Hungarian real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank, maintained for five years
2. Educational Donation – Non-refundable contribution of €1,000,000 to an approved higher education institution

The previously proposed €500,000 direct real estate purchase option was removed from the program before implementation.

If you chose the fund investment option, you may withdraw your €250,000 after the mandatory five-year holding period without affecting your residence permit validity. Your 10-year permit remains valid regardless. Alternatively, you may maintain the investment for the full period or make a new qualifying investment before your permit expires to extend for an additional 10 years. 

While financing options may exist depending on your financial institution and circumstances, the Hungarian authorities require proof that investment funds originate from legal sources and are genuinely available to you. We can discuss your specific situation during consultation, but most applicants provide the investment capital directly. 

Beyond the primary investment, budget for:  

• Professional service fees
• Fund management fees
• Purchase commission
• Government application fees
• Document translation and attestation services

We provide complete cost transparency with detailed breakdowns during your initial consultation.

Yes, immediate family members can apply for Family Reunification Residence Permits simultaneously with your application. Eligible family members include:

• Your spouse
• Children under 18 years of age
• Dependent parents
• Immediate relatives requiring medical care

Family members receive residence permits with the same validity as yours and enjoy identical rights, including unrestricted work authorization throughout Hungary.

No, your single qualifying investment covers the entire family application. Family members apply under the family reunification provisions and do not require individual investments. 

We regularly handle complex family situations, including adult dependent children with disabilities, stepchildren, and other non-standard relationships. During consultation, we'll assess your specific circumstances and advise on the optimal approach. 

With complete documentation provided promptly, most applications are finalized within 2-3 months. The timeline includes:

• Document preparation: 1-2 weeks
• Visa application: 1-2 weeks (if applicable)
• Document translation: 1 week (we take care of the official Hungarian attested translation required)
• Application submission and biometric collection: 1 day (in-person appointment)
• Opening investment account: 1 day (in-person appointment)
• Investment execution and verification: 1-2 weeks
• Official government processing and permit issuance: 3-4 weeks

Cases requiring additional documentation or involving applicants from certain nationalities may require extended processing time.

Yes, at least one in-person visit is required. You must appear at the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) to provide biometric data. You must also open the investment account in-person. We personally accompany you to these appointment and coordinate all aspects of your visit.

For visa-exempt nationals, you may enter Hungary and apply directly for the residence permit. For nationals requiring visas, we will first help you obtain a Guest Investor Visa from a Hungarian consulate, then travel to Hungary to complete the residence permit application.

Essential documents include:

• Valid passport
• Proof of accommodation or valid address in Hungary (options available)
• Bank statements demonstrating investment capacity
• Proof of legal income sources
• Criminal background certificate from your country of residence (apostilled)
• Birth certificates and marriage certificates for family members (apostilled)
• Passport-sized photographs
• Comprehensive application package (prepared by us)
• Investment commitment statement (prepared by us)

All non-Hungarian documents require official translation to Hungarian. We coordinate the entire document collection, authentication, and translation process.

Yes, absolutely. The Guest Investor Residence Permit grants you and all family members unrestricted employment rights throughout Hungary. You may:

• Accept employment with any Hungarian company
• Establish and operate your own business
• Serve as an executive officer in companies
• Work as an independent contractor or freelancer

No additional work permits or authorizations are required—your residence permit provides complete freedom in professional activities.

Yes, your Hungarian residence permit allows visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This provides access to all Schengen countries without additional visas, making the permit valuable for business travel and leisure throughout Europe.

No, the Guest Investor Residence Permit imposes no minimum residency obligation. You may maintain your residence permit validity without spending any time in Hungary, provided you keep your investment (or make a new qualifying investment at renewal). This exceptional flexibility distinguishes the Hungarian program from most other European residency options. 

However, if you seek permanent residency or citizenship in the future, you will need to demonstrate continuous physical presence in Hungary.

No, obtaining the Guest Investor Residence Permit does not automatically make you a Hungarian tax resident. Tax residency is determined by physical presence—if you spend 183 days or more per year in Hungary, you become a tax resident. If you spend less time, you maintain your current tax residency.

Hungary offers attractive tax rates for those who do become tax residents:

• Personal income tax: 15%
• Corporate tax: 9% (lowest in the EU)
• No wealth tax or inheritance tax between direct relatives

We recommend consulting with a qualified tax advisor to understand how Hungarian residency affects your specific tax situation.

If you maintain your residence permit without spending 183+ days in Hungary, you generally have no Hungarian tax obligations. You continue paying taxes in your country of residence according to your home country's laws and any applicable tax treaties. 

The Guest Investor Residence Permit is initially issued for 10 years—one of the longest validity periods among European residency programs. This extended duration provides stability and reduces administrative burden. 

Yes, the permit can be renewed for an additional 10-year period, giving you up to 20 years of continuous Hungarian residency. To qualify for renewal, you must make a new qualifying investment (€250,000 in an approved fund) before your current permit expires. If you made the educational donation option initially, no additional investment is required for renewal.

 Yes, the Guest Investor Residence Permit provides a pathway to both:

Permanent Residency: After 3 years of continuous physical residence in Hungary (meaning you actually live in Hungary, not just hold the permit), you may apply for permanent residency status.

Hungarian Citizenship: After obtaining permanent residence your years start counting towards citizenship.

Note that both permanent residency and citizenship require actual residence in Hungary, unlike the Guest Investor Permit itself.

Applications require passing either a Cultural Knowledge exam for permanent residency or a Constitutional Knowledge exam for citizenship

Professional guidance significantly increases success probability and reduces processing time. Our comprehensive support ensures your application meets every requirement correctly the first time, protecting your substantial financial investment in the process. 

To start the Golden Visa application process with viaHungary, simply reach out to us through our contact form or direct communication channels. Our team will schedule a consultation to discuss your needs, explain the process, and outline the next steps to ensure a successful application. 

📧 info@viahungary.com

Every situation is unique. Schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your specific circumstances and learn how we can guide your successful application.