Dual citizenship in Hungary

Reasons to Consider the Hungarian Dual Citizenship

It can be a smart idea to get a Hungarian passport in addition to your homeland's one because:

• The climate in the country is mild and suitable for living all year round. In winter, it rarely gets colder than -5°C. In summer, the average air temperature is around +25°C, so you'll be unlikely to suffer from scorching heat.
• It's a safe environment with a very low crime rate.
• You'll appreciate the favorable location. From Hungary, you can conveniently reach nearly any point in Europe. The flights to most capitals take no more than a couple of hours.
• Local educational standards are high. Public schools and universities don't charge tuition fees and provide youngsters with a robust set of skills. Alternatively, you can choose from private educational establishments to better meet your family's needs
• Local healthcare system is excellent. Due to affordable prices, Hungary has evolved into a popular medical tourism destination. Retirees, students, and kids younger than 16 get health insurance at no cost.
• Over 170 countries won't ask you to get a visa in advance to visit them.
• You and your family members will be able to move freely all over the EU. You'll be allowed to benefit from banking, medical, and educational services anywhere in the EU. It's a valuable opportunity for those who dream of an international career or want to run a business in the developed European market with a high paying capacity.
• Local taxes are much lower than in Western Europe. For instance, the income tax doesn't exceed 15%, while in some other European states, its maximum rate can be more than thrice as high.
• You'll be able to leverage the extensive European endeavors for personal and professional development. For instance, individuals can benefit from the cross-EU search of employment opportunities. Business owners can apply for governmental support and get relatively easy access to venture capital. With the help of European banks, you can get loans with favorable conditions and invest in securities that are unavailable for people outside the EU.
• To sustain yourself in Hungary, it's enough to earn only 2,000 EUR for a family with two kids. The prices for properties, food, clothes, and many other products can be twice as low as in Western Europe.
• According to the official statistics, over 60% of foreign residents in Hungary are Europeans. They have a decent cultural and education level, so it should be easy for you to build a network of useful contacts.
• As a citizen, you'll be able to vote in the nationwide and local elections. You won't have to be physically present in the country for this purpose.

Most importantly, you won't have to spend funds on the chosen investment route right away. First, the authorities will check whether you are eligible for the program and share their decision with you.

Acceptance Terms

Initially, Hungary welcomed everyone, regardless of their origin. Now, it seems to be more selective. For instance, it can be impossible to get a Hungary residence permit for Russians through real estate or other options.

Even though the program is in full swing already, the authorities keep fine-tuning it. Updates can be introduced at any moment, so it's important to stay aware of the news.

Eligibility Criteria

The requirements for the main investor are simple and generic for all states with similar programs:

• Age over 18
• Ability to prove your financial stability with documents
• Law-obedience

One can take their spouse and minor children with them without any extra remarks. Besides, there is a possibility of relocating together with kids aged up to 25, parents, and the spouse's parents — provided that neither of them can sustain themselves without the financial support of the main investor.

Ways for Getting Started

It's impossible to buy Hungarian citizenship for investment right away. However, foreigners who have enough funds can become Hungarian residents and gradually upgrade to citizenship. Let's explore the available routes.

Purchasing Real Estate

Initially, the Hungarian authorities stated that foreigners would be able to obtain a residence permit for buying real estate worth at least half a million euros. This opportunity was expected to become available in 2025. However, at the end of 2024, the officials changed their mind. They had analyzed the experiences of other states that had similar programs, first and foremost Portugal. Allegedly, the demand from well-off expats had driven the prices up so that accommodation had become prohibitively expensive for locals. Nevertheless, we'll touch upon this opportunity in our article. Who knows, maybe, the authorities will modify the terms of the program once again and the real estate investment option will remain valid.

Only residential properties qualify for the offer. The foreign owner should refrain from reselling them for five years. In addition to at least half a million euros, they should be ready for extra expenses. The services of the lawyer, realtor, and notary will cost them approximately 5% of the property's price. The stamp duty is 2% for houses and apartments that cost over 2,6 million EUR and 4% for cheaper options. VAT is normally included in the real estate price, its amount is 5%. At least 280 EUR will be spent on the administrative fee.

Launching a Business or Creating New Jobs

To launch a business in the country, it's mandatory to invest at least €7,800. The expected income of the organization needs to exceed €1,500 per month and you'll have to prove it with a business plan.

The residence permit for the foreigner in this case will remain valid for one year. A one-time extension for two years is possible. Then, if the same person retains control over the company, they can apply for a different resident permit variety.

This route has a drawback. If the foreigner wants to take their family with them, their dearest and nearest won't be able to join them right away. They will have to wait until the main investor renews their permit for the first time plus one year.

Buying Investment Fund Units

The minimum sum to spend on investment in this case is 250,000 EUR. Plus, there will be additional expenses:

• 5,000 EUR for the subscription fee
• 2,5% of the investment's amount annually for maintenance
• At least 10,000 EUR for the administrative fee for each family member

Your investment freedom will be limited because not every fund qualifies for the program. You'll get the right to redeem your money in five years.

Proving to Have Enough Funds to Sustain Yourself

This option is known as the White Card. Its target audience is digital nomads. They should have €10,000 or more in their bank account and earn no less than €3,000 per month. It's crucial that they generate income outside Hungary, regardless of whether they run their own business or perform as remote employees. Passive income won't be taken into account — such as the money that the foreigner earns by renting out real estate. Salaries, dividends, and service contract payments contribute to the count.

The White Card expires in a year after being issued. It can be subject to one renewal of another 12 months.

Supporting a Higher Education Institution

This route suggests a nonrefundable donation of at least one million euros to a public establishment. Hungary accepts money from foreigners to support science and culture.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To apply for residency and then citizenship, a foreigner should:

1. Prepare the documents
2. Get a Hungarian guest investor visa
3. Complete the investment
4. Apply for the residency — you can do it remotely from any part of the world.
5. Obtain a residence permit in Hungary in person

To avoid mistakes and boost your odds of prompt approval, it would be wise to hire an experienced consultant to guide you through the process.

Paperwork

The set of papers can differ depending on the chosen route to citizenship and one's individual circumstances. Normally, it includes:

1. Application
2. Passport
3. Two passport-style photos
4. Health insurance
5. Proof of having enough money
6. Proof of having never violated the 21law
7. Confirmation of intent
8. Confirmation of meeting the program's requirements
9. Proof of address in Hungary
10. Certificates that prove the facts of being married and/or having kids if a foreigner has a family
11. CVs of all the applicants

The language test will be necessary at the last stage of applying for citizenship. It's not relevant for those who aspire to become residents.

Waiting Time

On average, five months tend to pass from the moment when a foreigner gets their guest investor visa till they obtain their residence permit. It's rather fast by international standards.

The final step of issuing the resident permit takes around three weeks. The countdown starts when the foreigner passes the biometrics and takes an official photo in the migration office — and it ends when the foreigner visits the office once again to collect the permit. During this period, the expat can legally stay in Hungary.

Please mind that the waiting time can differ depending on the individual circumstances of each applicant.

Foreigners' Responsibilities After Becoming a Hungarian Citizen

The term "dual citizenship" suggests that both countries whose passports a person holds signed some agreements. These agreements spare people from the necessity to bear the double amount of responsibilities. For instance, if a foreigner has already served in their homeland's army, they won't have to do it in the state whose passport they get in terms of dual citizenship. Hungary has lacked a military draft since 2005 — but if it decides to restore it one day, individuals with two passports shouldn't be subject to it.

Another example is taxes. Hungary signed dual taxation treaties with dozens of countries. If your homeland is one of them, you'll have to pay your taxes either there or in Hungary. Without such a treaty, your expenses would be higher.

Hungary doesn't ask foreigners to renounce their homeland's passports. However, some countries might ask you to choose between their citizenship and that of another state because it would be illegal to keep both.

Path to Citizenship

To become a citizen, one needs to start with the status of a permanent resident. It's enough to get it once and forever, no updates will be necessary.

To request a permanent residence permit, a foreigner needs to legally spend in the country at least three years. With the Hungarian Golden Visa, things are pretty simple because it remains valid for 10 years. As for the White Card, its maximum duration period is two years. If a digital nomad wants to stay longer in the country, they should consider alternative ways — such as investing or getting employed.

In five years, the physical card that proves the resident status will expire and the foreigner will need to get a new one. They won't have to complete the lengthy application process all over again — just ask for a new card and get it. The key requirement is that the person spends 183 days or more per year in Hungary.

The foreigner will qualify for citizenship in three years after updating their residence card for the first time — in other words, in eight years after becoming a resident. During all this period, they will be allowed to spend a maximum of 45 days per year abroad. Plus, they should be ready to pass an exam — the authorities will check whether they know the Hungarian history and language.

If you have kids, they will be able to inherit your Hungarian citizenship in two cases. They should either be born after you got the local passport or be younger than 18 when you got it.