Hungarian Golden Visa

Arguments in favor of Choosing Hungary

This country can appeal to foreigners for the following reasons:

• First, you get approval from the Migration Office and only then, you invest. Such an approach saves foreigners time, nerves, and money.
• With the Golden Visa, you'll be able to enter Hungary at any moment, regardless of the external circumstances — even when the borders are closed, as during the COVID pandemic.
• The prices in Hungary are very affordable. Everything costs nearly twice as little here as in Western Europe — including real estate, food, and clothes. A family of four can sustain themselves with around 2,000 EUR per month. The average price of one square meter of residential property in the center of the capital is $3,700 — in other European capitals, it's twice as high.
• Hungary ranks 14th on the list of the safest countries on the planet. It's an optimal location for living together with your family.
• Golden Visa owners can travel freely across Europe. Flights and train tickets are cheap. It will take you only a couple of hours to reach most of the coveted tourist destinations across the continent. You'll be able to stay up to 90 days per 180 days in any country of the Schengen area. Besides, it will be easy for you to travel around the world because over 170 countries will let you cross their borders without a visa.
• You and your family members will be able to work and open businesses not only in Hungary but across Europe. You'll get access to a large well-developed market and will be able to benefit from governmental support endeavors. It won't be a problem for you to make an international career or hire staff with any required skills for your company.
• Whenever necessary, you'll be able to open an account in any European bank with minimum effort. In most cases, it will be enough to show your residence card and passport.
• The local taxes are reasonable. The stamp duty for property purchases is 4%, the corporate tax rate is 9%, and the income tax is 15%. It's hardly possible to find better conditions in Europe. Just to compare: in France, the maximum possible income tax ratio is 55%.
• Your kids can get a decent education in Hungary. Graduates of universities in this country are accepted for jobs anywhere in the world, including the UK and the USA.
• The local healthcare is excellent and up to 70% cheaper than in other European states. EU residents often come to Hungary for a wide range of medical services, from dentistry to esthetical surgery.

Those who want to become Hungarian residents or citizens will be able to do so rather easily — we'll clarify it in detail in a dedicated passage of our article.

Eligibility Criteria

The main investor should be aged over 18, have a clear criminal record, and be able to prove a stable and legal source of income. They can take their spouse, parents, kids, and the spouse's parents with them. It's essential that the parents depend financially on the investor. As for the kids, those younger than 18 can join their mother and/or father without any questions. However, it might be also possible to take sons or daughters aged up to 25 with you if you prove with documents that they still depend on you, such as study at a university and don't work.

Hungary favorably stands out from other European states thanks to its liberal policies. Selected countries refuse to accept citizens from territories whose governments fail to respect the democratic rights of their population. Hungary welcomes everyone from outside the EU and the EEA, regardless of their origin.

Investment Routes

Applicants can choose from three investment routes that differ in their terms. No matter which of them a foreigner prefers, they will be required to pay with EUR — one of the most stable and widely used currencies in the world. The investment will be better protected from inflation and other potential risks than in any other region.

Let's have a close look at each option.

Spend at least 250,000 EUR on Investment Fund Units

Only selected funds qualify for the program, so it's important to consult with an experienced professional in advance. In five years, the investor will be allowed to redeem their money.

The administrative fee for this route depends on the number of applicants. The standard amount is 65,000 EUR. It can suit a family that consists of up to four members — the main investor, their spouse, and their one or two kids aged younger than 18. If the investor takes more applicants with them, the fee for each extra person will be 10,000 EUR. If a child is older than 18, the fee for them will be 15,000 EUR.

This investment route also involves a subscription fee of 5,000 EUR and a maintenance one of 2,5% per annum.

Become a Hungarian Resident for Buying Real Estate Worth at least 500,000 EUR

To get permission for this type of deal, a foreigner needs to contract a lawyer who will interact with the authorities on their behalf. Only residential properties purchased after January 1, 2025, qualify for the Golden Visa. The new owner should refrain from reselling the house or apartment for five years.

The stamp duty for real estate worth less than 2,6 million EUR is 4%. If the price exceeds this sum, the amount of the stamp duty will be twice as low. VAT of 5% is valid only for primary properties and is typically included in their price. The administrative fee starts from 280 EUR.

Those who want to obtain a residence permit for a real estate purchase should be ready to spend around 5% of the deal's amount on the services of various specialists involved. These can include the lawyer, realtor, and notary.

Donate at least One Million EUR to a Higher Education Establishment

The funds will be spent on supporting scientific research, arts, culture, and other meaningful activities. It's crucial that the higher school belongs to the public but not private category. This type of donation is nonrefundable.

Paperwork

The applicant should prepare the following documents:

1. Passport
2. Two passport-style photos
3. Marriage certificate
4. Birth certificates for kids
5. CV for each family member who applies together with them and is older than 18
6. Medical insurance
7. Proof of income
8. Proof of always having been law-obedient
9. Confirmation of intent
10. Confirmation of investment
11. Proof of having somewhere to live in Hungary
12. Filled-in application

The exact set of papers can vary depending on your individual circumstances. So far, it's not necessary to complete a Hungarian language test or prove your educational level. The authorities might slightly fine-tune the requirements after they analyze the program's efficiency — but maybe, they will leave everything as it is.

Step-by-Step Guide

The application process is fast and straightforward:

1. Collect the above-listed papers.
2. Get a Hungarian guest investor visa. It enables foreigners to enter the country an unlimited number of times during a period of up to half a year to confirm their intentions.
3. Complete the investment. It's crucial to do it within three months of entering the country for the first time after having initiated the process.
4. Apply for the Golden Visa online from any part of the world or offline in Hungary.
5. Obtain residence permit. The investor should bring their documents to the migration office as well as take an official photo and pass biometrics. The permit will be issued in three weeks, on average.

In total, it takes around five months to complete these steps.

Visa Extension and Path to Citizenship

The Golden Visa remains valid for 10 years, which is unprecedentedly long by European standards. Then, its owner can extend it for the same period. If the foreign investor and their family don't want to become permanent residents or citizens in Hungary, they won't have to live continuously in this country. They will be allowed to spend as much time abroad as they fancy.

If the foreign investor lives in Hungary for 3 years, they can qualify for permanent residency. In this case, it's vital that they spend at least 183 days annually in the country. The residency will remain valid forever but the card that confirms it will be subject to renewal every 5 years.

In 8 years after becoming a resident, the foreigner can apply for Hungarian citizenship for investment. It's essential that during these years they spend no more than 45 days annually outside the country. To get a national passport, they will need to pass an exam to prove language proficiency and the basic knowledge of their new homeland's history.