Hungary’s Golden Visa Program in 2025

Europe’s ‘golden visas’ were once among the most highly coveted assets for investors and entrepreneurs from outside of the European Union.

They provided quick access to European residency and the freedom to travel visa-free in the Schengen area. 

Typically, these golden visas required a substantial investment, but many wealthy individuals decided the lifestyle and ease of travel in Europe was worth the price. 

Fast-forward to the present day and these golden visas are getting thinner on the ground.

They’re more expensive, the terms have become less enticing, and international feeling against them has increased, resulting in quite a few programs disappearing entirely. 

That’s what tends to happen when demand for a residency program becomes overwhelming.  

However, one country is noticeably bucking the trend. Hungary has reintroduced its golden visa program, and it’s among the most affordable in Europe.

Hungary is a delightful Central European nation packed with history, culture and nature. The cost of living is low, and its taxes are among the most generous in the continent.

It’s also part of the European Union, meaning its residents are free to live, work and study in any other EU country.     

In this in-depth guide, we provide key Hungary Golden Visa information so you can decide if it’s suitable. 

If you decide it’s a viable option for you, reach out to Nomad Capitalist. We help high-net-worth individuals to ‘go where they’re treated best’, whether that’s by moving their business offshore, relocating to a tax-friendly residence, or even seeking a second citizenship.

Hungary Golden Visa’s New Lease of Life

Hungary scrapped its original golden visa program in 2017, but less than a decade later it was reintroduced with non-EU citizens able to apply from July 2024. 

Non-EU citizens can gain 10-year residency by investing at least €250,000 in a Hungarian real estate fund. Alternatively, they can make a €1 million donation to a local institution for higher education. 

The Hungarian Golden Visa can be renewed for a further 10 years, with a path to permanent residency after three years. Even better, there’s an option to apply for citizenship by naturalisation after eight years as a permanent resident. 

Requirements to Gain Hungarian Citizenship 

As noted above, to qualify for Hungarian citizenship, you must have spent eight years as a permanent resident there. 

You’ll also have to demonstrate significant ties to Hungary, such as a business, a spouse or bank accounts based in the country. 

On top of that, you’ll have to pass an exam about the country’s constitution, written in Hungarian. 

The Hungarian passport is reasonably strong, but it isn’t the easiest second citizenship to gain when considering the waiting time and the administrative hoops you’ll need to jump through. 

Still, if you’re simply interested in an EU residency, Hungary provides one of the easiest and most affordable routes. 

Pros and Cons: Hungarian Golden Visa Program

Pros: 

• Low cost of living
• Low taxes with just 15% income tax 
• Visa-free access to the Schengen area
• A low investment limit of €250,000
• Permanent residency is available after three years.

Cons:

• A lack of investment options
• You must remain invested for five years
• Annual maintenance fees apply
• The path to citizenship by naturalisation is long and arduous.

Hungary Golden Visa: Requirements and Eligibility 

Your first step to claiming a Hungarian Golden Visa is to apply for a Guest Investor Visa. This will give you entry into Hungary to complete your investment and be granted a 10-year residence permit. 

For the Guest Investor Visa, you must provide: 

• Personal details for you and any dependents
• Written confirmation of your intention to fulfil the investment
• Proof of health insurance 
• Proof of legitimately sourced funds to complete your investment. 

The Guest Investor Visa has an application fee of €110 and is valid for six months, but you must complete your investment within 90 days of entering Hungary. 

The proof of your completed investment must be submitted to the immigration authorities. 

At this point, you can apply for your ten-year residence permit for you and your dependents.

Fees for the Hungarian Guest Investor Program

The base application fee is €65,000, which covers a family of four, including a spouse and children under 18.

You’ll pay an extra €10,000 for additional dependents and €15,000 for children aged 18 and over. A subscription fee of €5,000 and an annual maintenance fee worth 2.5% of your investment also apply. 

Note that the application fee is in the addition to the investment options.

How to Get a Golden Visa in Hungary

Step 1. Apply for a Guest Investor Visa

You can apply for a Guest Investor Visa via the Enter Hungary online hub. 

As part of this application, you’ll confirm your intended investment and prove you have the funds available to invest. 

Your choice of investment options are: 

• €250,000 in a Hungarian real estate fund
• €1 million donation to a Hungarian higher education institution.

This investment program visa is valid for six months. It grants you multiple entries to Hungary and other Schengen countries, although you can only remain in any single country (including Hungary) for 90 days.  

Step 2. Enter Hungary and complete your investment

From the day you enter Hungary, you’ll be given 90 days to provide proof of your completed investment. This can be submitted via the Enter Hungary online portal.

In our experience, the guest investor residence permit process is reasonably quick and simple. You’ll need to retain your investment for five years for your residence permit to remain valid. 

Step 3. Apply for a 10-year residence permit

Once your investment is finalised, you can convert your Guest Investor Visa into a 10-year residence permit for you and your dependents. You’ll need to submit various documents and the relevant fees, as listed above.  

Step 4. Upgrade to a permanent residency if you wish

To be eligible for a permanent residency, you’ll need to spend at least 183 days per year in Hungary for three years. Once you’ve spent eight years in Hungary as a permanent resident, you can apply for Hungarian citizenship by naturalisation. 

Taxation in Hungary

You’ll qualify as a Hungarian tax resident if your only permanent home or your centre of vital interests (like a job or a business) is based there. Failing that, you’ll still qualify if you spend 183 days or more in Hungary per year.  

The personal income tax rate is 15% on most types of income. 

The corporate tax is 9% for most businesses. Hungary initially opposed the EU’s proposals to introduce a minimum 15% corporate tax rate for multinational businesses but eventually gave in. 

Nevertheless, there are a number of tax breaks available in Hungary to help lower corporate taxes.

Corporations make social security contributions at a rate of 13%, while employees contribute 18.5% of their salaries. 

Capital gains are taxed at 15% for individuals and 9% for corporations. The headline rate of VAT is 27%, although discounted rates of 18% and 5% are available on specific goods and services.

Alternatives to the Hungary Golden Visa Program

Starting a business in Hungary is another valid route to a temporary residency.

You can qualify for this by acquiring a Hungarian business, relocating an existing business to Hungary or starting a new one from scratch. 

Rental properties can also qualify as a Hungarian business for the purposes of this investment program visa. 

There is no minimum investment required, although the business must actively generate enough income in Hungary to support the applicant financially. 

If you secure temporary residency via this route, it’s renewable so long as the business remains viable.

If you want a quick and easy residency without launching a business, several other European countries offer similar Golden Visa programs. Let’s take a look at some recommended alternatives. 

Malta

You can qualify for the Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalisation (MEIN) program by buying or renting real estate on the island. Maltese citizenship is achievable within 12 months through this program, although this requires a larger investment. 

The Malta Permanent Residence Program (MPRP) is an alternative for non-EU nationals willing to invest in Maltese property.  

It’s notable in that, unlike many golden visa programs, it leads to full EU citizenship, including the right to live, work and travel across the EU.

Turkey

Turkey is the only European nation still offering a traditional citizenship-by-investment scheme. You can invest as little as US$400,000 in Turkish real estate – and hold on to it for three years – to qualify for Turkish citizenship, and you can expect to receive your passport within as little as nine months. 

What’s more, there are no limits on the type of real estate you can buy to qualify for this scheme, so it should be simple enough to find an investment with growth potential. 

Portugal

Portugal has closed its old non-habitual tax resident (NHR) scheme, which offered tax benefits for foreign residents, but its golden visa program is still open. The minimum investment to qualify is €200,000 in certain low-density areas.

Greece

Greece offers several investment routes to a golden visa, including via direct investment in real estate. This minimum investment starts at €250,000 for buildings that require restoration in certain designated areas, rising to €500,000 for properties in high-demand areas like Santorini or Mykonos.

Cyprus

You can earn a Cyprus golden visa by investing at least €300,000 in local real estate or qualifying Cypriot businesses. Note, that this Permanent Residency (PR) program doesn’t lead directly to citizenship.

Italy

Fancy living ‘la dolce vita’ in Italy? The cheapest options to qualify for an Italian Golden Visa are a €250,000 investment in a qualifying local start-up or a €500,000 investment in a company that operates in Italy.    

Golden Visa Program Hungary: FAQs

Ready to Invest in Hungary’s New Golden Visa?

The reintroduction of the Hungary Golden Visa is an exciting exception to the general trend of Europe’s disappearing residency- and citizenship-by-investment programs.

Most golden visa programs are getting more expensive or removing options for investors, but Hungary has brought an affordable option to the market.

Still, the turbulent winds of political change are gusting right now, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that you should act now if you’re interested in a Hungarian Golden Visa. 

Generous offers don’t tend to last forever, and Hungary has already removed the option to gain a golden visa by buying real estate, unless it’s via investing in government-approved real estate funds. Who knows what changes could be coming next?

If you are interest in the Hungarian golden visa option, reach out to Nomad Capitalist. We’ve helped 2,000+ high-net-worth individuals to create better lives overseas and we can help you too.