Hungary's Golden Visa Has Re-Launched: Here's How To Get It

Good news – Hungary’s golden visa programme is officially back as a way to attract more foreign investment into the country.

Known as the Guest Investor Residence Permit, the golden visa was relaunched in 2024, allowing non-EU residents to live and work in the country.

Here, we talk you through everything you need to know, from what’s changed since the last version to how you can apply today.

Hungary’s Golden Visa Relaunches

Last year in July, Hungary announced the re-launch of its golden visa programme. The old Hungarian golden visa, which ended in 2017, allowed non-EU citizens to gain residency in exchange for a real-estate investment of €155,000.

Unsurprisingly, the new programme, known as the Guest Investor Programme, has a minimum investment that is almost double, at €250,000. It also initially allowed investors to purchase properties for €500,000 but this was scrapped in January of this year.

One other major difference between the two is that the former golden visa focused on real estate, whereas the latest one also offers residency in exchange for a donation to a higher education institution at a minimum value of €1 million.

Originally, the golden visa was scrapped in2017 due to concerns around security and lack of transparency. It was only in 2024 that the visa was re-instated, just with altered conditions.

Why Is Hungary An Appealing Place To Live?

Life in Hungary comes with a few benefits for investors, such as:

Free movement in the EU: The visa offers access to 26 Schengen countries for business and travel.

Affordable living: Hungary is one of the most affordable countries in the EU, making it a great place to live and work without having to keep up with a high cost of living.

Good public services: The country has good healthcare and education systems, as well as being home to good universities.

Low taxes: Hungary has a 9% flat corporate tax rate, one of the lowest in the EU.

What Is The New Hungarian Golden Visa?

Hungary’s new golden visa is called the Guest Investor Residence Permit. To help drive investment into the country, it focuses on private investments in real estate and the country’s education sector.

To be eligible, individuals need to invest in one of the following:

€250,000: Real Estate Investment Fund

Invest in an approved real estate fund that sits under the National Bank of Hungary.

At least 40% of the fund’s assets must go into Hungarian residential property.

Investment must be held for a minimum of 5 years.

€1 million: Donation

Donate to a Hungarian higher education institution run by a public trust.

In exchange for the investment, applicants are given a 10-year residence permit, renewable for another 10 years.

The permit allows you to live, work, and do business in Hungary, and also gives access to visa-free travel across the Schengen Zone.

Interestingly, and very different from other golden visas, Hungary allows you to get residency approval before making the investment. All due diligence is done first, meaning applicants are cleared first, reducing their risk.

Hungary’s Golden Visa: How To Apply

Applying to Hungary’s golden visa is relatively straightforward. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Choose Your Investment Type

Decide between the €250,000 real estate fund or the €1 million donation. You’ll have to declare which one you choose during the visa application, but the actual investment is made later.

Step 2: Apply For The Visa

You will need to submit all paperwork including:

A passport
Proof of finances
Clean criminal record
List of dependents
Choice of investment route

Step 3: Due Diligence

Next, the Hungarian authorities will perform a security and background check. If successful, you’ll be granted a D visa to enter Hungary. This visa will show that you are eligible for the investor visa, and you will need to finalise the investment to secure it.

Enter Hungary and Complete the Investment

Within 93 days of arrival into the country, you will need to make your investment and submit proof via the Enter Hungary platform.

Receive Residence Permit

Once approved, you’ll get a 10-year residence card for yourself and any family members included. This permit will be renewable in 10 years.