Hungary Golden Visa: a 10-year residence permit under the Guest Investor Programme

The old government-bond residence programme, known on the market as ‘Hungary residence for EUR 150,000’, closed in 2017. The current Guest Investor Programme under Act XC of 2023 has run since 1 July 2024: real estate fund units from EUR 250,000 or a university donation from EUR 1,000,000, with a residence permit for 10 years at once. Any offer quoting EUR 150,000 refers to the closed scheme. The new government has promised to close the current programme as well, but as of October 2026 the law has not changed and applications are being accepted.

No. A residential property option was announced, but the authority’s current documents list only two routes: fund units and a university donation. We do not arrange the permit through a property purchase and do not advise counting on that option.

The fund must be registered by the Hungarian National Bank, its manager must be on the register of qualified market operators and manage assets of at least EUR 100 million, and at least 40% of the fund’s net assets must be invested in Hungarian residential property. The authority publishes the list of managers that meet Act XC of 2023 but does not advise on fund conditions. We compare the lock-in period, fees, the redemption procedure after 5 years and reporting.

Three. The residence permit application — by the 30th day after first entry on the guest investor visa. The investment must be completed within 3 months of visa issue and certified via Enter Hungary within 3 months of entry (nationals of visa-free countries: within 6 months of first entry). Changes to the investment data — reported within 5 days. Missing a deadline leads to revocation of the visa or refusal.

Under the authority’s rules the permit decision takes 21 days after proof of investment, excluding document requests. Add the preparation of the file, the visa examination at the consulate (timing depends on the consulate) and the purchase of the units. A realistic path from the first meeting to the card is several months; the exact timing depends on the consulate and the bank, and we will not promise ‘within a month’.

For the permit — no: there is no minimum stay, and at extension the 90-days-in-180 rule is not checked. But the national residence card requires 3 years of lawful uninterrupted residence, and citizenship 8 years of residence with a registered address. If the goal is permanent residence or a passport, you will have to live in the country.

Yes, without restriction: the guest investor permit allows employment, self-employment and running a company. The same applies to the family reunification permits of your relatives. No change of permit purpose is needed when taking a job; the employer only notifies the authority.

The permit itself does not make you a tax resident. Residence arises under the personal income tax law: a permanent home, 183 days in a year or the centre of vital interests in Hungary. Tax residents pay personal income tax at a flat 15% on worldwide income. Income from the fund and the exit are planned in advance with your country of tax residence in mind — for Indian residents, residential status under the Income-tax Act and the India–Hungary tax treaty.

There is no nationality ban in Act XC of 2023 or on the authority’s website: the programme is open to nationals of non-EEA countries, including India and the UAE. The consulate and the authority do check UN and EU restrictive measures and circumstances that objectively rule out the investment. The origin-of-funds check applies to everyone; for Indian residents the EUR 250,000 must be remitted under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, which we plan before filing.

The units are blocked in a sub-account for 5 years on your own instruction, and the account keeper is released from banking secrecy towards the authority. A change in the investment data must be reported within 5 days, and for the extension the units must be held at the time of filing. An early exit is a risk to the status, so we choose the fund by its exit terms in advance.

The guest investor visa — at the Hungarian consulate in your country of nationality or permanent residence (New Delhi or Mumbai for India, Abu Dhabi for UAE residents). The residence permit — only in Hungary: online via Enter Hungary or in person at the regional directorate for your place of residence; in Budapest and Pest County by prior appointment. Biometrics are given in person in any case.

Hungary is in the Schengen Area: with the permit you stay in other countries of the zone for up to 90 days in any 180. After 3 years of lawful uninterrupted residence you may apply for the national residence card, after 8 years of residence with a permanent residence document and a registered address for citizenship, with an exam in constitutional basics in Hungarian. These are discretionary decisions with no ‘default’ timelines. For Indian nationals citizenship means giving up the Indian passport.

Parents — yes: the parents of the investor or of the spouse, where dependency is proved, receive a family reunification permit for the same term of up to 10 years. Adult children are not on the list of family members under Act XC of 2023; for them we choose a separate basis — study in Hungary, work or their own investment. The family may file together with you or later.

It does not: EUR 250,000 into a fund or EUR 1,000,000 to a university is one investment for the whole family. Only the fees grow (EUR 110 at the consulate or HUF 26,000 / 39,000 in Hungary per person) and the accommodation and means requirements for everyone. The units are issued in the investor’s name; family members need no investment of their own.

Yes. If the application is refused through the fault of our team or an error in building the case, we refund the company's service fee less a minimal retention for costs actually incurred. Refund terms, the payment schedule and the rules on retaining service costs are fixed in the contract before work begins. Before we start, we check your documents and risk history free of charge and tell you about any risks in advance.