Hungary•EuropeGuest Investor Residence Permit - Golden Visa (Vendégbefektetői tartózkodási engedély)
At a Glance
3 weeks
Not confirmed
Check the official source10 years
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote work OK
Overview
10-year Hungarian residence permit for non-EU investors placing EUR 250,000 in an approved real estate fund or donating EUR 1,000,000 to a Hungarian university.
Hungary's Guest Investor Residence Permit, launched 1 July 2024 by the NDGAP, is the country's residence-by-investment route. Third-country nationals qualify via one of two routes: EUR 250,000 in a qualified Hungarian real estate fund, or EUR 1,000,000 donated to a public-trust higher education institution. The EUR 500,000 residential property route was withdrawn in January 2025.
Valid up to 10 years, extendable once for another 10. Fund shares must sit blocked in a securities sub-account for 5 years; donation-route holders face no further obligation at renewal. Applications are filed in Hungary via Enter Hungary or NDGAP regional offices, with on-site biometrics and 21-day processing. Holders have unrestricted work and director rights, plus family reunification.
This visa is ideal for non-EU investors wanting a long EU base with no minimum-stay rule, who can commit EUR 250,000 to a Hungarian real estate fund or EUR 1,000,000 to higher education.
Stay & Extensions
| Initial grant | 10 years |
Conversion Paths
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
HungaryNational Residence Card - Permanent Residence (Nemzeti letelepedési engedély)
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Be a third-country national (non-EEA/non-EU; not a family member of an EEA national).
Make one qualifying investment: EUR 250,000 in an investment fund share issued by a real estate fund on the Hungarian National Bank qualified-market list, OR a EUR 1,000,000 financial donation to a higher education institution maintained by a public-interest trust.
Hold the investment-fund share in a blocked securities sub-account for at least 5 years (fund-share route).
Hold a valid passport and have a place of accommodation in Hungary.
Credibly substantiate the legal origin of the invested funds.
Enter Hungary first on a guest investor visa (or visa-free, if qualifying) before applying for the residence permit in-country.
KEY CRITERIA
Investment
250,000 EUR
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Completed residence permit application form (paper or via Enter Hungary platform).
Valid passport.
One facial photograph.
Investment proof: certificate from the real estate fund manager / distributor for the EUR 250,000 fund share, OR certificate from the higher education institution for the EUR 1,000,000 donation.
For fund-share route: document from securities account manager proving the fund shares are blocked in a sub-account for at least 5 years.
Proof of accommodation in Hungary (lease, courtesy-accommodation document, property deed, or paid reservation).
Documentary proof of the legal origin of the invested funds.
Biometric data (fingerprints and facial photo) captured in person at NDGAP.
Advantages & Considerations
Key Benefits
- Validity up to 10 years, extendable once for another 10 years on the same purpose.
- Unrestricted right to work, run a business, or act as company chief executive.
- No physical-presence or minimum-stay requirement in Hungary.
- Spouse and minor children qualifying for linked family-reunification permits.
- Visa-free Schengen travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Statutory 21-day processing period at NDGAP.
- Donation route has no further investment requirement at renewal.
Worth Knowing
- Only two routes active: EUR 250,000 fund share or EUR 1,000,000 university donation.
- Fund-share investment must be blocked in a securities sub-account for 5 years.
- Application for the RP must be filed inside Hungary, not at a consulate.
- Family-reunification permits cannot be filed alongside the guest investor visa.
- Permit itself does not confer permanent residence or citizenship.
- EEA, Swiss, and EEA-family-member applicants are not qualifying (third-country nationals only).
- Legal origin of invested funds must be credibly substantiated.
- EUR 500,000 residential property route was withdrawn on 15 January 2025.
Application Process
Apply for the guest investor visa at a Hungarian consulate abroad (or rely on visa-free entry if qualifying).
Enter Hungary on the guest investor visa; realise the qualifying investment within the validity period of the visa (or 6 months from first entry if visa-free).
Submit the residence permit application in Hungary via the Enter Hungary platform or in person at the competent NDGAP regional directorate, within 30 days of first legal entry.
Attach proof of the realised investment (fund-share certificate or donation certificate) and supporting documents.
Attend in person to provide biometric data (fingerprints and facial photograph).
Pay the administrative service fee; await decision (21-day procedural period).
Receive the residence permit document by post; report any data changes within 5 days via Enter Hungary.
Application Forms
Go to application portal| Residence permit application form for guest investor | Fill online |
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