The Hungarian government has relaunched the golden visa program in 2024. The Hungary guest investor visa scheme (aka golden visa or in hungarian “magyar arany vízum”) is currently open for foreign investors, who make property investment in Hungary. Foreign investors can receive a ten year residence permit based on national economic interest for their investments.
What is Hungary Guest Investor Program?
Under the Guest investor visa program, third-country nationals are eligible to be granted a residence permit (golden visa) for guest investor, whose entry and stay in Hungary is in national economic interest due to his/her investments realised in Hungary. EU/EEA nationals cannot apply.
Is the program open and currently receiving applications?
The GIV program currently accepting applications starting ONLY from July 1, 2024. More rules will implemented specifying clearly the investment criteria and appointment of agencies.
What are the benefits of the program?
Foreign investors who make a qualifying investment can enjoy the following benefits.
– Immigrate to Europe to a safe, peaceful country with high living standards.
– Residence card issued for 10 years.
– Live, Study, and Work in Europe.
– Free movement in the Schengen area.
– No minimum residence conditions.
– Refundable real estate investment with annual returns.
– Minimum 5 year investment period (fully refundable with returns possible)
– Hungarian citizenship (EU) after 8 years of living.
What is the legal background?
The President of Hungary has signed the T/6097 decree on Guest investor visa (“vendégbefektető vizum”) and has been published in official gazette on 21.12.2023 adopting Immigration law from Jan 1, 2024 on the entry and exit of third country nationals, thus officially opening the Hungarian golden visa program for property investment in Hungary.
What are the eligible investments?
There are there investment options..
1. Investment Fund – acquisition of an investment fund share of at least EUR 250,000 issued by a real estate fund registered by the Hungarian National Bank. The investment fund share issued by a real estate fund for at least 5 years whose net asset value comprises minimum 40% of investments in residential real estate in Hungary and its real estate fund manager has at least a simplified site security certificate or is listed in the register under Act XXX of 2016 on Defence and Security Procurement.
2. Real Estate – Ownership interest over a property, concerning a residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, located in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Registry of Hungary under its parcel identification/topographical LOT number, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances. upon acquiring ownership of the residential property, a prohibition on alienation and encumbrance must be registered in the Land Register for a period of 5 years from the date of conclusion of the purchase contract, and the property may be owned exclusively by you or you and one or more family members who are also applying for a residence permit for guest investor for a period of 5 years. Please also be informed that the competent authority will appoint a forensic real estate expert to determine whether there is a noticeable discrepancy between the actual market value of the property and the purchase price indicated in the application. The applicant must advance the costs of the assessment.
3. Public Donation – financial donation in an amount of at least 1,000 000 EUR and for a purpose of educational, scientific research or artistic creation activities, to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission.
What are the conditions for investment?
You must within 3 months after entering Hungary that you have completed the committed investment. Certification of the realised investment will be examined by NDGAP authority.
Where can I apply?
To apply for Golden visa, you must personally come to Hungary. If you already hold a Schengen visa or visa free entry, application can be filed at National Directorate of Aliens Policing (Immigration authority) at Budafoki ut 60, 1117 Budapest.
You have to appear personal before the competent regional directorate of National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) as per your place of accommodation for biometrics and collection of residence document. The facial photograph and fingerprint of the applicant is taken and signature specimen of the applicant is recorded within 15 days from the date of receipt.
The Golden visa application must be submitted within 93 days from the date of entry with a guest investor visa or in the case of a visa-exemption, from the date of the first legal entry into the territory of Hungary.
Do I need to live in Hungary?
No. There are no minimum residence conditions specified.
What is the processing time?
The procedural administration: 21 days, but please expect total time 3-4 months until receiving residence card.
Can I appoint a proxy or authorised person?
Yes you can appoint a lawyer or legal person to represent your case with the immigration authority.
Can stateless people apply?
Yes, they can, under the relevant laws.
What are the conditions of extension of Guest investor permit?
The extension residence permit is only possible if you are a holder of a valid residence permit for guest investor at the time of application submission. please note that an application for the extension of a residence permit is to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the date of expiry of the issued residence permit.
Conditions must be met
- if the investment on the basis of which the residence permit was issued was an investment fund share, the applicant is required to have the investment at the time of application submission,
- if the investment on the basis of which the residence permit was issued was ownership interest over a real estate property, then the applicant continues to have ownership interest over the property based on which the residence permit was issued with a value of at least EUR 500 000, or if the applicant no longer has ownership interest over the property based on which the residence permit was issued, or the value of the ownership interest over the property is less than EUR 500 000, the applicant has a new real estate investment meeting the same conditions at the time of application submission,
- if the investment on the basis of which the residence permit was issued was provision of a financial donation, the extension of the residence permit may be granted without further investments realised.
Is accomodation in Hungary required?
Yes, proof of accommodation is required. You need to rent a place or buy a property to apply for this golden visa program.
What documents are required?
- Valid passport
- a certificate from a credit institution under the applicant’s name (e.g. a bank account statement, an account statement on savings or stocks and bonds, bank balance statement),
- a document on regular income issued by the employer or the tax authority.
- a residential lease contract or a document in proof of ownership of the residential property,
- Health insurance
- Other documents (as required)
What is the validity period of residence permit?
Validity period of the document is granted in 10 years, and it may be extended for another 10 years (only once) for the same purpose. Remember residence permit is issued for maximum 20 years under this scheme, cannot be renewed after this.
For how long I can visit other Schengen countries?
Maximum 90 days in 180 day period for visits, business, study, tourism only. For stays more than 180 days (eg. Study) you must apply for a separate residence permit in that country.
Who are eligible family members?
A family member of a person in possession of a investor residence card can include
- the spouse of the third-country national (including registered partner under Act XXIX of 2009),
- the minor child (including adopted and foster children) of a third-country national and his/her spouse,
- the dependent minor child (including adopted and foster children) of a third-country national where this third country national has parental custody,
- the dependent minor child (including adopted and foster children) of the spouse of a third-country national where the spouse has parental custody,
- a person having and exercising parental custody of a minor Hungarian child and living in the same household with the minor
qualify as family member. A residence permit for the purpose of family reunification shall be issued to the third-country national child born in Hungary of a third-country national residing in Hungary with a residence permit.
Can I work under investor guest permit?
Yes you can work in Hungary (To work in other EU countries, you must apply a separate work permit).
- Investor – The residence permit for guest main investor entitles its holder to pursue activities independently, for remuneration or act as a chief executive of a business organisation, cooperative or other legal entity established for the purpose of gainful activity.
- Family member – The residence permit for guest investor family members under family reunification entitles its holder to perform actual work for or under the direction of others, for remuneration, under contract for employment relationship.
What checks are done on investors?
In order to protect Hungary’s public order, public safety, and national security, the immigration enforcement authority requests the opinion of Hungary’s law enforcement and national security agencies on the application for a guest investor visa.
What if my application is refused?
The decision may be appealed within 8 days of delivery, submitted to the authority of first instance, or at the Hungarian diplomatic or consular foreign mission where the application was submitted.
How can i get Hungarian citizenship by investment?
The Guest investor visa scheme provides a pathway for foreigners, to become hungarian citizens through naturalization. The general conditions for a foreign national to acquire citizenship are the following: continuous residence in Hungary over a period of eight years prior to the submission of the application; clean criminal record of the applicant; the applicant has sufficient means of subsistence and a place of abode in Hungary; the naturalization is not considered to be a threat to the public order or to the national security; passing the citizenship test in Hungarian language.
