Ten-year residency on a single grant
Hungary's permit is issued for ten years on first grant, with one procedural renewal at year ten. No annual cycles, no recurring administrative overhead through the first decade.
← 🇭🇺 Hungary
Hungary Golden Visa
A ten-year EU residency on a single grant. €250K subscription to an approved Hungarian real estate fund, Schengen mobility from day one, 9% corporate tax (the lowest in the EU), and English-language administration throughout.
- Investment from
- €250K
- Processing
- 3 to 6 months
- Naturalization
- 8 years
- Presence required
- None
The basics of the Golden Visa
What it is
Hungary's Guest Investor Program (informally the Hungary Golden Visa) is a residency-by-investment program granted in exchange for one of two qualifying capital commitments: a €250K subscription to an approved Hungarian real estate investment fund, or a €1M non-refundable donation to a Hungarian public-interest trust foundation supporting higher education. Permanent residency is issued for ten years on first grant; the only renewal is a procedural extension at year ten. Permanent residency status becomes available at year three, and the citizenship petition can be filed at year eight with Hungarian-language proficiency. The program runs in English-language administration end to end.
Who it’s for
- Investors with €250K+ deployable into an approved Hungarian fund
- Founders building an EU corporate vehicle around Hungary's 9% corporate tax rate
- Families wanting an EU residency on a single grant with minimal administrative overhead
- Clients who want Schengen mobility with no minimum-stay obligation
- Patient planners willing to accept Hungarian-language proficiency as the citizenship barrier
Why it’s beneficial
Hungary delivers the longest single-grant EU residency on the market (ten years). The €250K fund subscription is professionally managed, removing the property-selection overhead of comparable Golden Visa routes. The 9% Hungarian corporate tax rate (the lowest in the EU) pairs naturally with the residency for clients building EU corporate vehicles. The trade-off is the eight-year naturalization clock combined with the Hungarian-language requirement; most clients treat the residency as long-term EU optionality rather than a fast track to a Hungarian passport.
Key benefits
The outcomes the Golden Visa actually delivers, beyond the headline numbers. The six that matter most to our clients.
Lowest corporate tax in the EU (9%)
Hungary runs the EU's lowest corporate tax rate at a flat 9%. For families building EU corporate vehicles alongside the residency, this is a meaningful structural advantage over France, Germany, or Italy.
Three-to-six-month processing
Among the fastest EU Golden Visa programs. Clean files close inside six months from engagement to residency card in hand.
Schengen mobility from day one
Hungarian residency unlocks the Schengen Area immediately. Budapest sits at the geographic center of Europe with daily direct service to most European capitals.
Family on one application
Spouse or registered partner, dependent children, and dependent parents qualify on the principal application. Each family member receives the same ten-year residency status.
English-language administration
Application forms, government interfaces, and our partner-counsel coordination all run in English. Hungarian is required only at the citizenship-petition stage at year eight, not during the residency phase.
Investment options
2 routes into the same residency. Each fits a different financial picture.
Most popular
Approved Real Estate Investment Fund
€250,000
Subscription to a Hungarian real estate investment fund regulated by the Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Hungarian Central Bank). The fund is professionally managed; the applicant does not select individual properties. Recoverable at fund maturity, typically 5-10 years. We brief on approved-fund selection during engagement and only work with funds whose track records we've underwritten.
Public-Interest Trust Foundation Donation
€1,000,000
Non-refundable donation of €1 million to a Hungarian public-interest trust foundation supporting higher education. The donation supports designated Hungarian universities and academic research foundations. The route is materially more expensive than the fund subscription but is structured as a clean charitable contribution rather than an investment, with no fund-management overhead or holding-period requirements.
Choosing the right route is half the work. We model the comparison against your portfolio in the Consult.
How the process works
Contact us
Reach out and tell us about your situation. From there, you'll either book a 60-minute Freedom Consult (if you're weighing options across countries) or get started on this route directly (if you already know it's the right fit).
Engagement and document gathering
We coordinate the document pack: FBI background check (apostilled), birth and marriage certificates, US tax returns, source-of-funds documentation, health insurance, and the Hungarian-counsel power of attorney.
Fund subscription
Subscribe €250K to an approved Hungarian real estate investment fund. Our Hungarian counsel coordinates the documentation with the fund manager and the Magyar Nemzeti Bank.
Application submission
Submit the Guest Investor application with the Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing. Filing is done through your Hungarian legal representative under power of attorney.
Biometric appointment in Hungary
Each applicant attends a single biometric appointment in Hungary. The visit is typically two to four days. Children's biometrics are collected with the parent.
Residency card issuance
Hungarian permanent residency cards are issued within three to six months of submission. The cards are valid for ten years and renewable with a procedural extension at year ten.
Maintain compliance
Maintain the qualifying fund subscription. No minimum-day-per-year requirement to maintain residency. Permanent residency petition at year three; citizenship petition at year eight with Hungarian-language proficiency.
Processing
Temporary residency
Permanent residency
Citizenship
3-6 months
Years 1-3
Years 3-8
Year 8+
Golden Visa versus the alternatives
How this program stacks against the closest credible options for the same visitor. We don’t earn more if you choose one over another.
| Dimension | Hungary Golden Visa | Portugal Golden VisaLearn more | Greece Golden VisaLearn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial bar | €250K fund subscription | €250K capital outlay | €250K property or startup |
| Processing | 3-6 months | 12-24 months | 2-4 months |
| Presence required | None | 7-14 days / year | None |
| Permit duration | 10 years on first grant | 2 years then 3-year cycles | 5 years (renewable) |
| Time to citizenship | 8 years | 10 years | 7 years |
| Tax regime | 15% personal flat, 9% corp | Standard (NHR ended 2024) | €100K non-dom + 7% pensioner |
| Language at citizenship | Hungarian (B1 level) | Portuguese (B1) | Greek (B1) |
Hungary delivers the longest single-grant residency (ten years) and the lowest corporate tax in the EU. Portugal is the EU-mobility benchmark with the lightest day-count rule. Greece is the fastest to citizenship with the strongest new-resident tax regimes. We don't earn more if you pick one over another.
Want a four-page Hungary PDF covering everything on this page plus the comparison framework we use internally?
Why clients work with us
Three reasons families pick Freedom Files over the do-it-yourself path or a single-jurisdiction agent.
First-hand experience
We know the approved-fund landscape and the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing from active engagements. The Hungary Golden Visa looks straightforward until fund selection becomes the decision point.
Honest recommendations
About a third of Hungary inquiries end with our recommendation against engagement. We tell you when Portugal, Greece, or Cyprus fits cleaner.
Pro counsel from the start
Every engagement runs with US-licensed counsel from the first call. The US-Hungary treaty was suspended in 2024; the practical implications need to be planned before residency triggers.
How does the ten-year permit actually work?
How does the ten-year permit actually work?
The Guest Investor Program issues residency for ten years on first grant. There is one renewal at year ten, which is structured as a procedural extension rather than a discretionary review. Permanent residency can be petitioned at year three; naturalization at year eight subject to Hungarian-language proficiency.
How does the €250K fund investment work?
How does the €250K fund investment work?
The applicant subscribes €250K into an approved Hungarian real estate investment fund regulated by Hungarian authorities. The subscription is held for the duration of the residency. The fund is professionally managed; the applicant does not select individual properties. We brief clients on the approved fund list during engagement and only work with funds whose track records and structures we have underwritten.
How long until I can hold a Hungarian passport?
How long until I can hold a Hungarian passport?
Eight years of legal residency for most applicants, with permanent residency available at year three. The naturalization application requires demonstrated Hungarian-language proficiency, which is a meaningful hurdle: Hungarian is linguistically isolated and difficult for English speakers. Most clients treat the residency as long-term EU optionality rather than a fast track to a Hungarian passport.
Do I have to live in Hungary to maintain the residency?
Do I have to live in Hungary to maintain the residency?
There is no minimum-day-per-year requirement to maintain the Guest Investor residency. You visit Hungary once to receive the initial residency card, then your physical presence is at your discretion. Most clients use the residency as Schengen optionality rather than as their primary base.
What happens to my US taxes once I move?
What happens to my US taxes once I move?
The US taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residency. Hungary taxes residents on worldwide income at 15% personal income tax (one of the lowest flat rates in the EU). The US-Hungary tax treaty was suspended in 2024; the practical implications require US-licensed counsel coordination. We work through the structure on the Consult.
What is the total cost beyond the €250K investment?
What is the total cost beyond the €250K investment?
Plan on €3-5K in government and administrative fees (application, residency card, family-member fees), €10-15K in Hungarian legal fees through our partner counsel, €2-3K in translation and apostille costs, and the fund's management and entry fees (typically 1-3% of the subscription). Total non-investment cash outlay typically lands in the €18-30K range.
Will I have to give up my US citizenship?
Will I have to give up my US citizenship?
No. The United States and Hungary both permit dual citizenship. You can hold both passports indefinitely if you complete the naturalization process at year eight.
Ready to talk?
Two paths in. If the Golden Visa is clearly the right program for your family and you’re ready to engage, contact our team directly. If you’re weighing this against other programs and want an honest read on the right move, the Freedom Consult is the sixty-minute conversation that ends the loop.
We take a small number of new families each quarter.