A free PDF guide — a card for 10 years from the start
A guide to the Guest Investor of Hungary:the terms, the cost and the timings
Residence in the European Union with the longest first term there is: the card is issued for 10 years at once, with the right to work and run a business. The €250,000 investment comes back after 5 years. We set out the order of things, the budget and the limits.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 11.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. Whether the programme is open to you and the final cost are settled after the check on the applicant.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the programme before the calculation
Four things that set Hungary apart from the other European programmes.
- A residence card for 10 years from the start
The longest first term among the European investment programmes. The status carries the right to work and to run a business, and there is no renewal every two or three years.
- The investment comes back
€250,000 into a licensed property fund, returned after 5 years on the fund’s terms. The threshold does not depend on the family.
- There is no residence requirement
The status carries no obligation to live in Hungary. You become a tax resident only by living there more than 183 days a year.
- The path to citizenship runs through naturalisation
The right opens after 8 years. Without actual residence and the language, the status stays a residence permit.
02 / The budget
The budget for your family
The investment threshold is one per application and does not depend on the family. The state fees are counted per participant and confirmed on the date of filing.
03 / A comparison
Hungary and Greece: where the difference lies
Two programmes at a similar threshold with different mechanics: the return of the investment, the term of the card and the right to work all differ fundamentally.
The values were checked against the official material on 11.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | HungaryGuest Investor — €250,000 | GreeceThe Golden Visa — from €250,000 by zone |
|---|---|---|
| The size of the investment | €250,000 | from €250,000 to €800,000 depending on the zone |
| What you acquire | units in a licensed property fund | a property, or units in funds |
| Getting the money back | after 5 years | selling the property means losing the status |
| The term of the residence card | 10 years from the start | issued for the term set by the programme |
| The right to work | yes, including running a business | limited by the rules of the programme |
| Presence in the country | not required | not required |
| Naturalisation | after 8 years | after 7 years of residence |
- The size of the investment
- €250,000
- from €250,000 to €800,000 depending on the zone
- What you acquire
- units in a licensed property fund
- a property, or units in funds
- Getting the money back
- after 5 years
- selling the property means losing the status
- The term of the residence card
- 10 years from the start
- issued for the term set by the programme
- The right to work
- yes, including running a business
- limited by the rules of the programme
- Presence in the country
- not required
- not required
- Naturalisation
- after 8 years
- after 7 years of residence
Neither programme requires residence, but for both the path to citizenship runs only through actual naturalisation.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the programme.
- BudapestThe cover of the guide: the country and the key terms of the programme.
- The essentials firstWhat to know before the calculation: the key facts of the programme.
- The terms of the optionsThe parameters of the programme in one table, on the official terms.
- The road mapThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The check on the applicantWhat is examined before the status is granted, and where people stumble.
- The limitsThe limits that bear on the timings and the sum.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
The order differs from other programmes: first the guest investor visa and the entry, and only then the investment.
- The preliminary check
The applicant’s nationality, the family, the source of funds. We settle whether it is open to you and count the budget before the first outlay.
- The guest investor visa
A visa is issued on which the applicant enters the country. The investment is made after the entry — a particularity of this programme.
- Choosing the fund and investing
The fund has to be licensed and to meet the requirements of the programme. Its strategy, its fees and its exit terms are examined.
- Filing the documents
The pack is assembled for the whole application, the state fees are paid and the documents are translated and certified.
- Biometrics and consideration
Biometrics are given and the application considered. The whole process takes 4-6 months.
- The residence card
A card for 10 years is issued, with the right to work and run a business in Hungary.
07 / The check
What is examined before you enter a fund and before you file
Both the applicant and the fund are examined: the return of the investment after five years turns on the choice of fund.
- The source of funds
A clear chain from the earnings to the account the money is sent to the fund from. It is examined by the bank and by the authority.
- Choosing the fund
The licence, the strategy, the fees and the exit terms. What turns on them is not the status but the return of the investment after five years.
- The family
A spouse, children and dependent parents come into one status. Financial dependence is evidenced with documents.
- No criminal record, and insurance
Certificates of no criminal record and medical insurance for everyone in the application.
The financial dependence of parents and of adult children is evidenced with documents.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on the timings, the budget and the return of the investment.
The investment is made after the entryThe order differs from other programmes
First the guest investor visa and the entry into the country, and only then the investment. That bears on planning the timings and the trips.
The return depends on the fundThis is not a guaranteed deposit
The units are returned after 5 years on the fund’s terms and on the results of its management. The strategy is examined before you go in.
Citizenship requires residenceNaturalisation after 8 years
The status by itself leads to no passport: citizenship requires actual residence and meeting the naturalisation requirements, the language included.
Tax residenceIt arises after 183 days in the year
The permit by itself does not make you a tax resident. But if you do move, the tax consequences are worked out in advance.
The fees are counted separatelyThe investment threshold is not the final sum
On top of the investment come the state fees for the application, the translations, the notarial fees and the legal work. The quotation is fixed before the start.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists in the European programmes and in dealing with funds.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 11 August 2026
- Last updated
- 11 August 2026
The official sources
- The National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing of HungaryOrszágos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság (OIF) · checked 11.08.2026The authority that issues the guest investor visa and the residence card; the procedure and the requirements.
- Nemzeti Jogszabálytár — the national statute book of HungaryThe Government of Hungary · checked 11.08.2026The texts of the acts and regulations, including those governing the guest investor status.
- The government portal of HungaryKormany.hu · checked 11.08.2026Official guidance on the programme and on changes to its terms.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the Guest Investor of Hungary
How much has to be invested?
€250,000 in units of a licensed property fund. The threshold is one per application and does not depend on the number of family members.
Does the money come back?
Yes, the investment is returned after 5 years on the fund’s terms. This is not a guaranteed deposit: the result depends on how the fund is managed.
How long is the card issued for?
For 10 years from the start — the longest first term among the European investment programmes. The card carries the right to work and run a business.
Do I have to live in Hungary?
No, there is no residence requirement. You become a tax resident only by living there more than 183 days a year.
Who is included in the application?
A spouse, children and dependent parents — one status for the whole family. New members can be added after the status has been granted.
When is the investment made?
After the entry on the guest investor visa. That sets the programme apart from most others: first the visa and the entry, then the investment.
How long does the process take?
4-6 months with a complete set of documents.
Does the status lead to citizenship?
Through naturalisation after 8 years, with actual residence and the requirements met, the language included.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a quotation for your family
We will send the PDF with the terms of the programme and a budget calculation for your family.
- The terms of the programme and the order with the guest visa
- The budget with the state fees
- What to look at when choosing a fund
- The term of the card, the right to work and the path to citizenship