Certified Golden Visa Lawyers in Budapest
Certified Golden Visa Lawyers

Golden Visa Hungary

GUEST INVESTOR RESIDENCE PERMIT

Hungary offers a NEW Golden Visa Program from 1st July, 2024. Third-country investors and their close family members can obtain a Guest Investor Residence Permit (formerly known as Golden Visa Hungary) with an investment. The Guest Investor Residence Permit is granted for 10+10 years for investment of at least EUR 250,000.

Business Services in Hungary, Chain Bridge Budapest

Investment process

Firstly: choose an investment method and provide us by email the scanned copy of the photo page of the international travel passport for registration and preliminary due diligence check. The procedure has 2 stages (I. visa stage; II. residence permit stage) and will be completed within 2-3 months.

Visa Stage

  • we prepare and send to you the power of attorney for the law firm, which is necessary for conducting the procedures;
  • we provide a list of required documents, based on which the documents must be complied;
  • the law firm schedules an appointment at the consulate of the client’s place of residence;
  • submission of the guest investor visa application to the Hungarian Consulate by the main applicant;
  • receiving a visa valid for 6 months.
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RESIDENCY Stage

  • the investment must be made within 3 months of entering Hungary;
  • submission of the residency application to the Hungarian Immigration Office by the main applicant (no later than 93 days after the first entry to Hungary with the visa);
  • submission reunification application to the Hungarian Consulate by the family members;
  • within 15 days of submitting the application, the applicant must appear in person at the Office to provide fingerprints, a photograph, a sample signature, and pay the processing fee;
  • get the decision on Guest Investor Residence Permit issuance after a 21-day review period;
  • receiving the residency cards produced within 15 days.

List of required documents

  • International travel passport, valid for at least 12 months at the time of the residency application
  • ID photo;
  • marriage certificate (if applicable);
  • birth certificates of the children of all applicants (if applicable);
  • a statement of the purpose of entry and stay;
  • proof of sufficient personal funds equal to or greater than the investment amount, as per the chosen investment method. This should be provided as a bank statement;
  • documents proving the legal origin of the funds available;
  • documents proving that the applicant has a place of accommodation in Hungary;
  • a document proving that the applicant is insured for the full range of health care benefits or that he/she is able to cover the cost of his/her health care;
  • Power of Attorney for our law firm to represent the applicant at the Hungarian Authorities.

If the submitted document is not originally in English, we need the original document or a certified copy with an apostille. The Immigration Office only accepts documents originally issued in a language other than English if they are accompanied by an official Hungarian translation certified by Hungarian Office for Translation and Attestation.

Throughout the entire procedure (i.e. preparation of the application for a visa and residence permit, submission of the application and the required annexes, dealing with the administrative aspects of the application and any follow-up work related to the procedure), the members of the Law Firm and our organization are at the client's disposal and service, representing the clients in all matters, preparing the necessary documents and submitting them to the authorities.

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The Guest Investor Visa entitles the holder to stay for more than ninety (90) days within a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days and to make multiple entries, and to apply for a Guest Investor Residence Permit.

Who can apply for a Guest Investor Visa?

A third-country national may be granted a Guest Investor Visa:
  • whose entry and residence in Hungary is of national economic interest in view of their investments in Hungary,
  • who holds a valid travel document, has the necessary permit for return or onward travel, provides proof of the purpose of his/her entry and stay, has sufficient means of subsistence to cover his/her subsistence and subsistence costs and travel expenses throughout his/her stay, is insured for the full range of healthcare or can afford to pay for healthcare, is not subject to expulsion or a ban on entry or residence, or his/her entry or residence does not endanger public policy, public security, national security or the public health interests of Hungary, is not subject to an SIS (Schengen Information System) alert,
  • who declares that he/she has or intends to have at least one of the following investments:
    • the acquisition of investment units of at least EUR 250 000 issued by a real estate fund registered by the Hungarian National Bank,
    • the acquisition of ownership of a residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, situated in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Register under its parcel number, free of legal title, encumbrances and claims, or
    • making a financial donation of at least EUR 1 000 000 to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission, for the purpose of supporting educational, scientific research or artistic creation.
  • who certifies that he/she holds an amount of money corresponding to at least one of the investments referred to in the preceding point, of lawful origin, which must be available or transferable within the territory of Hungary,
  • who submits a written commitment to make at least one investment of the amount and type specified in the previous point within three months of entering the territory of Hungary on the basis of a guest investor visa.
Important to know:
  • Regarding the new legislation property purchased after 1st January 2025 will be considered for a Guest Investor Residence Permit only.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The legal origin of the funds available shall be proven by credible means, in particular by a public or private document or a private document having full probative value certifying the origin of the property, rights in rem or pecuniary interest; or proof of taxable income from a regular employment relationship or business activity.

How long is the administration deadline?

The administrative deadline is: up to 15 days

Important to know: After receiving the visa, within 93 days of the first entry into Hungary, the visa holder must submit an application for a guest investor residence permit. By this time, the visa holder must also confirm the completion of the undertaken investment.


How long is the Guest Investor Visa valid for?

The maximum validity period of a Guest Investor Visa is six (6) moths.

Please note that the Guest Investor Visa is invalid once the Guest Investor Residence Permit has been issued.


How much is the procedural fee?

The procedural fee for issuing a Guest Investor Visa is: EUR 110

The Guest Investor Residence Permit entitles the holder to stay in Hungary and to pursue activities as an independent person for remuneration or as a managing director of a company, cooperative or other legal person established for gainful purposes, in accordance with the law.

The Guest Investor Residence Permit and the related residence permit for the purpose of family reunification entitle the holder to work for remuneration, for or under the direction of another person, on the basis of an employment relationship, and the third-country national is entitled to work in Hungary without restriction.

Who can apply for a Guest Investor Residence Permit?

A third-country national may be granted a Guest Investor Residence Permit:
  • whose entry and residence in Hungary is of national economic interest in view of their investments in Hungary,
  • who holds a valid travel document, has the necessary permit for return or onward travel, provides proof of the purpose of his/her entry and stay, has sufficient means of subsistence to cover his/her subsistence and subsistence costs and travel expenses throughout his/her stay, is insured for the full range of healthcare or can afford to pay for healthcare, is not subject to expulsion or a ban on entry or residence, or his/her entry or residence does not endanger public policy, public security, national security or the public health interests of Hungary, is not subject to an SIS (Schengen Information System) alert,
  • who holds a valid visiting investor visa.
  • A Guest Investor Residence Permit may also be issued to a third-country national who fulfils the conditions set out in the above points and who is legally residing in Hungary as a national of a third country listed in Annex II to 2018/1806/EU Regulation and who proves that he/she has or intends to have at least one of the following investments:
    • the acquisition of investment units of at least EUR 250 000 issued by a real estate fund registered by the Hungarian National Bank, or
    • the acquisition of ownership of a residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, situated in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Register under its parcel number, free of legal title, encumbrances and claims, or
    • making a financial donation of at least EUR 1 000 000 to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission, for the purpose of supporting educational, scientific research or artistic creation, or
    • who proves that he/she has a sum of money corresponding to at least one of the investments, of legal origin, which must be available or transferable within the territory of Hungary and submits a written commitment to make at least one investment within three months of entering Hungary.
Important to know:
  • After receiving the Guest Investor Visa, within 93 days of the first entry into Hungary, the visa holder must submit an application for a Guest Investor Residence Permit. By this time, the visa holder must also confirm the completion of the undertaken investment.
  • The family member of a third-country national who holds a Guest Investor Residence Permit can enter and reside in Hungary.

How long is the administration deadline?

The administrative deadline is: 21 days

Please note that, in addition to the mandatory attachments, the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) may request additional documents to clarify the facts of the case or to carry out other procedural steps. The period for remedying deficiencies and for the implementation of various other procedural conducts is not comprised in the time period of the procedural administration.

How long is the Guest Investor Residence Permit valid for?

The maximum validity period of a Guest Investor Residence Permit is ten (10) years, and it may be extended for another 10 years for the same purpose.

Important to know: The period of validity of the family reunification residence permit for close family members will be aligned with the period of validity of the visiting investor’s residence permit.

How much is the procedural fee?

Fee for the procedure for issuing residence permit – personal submission: HUF 39 000 ~ EUR 100

Fee for the procedure for issuing residence permit: HUF 24 000 ~ EUR 62

How does the applicant receive the residence permit document?

The residence permit document is delivered by way of post to the address indicated as place of delivery in the application form.