The Hungary Guest Investor Program offers a new option to obtain a Guest Investor Residence Permit (formerly known as Golden Visa Hungary) for third-country nationals. It is the acquisition of residential property located in Hungary, with a minimum value of EUR 500,000. 

The real estate investment opportunity only starts on 1st January 2025. However, this year the property can be selected, and a pre-sale contract can be concluded. 

What requirements do the properties and investors have to meet?

First to qualify for the investment, the property must meet the following criteria: it must be strictly residential, therefore commercial or industrial properties are not eligible. In addition, the property should be uncontested, free of disputes, encumbrances, and claims. 

There are also certain conditions that the ownership must apply upon acquisition. A five-year prohibition on sale or encumbrance must be registered in the land register and the property must be solely owned by the applicant for five years, or jointly with family members (such as spouse or minor children), with the applicant holding at least EUR 500,000 worth of the property.

You should also consider the financial implications. A property transfer tax of 4% is levied based on the property's market value. 

The acquisition of a real estate in Hungary could be a compelling opportunity for third-country nationals. We can help you with finding, viewing and selecting the right property for the real estate investment, as we have a cooperation agreement with Hungary's largest and most reliable real estate brokerage network. So, if you are looking to buy a property to obtain a Guest Investor Residence Permit, after providing the main parameters of the property, we will select and send you the recommended properties - which are also compliant with the rules of the Immigration Act. In the case of the “legal part” of the real estate investment, we provide a comprehensive assistance and a full-range representation (property recommendation, conclusion and countersign of sale and purchase contract, registration of ownership). 

If you decide to invest in Hungary and buy real estate in order to obtain a Guest Investor Residence Permit, our lawyers will provide you with comprehensive assistance and representation. As real estate lawyers we help you in selecting, viewing and buying the property. For further details and emerging questions regarding this subject, please contact our office.