The Hungarian Guest Investor Programme (HRGV): Complete 2026 Guide
Table of Contents
The Hungarian Guest Investor Programme (HRGV): Complete 2026 Guide
The Hungary Golden Visa, known officially as the Guest Investor Residence Permit (HRGV), is a ten-year European Union residence permit obtained by investing from EUR 250,000 in Hungary, among the lowest entry points of any EU golden visa, level with Greece’s special-category tier and Portugal’s cultural route. It suits non-EU families and individuals who want a long, low-maintenance foothold in the European Union and the Schengen Area, with no obligation to relocate and a straightforward, fund-based investment structure. As specialists based in Budapest, this is our home market, and this guide sets out exactly how the programme works today after its 2024 relaunch and the important rule changes that followed.
On this page
- What is the Hungarian Guest Investor Programme (HRGV)?
- Who can apply (eligibility and nationality)
- Investment routes and minimum amounts
- What the permit gives you
- The path to permanent residence and citizenship
- Including your family
- Tax in Hungary for permit holders
- Cost and requirements at a glance
- The application process and timeline
- How Hungary compares to the other European programmes
- Is it right for you? Honest pros and cons
- Frequently asked questions
This guide is general information about the Hungarian Guest Investor Programme and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme rules, thresholds and eligibility can change and can depend on individual circumstances. Obtain independent professional advice before making any application or investment decision.
What is the Hungarian Guest Investor Programme (HRGV)?
The Hungary Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment programme that grants a ten-year, renewable Hungarian residence permit to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment. It gives holders the right to live in Hungary, run a business there and travel freely across the Schengen Area, all without a minimum-stay obligation. For internationally mobile families, it functions as a long, stable European base that can be held for a decade and renewed.
The official name and the “golden visa” nickname
“Hungary Golden Visa” is the popular name. The official designation is the Guest Investor Residence Permit, or in Hungarian, Vendegbefekteto tartozkodasi engedely. In professional and legal contexts the abbreviation HRGV is common. All three terms describe the same programme. We use them interchangeably in this guide, but on official documents you will see the Guest Investor Residence Permit.
Relaunched in 2024: what the programme is today
Hungary’s current investor-residence framework launched on 1 July 2024 under Government Decree 170/2024 (V.31.), replacing the older residency-bond scheme that had operated in previous years. The 2024 relaunch is important context: much of the older information circulating online describes routes and thresholds that no longer apply. In particular, the direct property-purchase route that existed at launch was removed at the start of 2025, a change we cover in detail below. This guide reflects the programme as it stands in 2026.
Who runs it
The programme is administered by the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, known by its Hungarian abbreviation OIF (oif.gov.hu). The OIF issues the Guest Investor Visa that begins the process and, subsequently, the Guest Investor Residence Permit itself. As with any investment-migration route, applications are prepared and filed with professional support to ensure the file is complete and compliant.
Who can apply (eligibility and nationality)
Open to non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals
The Hungary Golden Visa is open to nationals of countries outside the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland who are of legal age, hold a clean criminal record and can demonstrate the lawful source of their investment funds. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens already enjoy free movement and residence rights and do not need the programme.
Nationality note
Two points on nationality require care. First, Russian and Belarusian nationals are directly affected by international sanctions, and their eligibility is treated with particular care. Published guidance is not consistent: some sources report they may only apply on a second citizenship, others that applications face enhanced source-of-funds scrutiny, and others that they are effectively excluded. Because the position is unsettled and no single official rule is published, any Russian or Belarusian applicant should obtain a specific legal determination before proceeding. Second, some sources raise questions about the eligibility of certain other nationalities. Because this area is sensitive and sources are not consistent, we state only what is confirmed and recommend that any applicant with a potentially restricted nationality obtain a specific legal check on their situation before committing. This is exactly the kind of detail we verify at the outset of an engagement rather than assume.
Investment routes and minimum amounts
There are two active qualifying routes in 2026. The direct purchase of residential property, which was available when the programme relaunched, is no longer a qualifying route.
| Route | Minimum amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Approved real estate fund | EUR 250,000 | Fund must be government-approved and hold at least 40% of assets in Hungarian residential property |
| Public-interest trust donation | EUR 1,000,000 | Non-refundable donation to a public-interest trust supporting higher education |
| Direct property purchase | Not available | Removed on 1 January 2025 |
Approved real estate fund, EUR 250,000
The fund route is the one most applicants use. The investor subscribes at least EUR 250,000 into a real estate fund that has been approved by the Hungarian authorities and that holds a minimum of 40% of its assets in Hungarian residential property. Because it is a EUR 250,000 threshold, this is among the lowest entry points of any EU golden visa, level with Greece’s special-category tier and Portugal’s cultural route.
The investment is a fund subscription rather than a direct purchase, which means selecting the right approved fund is the central decision of the whole application. Only funds that appear on the government-approved list qualify, and they differ from one another in ways that matter to an investor: the minimum holding period before the subscription can be redeemed, the fee structure, the underlying property strategy and the track record of the fund manager. The subscription is generally required to be held for a defined period, so the fund’s term and liquidity profile should be understood before committing, not after. Choosing a fund on entry cost alone, without weighing its structure and exit terms, is the most common avoidable mistake on this route. We cover fund selection in depth in our guide to the Hungary real estate fund route and the wider best investment options.
Public-interest trust donation, EUR 1,000,000
The second route is a non-refundable donation of EUR 1,000,000 to a public-interest trust that supports higher education. It is a straightforward but far larger commitment, and because it is a donation rather than an investment, there is no asset to return. In practice most families choose the fund route on cost grounds.
Why the direct property-purchase route was removed
When the programme relaunched in 2024 it included a direct residential-property purchase route, reported at around EUR 500,000. That route was removed on 1 January 2025. Since then, the two routes above have been the only qualifying options. This is one of the most common points of confusion for applicants relying on older articles, and it is a good example of why current, correctly dated information matters in this field. For the latest changes, see our Hungary golden visa news and 2026 updates.
What the permit gives you
A ten-year permit, renewable
The Guest Investor Residence Permit is issued for ten years and is renewable for a further ten. This is one of the longest initial permit durations in Europe. Where Portugal’s permit runs in two-year cycles and Greece’s in five-year cycles, Hungary grants a full decade from the outset, which means far fewer renewal touchpoints over the life of the status.
Schengen access, no minimum stay, the right to live and do business
Hungary is a full member of the Schengen Area, so the permit carries visa-free travel across the Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The permit gives holders the unrestricted right to live in Hungary and to work or run a business there without a separate work permit.
Critically, there is no minimum-stay requirement to hold or renew the permit. A family can hold the status for the full ten years without relocating, which is what makes the programme a low-maintenance European foothold rather than a relocation commitment. Holders also gain practical access to the everyday infrastructure of an EU member state, including the ability to open Hungarian bank accounts, enrol children in Hungarian schools and universities and use the country’s healthcare system on the applicable terms. For families using the permit as a base rather than a full relocation, the combination of a decade-long status, Schengen mobility and no residence obligation is the core of its appeal.
The path to permanent residence and citizenship
Permanent residence after three years
Holders of the Guest Investor Residence Permit may become eligible for permanent residence after three years. This is a comparatively short runway to permanent status against many European peers.
Citizenship after eight years, by naturalisation only
Hungarian citizenship is reachable after eight years of lawful residence through standard naturalisation. There is no citizenship-by-investment route: the investment secures residence, and citizenship, if pursued, comes only through the ordinary naturalisation process, which carries its own residence, language and integration requirements. It is important not to conflate the two. Anyone presenting the Hungary Golden Visa as an investment shortcut to an EU passport is misdescribing it. For the full picture, see our guides to the path to Hungarian citizenship and how to get Hungarian citizenship.
Including your family
The Hungary Golden Visa is designed to bring the family in on a single investment. The Guest Investor Residence Permit extends to the applicant’s spouse and minor children. Older dependent children and dependent parents may be included through Hungary’s family reunification route, subject to its own conditions and additional fees. No additional qualifying investment amount is required to bring family members in, though procedural fees can apply for some relatives. This makes the HRGV a practical choice for a family that wants EU residence for two generations at a single, relatively low entry cost. For how family inclusion works across our programmes, see the family inclusion hub.
Tax in Hungary for permit holders
A 15% flat personal income tax, and no dedicated non-dom regime
Hungary levies a flat 15% personal income tax, one of the lowest headline rates in the European Union. What Hungary does not have is a dedicated non-domicile or lump-sum regime of the kind offered by Cyprus, Greece or Portugal. The tax advantage here is the low flat rate itself, not a special foreign-income shelter. For families whose main aim is a low, predictable rate on Hungarian-source income, this is attractive. For those whose main aim is to shelter large foreign passive income, other programmes may be more efficient, and this should be modelled with specialist advice.
When you become tax resident
Holding the permit does not by itself make you a Hungarian tax resident. Tax residence is generally triggered by spending 183 or more days in Hungary in a year. A permit holder who does not physically reside in Hungary is, as a general matter, taxed only on Hungarian-source income rather than on worldwide income. Because tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances and double-tax treaties, this should always be confirmed case by case. See our guide to Hungary’s flat tax and the wider golden visa tax hub.
Cost and requirements at a glance
The qualifying investment starts at EUR 250,000 on the fund route, or EUR 1,000,000 on the donation route. On top of the qualifying investment sit government and administrative fees, fund subscription costs and professional fees, which vary by route, family size and the specific approved fund selected. The programme figures above are the official investment thresholds. Professional advisory fees are separate and are quoted per engagement. For a complete, itemised breakdown, see our guide to Hungary golden visa cost and requirements.
The application process and timeline
Guest Investor Visa, entry, application within 30 days, then invest
The Hungary Golden Visa follows a specific sequence that catches out applicants who assume they invest first. The order is:
- Apply for and obtain the Guest Investor Visa, which is valid for up to six months.
- Enter Hungary on that visa.
- Submit the Guest Investor Residence Permit application within 30 days of your first entry into Hungary. The qualifying investment can be completed after submission, with proof of the investment provided by the end of the guest investor visa’s validity (up to six months from first entry).
- Apply for the Guest Investor Residence Permit in-country.
- Receive the permit.
This 30-day application window, combined with the requirement to prove the investment within the visa’s validity, is one of the details most frequently missed, and getting the sequence and timing right is central to a clean application.
A typical timeline of around five months
From the start of the process to the issued residence permit, applicants should budget around five months, subject to document readiness and the selected fund’s subscription process. For the process across all our programmes, see the application process hub.
How Hungary compares to the other European programmes
Hungary’s clearest advantage is price: at EUR 250,000 on the fund route, it is the lowest active entry point in the European Union, matched only by Portugal’s cultural route and Greece’s lowest-tier property zones. Add a full ten-year permit, no minimum stay, full Schengen access and family inclusion for two generations, and the programme is one of the most cost-efficient European footholds available.
Where it is less strong is the citizenship pathway and tax sheltering. Citizenship takes eight years and comes only through naturalisation, longer than Portugal or Bulgaria, and Hungary offers no dedicated non-dom regime for large foreign income. A family whose priority is a fast passport or aggressive tax optimisation on foreign wealth may find a better fit elsewhere. A family whose priority is a long, affordable, low-maintenance EU base will find Hungary hard to beat.
The snapshot below places Hungary against the other active European programmes on the dimensions that matter most to families weighing their options.
| Dimension | Hungary | Portugal | Malta | Greece |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | EUR 250,000 (fund) | EUR 250,000 (cultural) / EUR 500,000 (fund) | EUR 375,000 (property) or rent | EUR 250,000 to EUR 800,000 (tiered) |
| Permit | Temporary, 10 years | Temporary, 2 years | Permanent, lifetime | Temporary, 5 years |
| Permanent residence | After 3 years | After 5 years | Immediate | After 5 years |
| Citizenship | 8 years | 5 years (change pending) | 5 years, naturalisation | 7 years, with integration |
| Minimum stay | None | 7 days per year | None | None |
| Schengen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Every figure above is verified for 2026 and should be confirmed at the point of application, since programme terms change. Compare all six routes in full in our guide to the best golden visa in Europe for 2026.
Is it right for you? Honest pros and cons
The case for Hungary. Among the lowest EU entry costs at EUR 250,000, level with Greece’s special-category tier and Portugal’s cultural route. A ten-year renewable permit, among the longest in Europe. No minimum-stay obligation. Full Schengen travel. Two-generation family inclusion with no extra investment. A flat 15% tax rate. Permanent residence eligibility after just three years.
The honest caveats. The fund route means your capital sits in an approved real estate fund, so returns and liquidity depend on that fund’s performance and term, and capital is not guaranteed. There is no citizenship-by-investment shortcut, and the eight-year naturalisation route requires genuine qualifying residence. There is no dedicated non-dom tax regime. And, like all European investment-migration programmes, Hungary operates in an environment of ongoing EU scrutiny, so future rule changes are always possible, as the removal of the direct-purchase route in 2025 demonstrates.
Setting these out plainly is part of how we advise. For a deeper weighing of the trade-offs, see is the Hungary golden visa worth it and our overview of residency by investment in Hungary.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Hungary Golden Visa?
It is the Guest Investor Residence Permit (HRGV), a ten-year Hungarian residence permit obtained by investing from EUR 250,000 in an approved real estate fund, or by donating EUR 1,000,000 to a public-interest trust. It carries Schengen access and no minimum-stay requirement.
How much does the Hungary Golden Visa cost?
The qualifying investment starts at EUR 250,000 on the fund route, among the lowest entry points of any EU golden visa, level with Greece’s special-category tier and Portugal’s cultural route. The donation route is EUR 1,000,000. Government, administrative and professional fees apply on top. See our cost and requirements guide.
Does the Hungary Golden Visa lead to citizenship?
Not directly. There is no citizenship-by-investment route. You may become eligible for permanent residence after three years and apply for citizenship by naturalisation after eight years of lawful residence.
Do I have to live in Hungary?
No minimum stay is required to hold or renew the permit. Tax residence is a separate matter, generally triggered by spending 183 or more days a year in Hungary.
Can I still buy property directly for the Hungary Golden Visa?
No. The direct property-purchase route was removed on 1 January 2025. The two active routes are the approved real estate fund (from EUR 250,000) and the public-interest trust donation (EUR 1,000,000).
Who cannot apply?
The programme is open to non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals. The position for Russian and Belarusian nationals is unsettled: published guidance is not consistent (some sources report a second-citizenship requirement, others enhanced source-of-funds scrutiny, others effective exclusion), so any such applicant should obtain a specific legal determination before proceeding. Applicants with other potentially restricted nationalities should also obtain a specific legal check first.
The bottom line
The Hungary Golden Visa is the right choice for the family or individual who wants the most affordable, longest, lowest-maintenance foothold in the European Union, with Schengen travel, family inclusion and a flat, predictable tax rate, and who does not need a fast passport or a special foreign-income tax regime. As a Budapest-based team advising on this programme every day, we assess each family’s nationality, source of funds and fund selection before anything is committed. The sensible next step is a confidential consultation, and advisory fees are quoted per engagement.
Table of Contents
