Overview — Hungary Guest Investor Visa
Hungary relaunched its residence-by-investment route in 2024 as the Guest Investor Programme, and its headline feature is duration: the permit is issued for ten years and can be extended once for another ten. Few European programmes offer that kind of stability from a single application.
The most accessible route is a €250,000 investment into units of a real-estate fund regulated by the Hungarian National Bank, where the fund holds a substantial share of its assets in Hungarian residential property. There is no obligation to relocate and no minimum-stay rule; the investment simply needs to be completed within 93 days of your first arrival on the guest-investor visa.
As an EU and Schengen member, Hungary gives permit holders visa-free travel across the Schengen Area, and the application can include a spouse, minor children and, in many cases, dependent parents. It is a strong fit for families who want a long, low-maintenance European base.
Who qualifies
- Non-EU nationals aged 18 or over with a clean criminal record
- Able to invest €250,000 in an approved real-estate fund (or make the €1M donation)
- Able to document a lawful source of the invested funds
- Willing to complete the investment within 93 days of first entry
- Spouse, minor children and often dependent parents can be included
Investment routes
Approved Real-Estate Fund
EUR 250,000Subscribe €250,000 to units of an investment fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank that holds the required share of its assets in Hungarian residential property.
Main route — passive, no property to manage yourself
Higher-Education Donation
EUR 1,000,000Make a €1 million donation to a Hungarian higher-education institution maintained by a public-interest trust. A non-refundable route used less often than the fund.
Key benefits
- A ten-year residence permit — among the longest the EU offers
- Schengen Area travel from the day your permit is issued
- No obligation to relocate and no minimum-stay requirement
- Spouse, children and dependent parents can join the application
- The investment is made within 93 days of your first arrival
How we process your application
Eligibility & Fund Selection
We confirm eligibility and help you select an eligible, National-Bank-regulated real-estate fund with a sound track record.
Guest Investor Visa
We prepare and file the guest-investor visa application, which allows you to enter Hungary to complete the process.
Entry & Investment
You enter Hungary and complete the €250,000 fund subscription within 93 days, then provide proof of the investment.
Residence Permit
The ten-year guest-investor residence permit is issued for you and the family members included in the application.
Maintain & Extend
You hold the fund investment for the required period. The permit can be extended once for a further ten years.
Why apply with Avyanco
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Hungarian permit valid?
Do I need to live in Hungary?
Does it give Schengen travel?
Can I get my investment back?
Reviewed by
Jashvantkumar Prajapati
Founder & CEO, Avyanco — 21+ years in global mobility advisory