HungaryResidence permit by investment

Investor residence permit in Hungary

The programme allows third-country nationals to obtain a Hungarian residence permit through large investments in real estate or through charitable contributions. The visa can be obtained within a month if sufficient capital and documents are in place. The residence permit is granted for a long term straight away and gives the full right to work and run a business. The programme is aimed at investors whose investments serve the national interests of the country.

Work

The right to live, study, run a business and work

Residence

No residence requirement

Source: oif.gov.hu — guest investor residence permit

Two routes to the investor residence permit

The programme provides two main routes for investors. The choice depends on the amount of capital and on the preferred way of placing the funds.

Through investment funds

Investment in units of a real-estate fund registered by the national bank
The minimum amount is lower than for the charitable route
The fund must invest at least 40% in Hungarian residential property

Through charitable contributions

A donation to a state higher-education institution
The funds go to education, science or the arts
The amount required is considerably higher than for the fund route

When this programme will not suit you

You do not have the required amount of capital

Consider other residence permits: a work visa, self-employment or family reunification

You are a citizen of an EEA country (EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)

EEA nationals acquire the right of residence automatically; no visa is required

The source of the money cannot be proved, or the money was obtained unlawfully

Put your financial history in order; all funds must have a clean origin

What it costs

Investment in units of a real-estate fundMinimum amount; the fund must be registered by the National Bank of Hungary	250 000 EUR
Charitable contribution to an educational institutionPaid to a state higher-education institution for educational, scientific or artistic purposes	1 000 000 EUR
Procedural fee for the guest investor visaCharged when the residence permit application is submitted	+110 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Procedural fee for the guest investor visa” adds 110 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1,250,000–1 250 110 EUR

Paid separately

Fee for the residence permit — At present the official website does not state the state fee for issuing the residence permit; check with Enter Hungary

Documents to gather

You need to prepare originals or certified copies of the following documents to submit the application.

Valid passport
One facial photograph (biometric)
Investment fund certificate or letter confirming the charitable contribution (proof that the investment has been completed)
Proof of accommodation in Hungary (tenancy agreement, title document or confirmation of a housing reservation)

How the process runs

Obtaining the residence permit involves several stages, taking from one to several months in total.

1
Preparing documents and making the investment
up to 30 days before filing
Complete the investment (fund or charitable contribution) and collect all the required documents. Make sure you hold a valid guest visa or belong to a visa-exempt category of nationals.
2
Filing the application in Hungary
within 30 days of entry
The application is filed electronically through the Enter Hungary system or in person at a regional NDGAP office. Appearing in person is compulsory for fingerprinting and the photograph.
3
Administrative processing
21 days
The authority examines the application. This period does not include the time you need to provide proof of the investment or to correct deficiencies in the documents.
4
Receiving the decision and the residence permit
by post
Once approved, the documents are sent by post to the address you have given. The residence permit takes effect from the date of receipt.

Renewal and the grace period

The residence permit may be renewed for a further ten years after the initial period of validity expires. The renewal application is submitted solely online through the Enter Hungary system, at least thirty days before the current permit expires. No new investment is required on renewal, provided the investment units remain in your hands (for the fund route).

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Investor residence permit	Digital nomad card	Guest worker residence permit
Visa term	Residence permit granted for 10 years at once, renewable for another 10 without new investment	Up to 1 year, renewable once for a further year (2 years maximum)	The guest format is usually 1-2 years, tied to the contract
Grounds	Real estate / funds	Remote income	Employment
Money	Real-estate fund from EUR 250,000 (5 years) OR real estate from EUR 500,000 OR a donation from EUR 1,000,000	Net income from about EUR 3,000 a month	Salary not below the minimum or the sectoral wage
Work	The right to live, study, run a business and work	Remote work for foreign clients and employers; working for a Hungarian company is not allowed	Work only for the named employer; a change of employer requires a new permit
Residence	No residence requirement	Actual residence is expected	At least 3 years for permanent residence

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

There is no dedicated permanent residence by investment; permanent residence under the general rules after about 3-5 years

Route to citizenship

Citizenship after 8 years of continuous residence, Hungarian at A2-B1

Frequently asked questions about Investor residence permit

Which types of investment are accepted under the programme?

The programme provides two options: either the purchase of units in a real-estate investment fund (minimum EUR 250,000) registered by the National Bank of Hungary, or a charitable contribution (minimum EUR 1,000,000) to a state higher-education institution for educational, scientific or artistic purposes.

How long does it take to obtain the residence permit?

Administrative processing takes 21 days, not counting the time needed to gather proof of the completed investment and to remedy deficiencies in the documents. From filing the application to receiving the residence permit usually takes from one to several months.

For how long is the residence permit issued?

The residence permit is issued for up to ten years. Once that period expires, the permit may be renewed for a further ten years without the need to invest again.

What rights does the guest investor residence permit give?

The holder may work in Hungary without restriction: carry on independent activity, serve as the head of a company or work under an employment contract. Studying and residing in the country are also possible.

When must the residence permit application be filed?

The application must be filed within thirty days of entering Hungary. Both electronic filing and applying in person at a regional NDGAP office are acceptable, but appearing in person is compulsory for the collection of biometric data.

How much is the procedural fee for the guest investor visa?

The procedural fee for the guest investor visa is EUR 110. An appeal fee (EUR 160) may also be charged in the event of a refusal, as may a fee for replacing the visa at a diplomatic mission (EUR 90).

Other ways to move to Hungary

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Hungary.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.