How to send money to Hungary in 2026: in forints and euros, to an account and by phone number

From abroad money arrives by a 28-character account number, and within Hungary a forint transfer of up to $62,000 (20 million forints) is credited in 5 seconds. The 0.45% transaction tax is withheld by the bank on debit, not from the recipient. The National Bank of Hungary rate on 7 October 2026: 327.52 forints per dollar.

In detail

The simplest way to send money to Hungary in 2026 is a bank transfer to an account in forints or euros. From abroad a payment arrives by a 28-character international account number, and then within the country money moves in 5 seconds, including by the recipient's phone number. The transaction tax is paid by the sender's bank, so an incoming transfer reaches the Hungarian account in full, and a gift from parents, children or a spouse is exempt from the 18% tax.

The table rows were checked on 8 October 2026 against the National Bank of Hungary decree on payment services and the transaction tax law. Dollars on the page are at the National Bank of Hungary rate for 7 October 2026, 327.52 forints per dollar, and sums in euros at the European Central Bank rate, 1.1177 dollars per euro; all rounded up.

A Hungarian account number: 16 digits at home and 28 characters for a transfer from abroad

Within the country an account is written as two or three blocks of 8 digits, 16 or 24 digits in all. For a transfer from abroad an international number is needed: two country letters, two check digits and the 24 digits of the domestic number, 28 characters in all. If the domestic number is short, 8 zeros are added at the end, and the recipient's bank shows the ready number in its app.

A forint account and a euro account in Hungary are two different accounts with different numbers. Euros sent to a forint account are converted by the bank at its own rate, so for payments in euros the recipient opens a separate euro account and gives that number.

Five seconds and a phone number: how instant forint payments work

Since 2 March 2020 every Hungarian bank has made instant payments: money reaches the recipient's account no later than 5 seconds after sending, day and night, on weekends and holidays. Since 1 September 2023 any electronic forint transfer up to 20 million forints, that is up to $62,000, is instant, with no need to choose it separately.

• Phone, email, tax number. Instead of an account number the recipient links to it a mobile number with a European Economic Area country code, an email address or a tax number. Several such tags can be connected to one account, and each tag leads to exactly one account.
• Euros. Hungarian banks receive instant euro transfers from 9 January 2027 and send them from 9 July 2027, on the common EU schedule.

After crediting the recipient sends money on to relatives by phone number and pays rent and purchases by card. Want the first transfer to arrive without being returned? A manager will check the details with you.

The 0.45% transaction tax: why an incoming transfer arrives in full

Hungary has a financial transaction tax: 0.45% of the sum, but no more than 20,000 forints, that is $65, per transaction. By law it is paid by the bank, and the tax is charged only on debits from an account. The recipient of a transfer from abroad does not pay this tax, however much arrives.

• The first 50,000 forints. From a private individual's personal account the first 50,000 forints, that is $160, of each transfer are not taxed.
• Your own accounts at one bank. Transfers between your own accounts within one bank go with no tax.
• A non-resident account. Debits from an account all of whose owners are tax non-residents of Hungary are not taxed.

The bank includes the tax in its tariff, so the full price of an outgoing payment is found in the chosen bank's tariffs.

A gift to parents, children and a spouse: 0% instead of 18%

The gift and inheritance tax rate in Hungary is 18% of the value, and 9% on housing. The closest family is exempt: a gift from parents, to children and grandchildren, to a spouse or registered partner, to a brother or sister is not taxed, and the sum does not matter here.

Other recipients pay 18% and declare the gift to the tax office within 30 days. Movable property is taxed only if the gift is made with a document or is worth more than 150,000 forints, that is $460, per recipient. A large sum to relatives is conveniently made with a letter or a gift agreement: the bank sees at once where the money comes from and why it arrived.

An account in Hungary for a non-resident: passport, address and mother's maiden name

A Hungarian bank opens an account for a foreigner on a passport. On opening it records the name and birth name, citizenship, place and date of birth, mother's maiden name, residential address and document number. A Hungarian address card is needed by those with an address in Hungary, and a tax number is issued by the tax office on a form in 15 days; some banks ask for it when opening an account, so it is convenient to get it in advance.

Tax rates on interest in 2026.

A deposit at one bank is protected for a sum in forints equal to 100,000 euros, that is $120,000, at the central bank rate on the day before payouts. Money from selling a home, severance pay on dismissal or retirement and insurance payouts paid in within the last 3 months are protected for another 50,000 euros, up to 150,000 euros in all, that is $170,000.

A flat in Hungary: a permit in 45 days and 4% tax

EU citizens buy housing in Hungary on general terms. A buyer from a country outside the EU gets a permit from the government office of the capital or the county where the flat is: the review takes 45 days, and the fee is 65,000 forints, that is $200, per property.

The purchase tax is 4% of the market value up to 1 billion forints, that is $3,100,000, and 2% on the part above that sum, but no more than 200 million forints, that is $620,000, per property. How to choose a flat and complete the deal is covered in the article buying a flat in Hungary.

Guest investor: a residence permit for an investment from $280,000

The guest investor programme runs in 2026 and gives a residence permit for up to 10 years with renewal for another 10 years. Two investments qualify: units of a real estate fund registered by the central bank, from 250,000 euros, that is $280,000, or a donation from 1,000,000 euros, that is $1,200,000, to a university maintained by a public trust foundation.

The order is: a 6-month guest investor visa, an application for a residence permit within 30 days of first entry, then confirmation of the investment. The 250,000 euro transfer goes with a full package of documents on the origin of the money. All paths to status are collected on the residence permit in Hungary page.

How much to send to Hungary: the bank's questions from the first thousand to investment

The law sets no limit on a transfer to Hungary. A Hungarian bank, like any EU bank, looks at the sum: the larger the inflow, the more detailed the question of where the money comes from.

Sum thresholds in 2026.

Sending a large sum for a home or a residence permit? Tell a manager about your goal, and the manager will choose a transfer route and the order of steps. What else helps to pass the bank check is covered in sending a large sum abroad and proof of source of funds.

Hungary's neighbours and all of Europe: detailed transfer guides

• Croatia: the euro since 2023 and homes by the sea.
• Serbia: an account by video call and payments for housing in euros.
• Ukraine: hryvnias and transfers to relatives.
• Czech Republic: korunas, euros and gifts to relatives.
• Poland: zlotys and gifts to family.
• Austria: gifts and housing.
• All of Europe: instant euro transfers and the rules for 41 countries.

All countries where we help move capital are collected on the capital relocation page.

FAQ