Retiring in Hungary in 2026: how to get residence
Since 2024 there has been no separate permit for retirees. You can live in Hungary in retirement as a guest investor from $280,000 (€250,000) or as a relative of a resident, and a state pension is not taxed.
| Key facts | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Retiree permit | none since 1 January 2024 |
| Main route | guest investor: real estate fund from $280,000 (€250,000) |
| Permit term | 10 years, renewable for another 10 |
| Processing | 21 days |
| Tax on a Russian pension | 0%: state pensions are exempt |
| Permanent status | after 3 years of continuous residence |
| Couple's budget in Budapest | from $1,430 a month including rent |
Data checked: 06.10.2026
For years Hungary was an easy country for retirees from outside the EU: until 2024 they lived here on a permit for other purposes after showing a pension and housing. The new immigration law in force since 1 January 2024 abolished that ground. Hungary no longer has a separate residence permit for retirees, and a retiree's route now rests on investment or family.
The main route is the guest investor permit: shares in a real estate fund from $280,000 (€250,000), held for at least 5 years, giving a 10-year residence permit for the whole family. Below is who else can move, which papers prove a Russian pension, how the pension is taxed, what a couple spends in Budapest and why applications are refused.
We will work out online the investment or income your family needs and what the permit costs for each member.
Who can get residence as a retiree
In Hungary age and pension size do not give status on their own: you need one of the grounds set by law. In 2026 a retiree from Russia realistically has three.
- guest investor - shares in a Hungarian real estate fund from $280,000 (€250,000) for 5 years or a donation to a university from $1.2 million (€1,000,000); the spouse and children get permits together with the investor;
- family reunification - if a spouse or child lives in Hungary with a residence permit or holds Hungarian citizenship;
- holders of EU long-term resident status in another member state - under a separate procedure;
- a pension or a purchased flat no longer counts as a ground: without one of the options above a retiree may stay in Hungary only 90 days in any 180.
Documents and how to prove a Russian pension
- a passport valid longer than the permit requested;
- a certificate of the pension awarded by the Social Fund of Russia, with an apostille, as proof of means;
- bank statements showing pension payments for the last 3-6 months;
- for a guest investor, documents on buying the fund shares and on the lawful source of the money;
- proof of housing in Hungary: a lease or a title document;
- health insurance for the whole term or proof of funds for medical care;
- a police clearance certificate with an apostille;
- for a spouse, a marriage certificate with an apostille.
Russian documents are translated into Hungarian, and the translation must be official: Hungarian authorities accept translations by the state translation office or a consulate. An electronic pension certificate without an apostille is usually not accepted.
You can keep receiving the pension on a Russian card, but it cannot be used for payments in Hungary, and transfers from Russian banks to the EU are restricted. So part of the money is moved to an EU bank account in advance: its statements also help at renewal.
Health insurance
The permit requires health insurance for the whole term or proof that you can pay for treatment. Policies for people over 65 cost noticeably more, and some insurers cap the age, so the policy is chosen before filing.
A guest investor and their family do not join the state health insurance system automatically. They are treated under a private policy or pay for care; private medicine in Budapest is well developed and noticeably cheaper than in Austria or Germany. Permanent status and Hungarian tax residence make access to the state system easier.
Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia
You become a Hungarian tax resident if you have a permanent home or your centre of vital interests there, or spend more than 183 days a year in the country. Hungarian income tax is a flat 15%, but state pensions, payments from private pension funds and income that tax treaties define as a pension are on the Hungarian tax authority's list of exempt income. A Russian state old-age pension is exactly such a payment.
Russia does not tax a state pension either, so there is no double tax on it. Russia suspended its treaty with Hungary in August 2023, which matters for dividends, interest and rent from Russia: there is no credit, and such income is taxed in both countries under their own laws. More in our article on Russia's double tax treaties in 2026.
Monthly budget for a couple
| Monthly item | Amount |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in Budapest | $700-940 (€625-840) |
| Utilities, higher in winter | $140-230 (€120-200) |
| Internet and phones for two | $30-45 (€25-40) |
| Groceries for two | $510-680 (€450-600) |
| City transport passes for two | ~$55 (€46) |
| Total for a couple | from $1,500 (€1,270) |
Rent in Debrecen, Pécs and around Lake Balaton is noticeably lower than in Budapest. Budget separately for insurance for two: its price depends on age. The main one-off sum is the fund investment from $280,000 (€250,000): the shares can be sold after 5 years, and their value depends on the fund. Our consultant in the chat will work out a budget for your city, housing and family.
Guest investor support from the fund to the card
Since 2024 a retiree in Hungary almost always needs an investment route, so mistakes cost more: the money is already in the fund but there is no permit. We check whether the programme suits you, choose the fund, prepare proof of the source of funds, apostilled pension certificates with official translations and insurance for your age, and file the application. After the decision we help with housing, address registration and the 10-year card.
Our consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.
Where retirees settle
Most foreign retirees live in Budapest: the country's best clinics, thermal baths, theatres, the Danube and an airport with flights across Europe. For a quieter life people choose the green hills of Buda and suburbs such as Szentendre.
Lake Balaton and the spa town of Hévíz with its warm thermal lake are popular with older people: healing waters, sanatoriums and quiet, though much closes in winter. Debrecen, Szeged and Pécs are university cities with hospitals and housing cheaper than in the capital.
Steps and timelines
| Step | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Choosing the ground and the fund, checking the source of funds | 2-4 weeks |
| Certificates, apostilles, translations, insurance, housing | 3-6 weeks |
| Buying the real estate fund shares | 1-2 weeks |
| Application to the immigration authority via a consulate or the online portal | decision in 21 days |
| Entry, biometrics, address registration | first weeks after the decision |
| 10-year guest investor card | after the decision |
| Renewal for another 10 years | before expiry, while the investment is kept |
Russian citizens need a Schengen visa to travel, mostly single-entry since November 2025, so filing and entry are planned in advance. Under the 2023 law permanent status is available after 3 years of continuous lawful residence, and since 2025 it requires a test on Hungarian culture and history in Hungarian. We will calculate government fees and translation costs for your family in the chat.
Common reasons for refusal
- applying on the basis of a pension or a flat purchase: these grounds have not existed since 2024;
- shares bought in a fund that does not qualify for the programme, or held for less than 5 years;
- the lawful source of the invested money is not proven;
- certificates without an apostille or with an unofficial translation;
- insurance that does not cover the whole term or does not cover Hungary;
- past breaches of visas or Schengen stay limits.
This topic in other countries
Retiring in other countries:
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- Retiring in Turkey in 2026: how to live by the sea legally
- Retiring in Spain in 2026: requirements and costs
- Retiring in Montenegro in 2026: what has changed
- Retiring in Thailand in 2026: the retirement visa
- Retiring in Portugal in 2026: the passive income visa
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More on this country:
- Hungarian residence by investment
- Taxes in Hungary
- Budapest: districts and prices
- Property in Hungary: search and checks
- Hungary: all programmes
All countries for retirement - compare the options.
FAQ
Can you get residence in Hungary on a pension in 2026?
How much does Hungarian residence cost for a retiree?
Is a Russian pension taxed in Hungary?
Can you buy a flat in Hungary and get residence?
What budget does a retired couple need in Budapest?
How many years until permanent status in Hungary?
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