6 ways to obtain Hungarian residency in 2025

Hungary remains a magnet for immigrants, thanks to its culture, history and easy access to a European way of life. Here are the main routes to a Hungarian residence permit.

How to obtain Hungarian residency

Financial independence

To qualify under this programme, you must deposit at least 10,000 euros in a Hungarian bank account, take out health insurance, and either rent or buy a home in the country.

Property investment

Foreign nationals who buy a home in Budapest worth 155,000 euros or more are eligible for residency. The property may be used only as a personal residence and must be paid for without a mortgage.

Business

This category of permit is tightly capped by quota, and the Registration Court decides whether your business is significant enough for the country.

Marriage

Marry a Hungarian citizen and you can obtain residency in as little as one month. Every such marriage is carefully vetted to rule out sham unions.

Family reunification

Close relatives of a Hungarian citizen who are financially dependent on them can apply for residency.

Study

Foreign nationals admitted to a Hungarian university can obtain a residence permit.

The benefits of Hungarian residency

• Visa-free travel across the 28 countries of the Schengen area
• The ability to open accounts and run a business in Hungary
• A safety net in a developed country
• Access to high-quality healthcare
• Access to high-quality education

Paraguay: one of the most rewarding citizenships by investment

Strategically located and open to the world, Paraguay is a land of opportunity. Its citizenship-by-investment programme gives foreign nationals and their families a rare chance to obtain permanent residency for an investment from 70,000 US dollars, then a passport no earlier than three years of living in the country as a permanent resident, and enjoy all its advantages: visa-free travel to 145 countries, including the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and Singapore; eligibility for a US E-2 visa; tax optimisation with a 10% rate; and life in a country with a high standard of living and an agreeable climate.

What changed from 2024

Since 1 January 2024 Hungary has a new immigration law, and some of the grounds in this article work differently:

• Buying a home no longer gives residence. Instead there is the guest investor programme: real estate fund units from €250,000 for 5 years or a donation to a university from €1,000,000. The option of a flat from €500,000 was removed from the law in December 2024, before launch.
• Remote work - the White Card for people working for a foreign company with net income from €3,000 a month, for up to 1 year with one more year of extension.
• Work, study and family remain grounds, but the procedure and documents changed under the new law.

Guest investor residence in 2026

• Investment - from €250,000, about $280,100, in units of a real estate fund on the migration service list, or from €1,000,000, about $1,120,400, as a donation.
• Term - a 10-year permit, renewable for another 10.
• Review - 21 days.
• Work - allowed as an employee, in your own business or as a director.
• Family - spouse and children get permits with no extra investment.
• Fees - guest investor visa about €110, application about €107 in person or about €70 online.

More in Hungary residence by investment.

The White Card for remote work

• Income - from €3,000 net in each of the last 6 months, shown on bank statements.
• Employer or own company - outside Hungary; working for Hungarian clients is not allowed.
• Fee - €110, review - up to 70 days.
• Family is not included; a spouse needs their own card.
• Time on the White Card does not lead to permanent residence.

More in Hungary White Card.

Documents and steps for guest investors

1. Guest investor visa - for nationals who need a visa, including Russians. Filed at a consulate or online.
2. Investment - buying units of a listed fund and the management company's certificate, attached to the application.
3. Permit application - within 30 days of entry on the visa, with proof of housing in Hungary, insurance and source of funds.
4. Decision - 21 days, then a 10-year card.

Foreign-language documents are translated into Hungarian, and certificates from abroad are apostilled.

Taxes

Hungarian income tax is a flat 15%, and VAT is 27%, the highest in the EU. You become tax resident by living there more than 183 days a year or having a permanent home and centre of vital interests in the country. White Card holders pay tax in Hungary only if they spend more than 183 days a year there.

Path to citizenship

Hungarian citizenship generally requires 8 years of continuous residence, an exam on the basics of the constitution in Hungarian, housing, a source of income and no criminal record. You do not have to give up your previous citizenship. The guest investor permit can be held for a long time, but citizenship requires actually living in the country.

How we help

1. We choose the basis: investment, White Card, work or study.
2. We check that the fund is on the migration service list and the exit terms after 5 years.
3. We prepare documents, translations and filing, and support cards for the family.

We fix our fee in writing after a consultation; the total for your family is in the chat.

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