Hungary requires 250,000 euro minimum for the Guest Investor Program

Hungary sets 250,000 euro entry floor for 10 year investor permits

Third-country nationals seeking long-term Schengen mobility can secure a renewable 10-year residence permit in Hungary by committing a minimum of €250,000 ($270,000) under the national Guest Investor Program.

Qualifying routes and investment thresholds

Hungary established the guest investor framework under immigration reforms that took effect July 1, 2024, creating two investment paths for non-EU and non-EEA citizens.

Applicants must fulfill one of two qualifying options:

• €250,000 ($270,000) in investment certificates from a real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank
• €1 million ($1.08 million) donation to an approved higher education institution managed by a public interest trust foundation

The resulting permit grants full Hungarian residency and allows visa-free movement throughout the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) confirmed.

Filing deadlines on the Enter Hungary platform

The procedure operates as a two-stage process that starts at an overseas consulate before shifting online.

Applicants first receive a six-month Guest Investor Visa to enter the country and complete their transaction. Once inside the border, investors must follow strict procedural timelines:

• Finalize and certify the pledged transaction through the Enter Hungary digital platform within three months of entry
• Submit the formal residence permit application within 93 days of initial arrival
• Provide proof of local residential accommodation and comprehensive health coverage

High-earning remote founders considering moving to Hungary face much higher upfront capital requirements here than with the standard White Card remote-work visa, but this pathway delivers a 10-year residency term renewable for an additional 10 years.

Correction, Sept. 25, 2026: An earlier version of this article gave the number of qualifying investment routes as three, including a €500,000 ($540,000) residential property purchase. It was two when this article was published: the €250,000 real estate fund investment and the €1 million donation. The property route was dropped by a December 2024 amendment before it took effect.