Residency & Golden Visas / Hungary / Route
Hungary · Residency route
Secure a Hungarian residence permit of up to 10 years, extendable once by another 10, by investing €250,000 in an MNB-registered real estate fund
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on European residency from our Dubai office.
Two qualifying investments — direct property purchase is not one of them
Hungary's Guest Investor Programme opened on 1 July 2024. There are exactly two qualifying investments:
| Option | Amount |
|---|---|
| Units in a real estate investment fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank | €250,000 |
| Donation to a Hungarian higher education institution maintained by a public trust | €1,000,000 |
Buying a house or flat directly does not qualify. It is not on the official list of qualifying investments.
The fund must hold at least 40% of its net asset value in Hungarian residential property, and the units must be held for five years.
The permit itself is unusually long: 10 years, extendable once by another 10. At extension the fund investor must still hold the units; the donor needs no further investment. Family members can join on family reunification permits. Naturalisation is a separate process that requires eight years of continuous residence in Hungary.
One thing to settle before you start
These are residency programmes, not citizenship. That distinction matters more for an Indian passport holder than for most, because India does not permit dual citizenship: under Section 9(1) of the Citizenship Act 1955, voluntarily acquiring another citizenship ends your Indian citizenship automatically.
Holding European residency does not affect your Indian citizenship at all. Only naturalising would. So the residence permit is the safe part; the decision point comes years later, if and when you choose to naturalise.
Talk to a European residency consultant in Dubai
XIPHIAS Immigration has guided families into Europe since 2009, and our Dubai team works with UAE residents. We were named Best Immigration Consultant by The Times of India in 2022. Our immigration consultants in Dubai will take you through the current rules, costs and timeline.
Sources
- Hungarian National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing — guest investor residence permit
- Magyar Közlöny — Hungarian official gazette
Verified against government and EU sources on 30 September 2026.
What you getالمزايا
Residence permit of up to 10 years, extendable once by another 10
Schengen mobility (90/180 rule) for residence permit holders
Family members can join on family reunification permits
Naturalisation possible after 8 years of continuous residence
Professional management via regulated real estate funds
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
Minimum Fund Investment
Before filing the residence application · Units of a real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank, holding at least 40% of net asset value in Hungarian residential property; held for at least 5 years.
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Invest a minimum of €250,000 in units of a real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank
Hold the fund units for at least 5 years
Provide clean criminal record and pass security screening
Hold valid health insurance and provide biometrics
Proof of funds
Who cannot apply
Applicants with serious criminal records or SIS alerts
Failure to meet fund eligibility or holding-period requirements
The processكيف نعمل
Preliminary check
Preliminary check by a certified AML officer
Select approved fund
Choose an MNB-registered Hungarian real estate fund and receive term sheet/subscription docs
Transfer funds
Subscribe at least €250,000 to the fund; obtain payment/subscription confirmations
Submit application
File residence application with proof of investment and supporting documents
Biometrics
Provide biometric data in Hungary; maintain valid health insurance
Residence cards
Receive residence cards for a permit of up to 10 years after approval
Risk notes
Direct purchase of residential property does not qualify. It is not on the official list of qualifying investments.
The fund unit route requires an MNB-registered real estate fund that holds at least 40% of its net asset value in Hungarian residential property, and the units must be held for 5 years.
Hungary is a Schengen member, but a residence permit is not citizenship. Naturalisation is a separate process requiring 8 years of continuous residence.
Compliance
Two qualifying options only: €250,000 in units of a real estate investment fund registered with the Magyar Nemzeti Bank, or a €1,000,000 donation to a Hungarian higher education institution maintained by a public trust.
The fund must hold at least 40% of its net asset value in Hungarian residential property, and units must be held for 5 years.
The guest investor residence permit runs for 10 years and can be extended once by a further 10 years.
The programme opened on 1 July 2024.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
A minimum of €250,000 in units of a real estate fund registered with the Hungarian National Bank.
Start the Hungary route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.