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If we talk about investment options in Europe, very few investors would have put Hungary on their list for residency in Europe. Portugal and Greece initially top the list when it comes to European Residency. But things have changed now. Hungary started to catch attention since it relaunched its residency program in 2024. More and more Indian families have started to talk about it since then and the reason is quite simple. The Hungary Golden Visa is a type of visa that offers a 10-year EU residence permit for a €250,000 investment and the best part is one does not have a minimum stay requirement. This visa is officially called the Hungary Guest Investor Program. It's one of the most affordable ways for Indians to get a long-term residence permit inside the European Union and the Schengen Area in 2026.
But every residency program has its own rules, costs and trade-offs. This page will walk you through how the Hungary Golden Visa 2026 actually works, based on the official rules.
The Hungary Guest Investor Program is a residency by investment scheme in Hungary. It came into force on 1 July 2024 under the country's new Immigration Act. It replaces the old residency bond programme, which closed in 2017. This program gives non-EU nationals a special "guest investor" residence permit if they make a qualifying investment in Hungary's economy. It is not exactly citizenship, and it does not give you the passport for Hungary. This gives you the right to live, work and study in Hungary without having to spend a minimum amount of time in the country.
Most importantly, this is a practical point for Indians worth considering since India doesn't allow dual citizenship, so a Hungary residence permit by investment lets you build a base in Europe while keeping your Indian passport.
According to the official NDGAP guidance, there are currently two ways to qualify.
This is the route which is popular among the Indian Investors. You buy units worth at least €250,000 in a Hungarian real estate fund.
The official conditions are:
This Hungary real estate fund investment is hands-off. You don't buy, manage or rent out a property yourself. A professional fund manager does all of that. After five years, you can usually exit the fund, depending on its terms, and receive your capital back based on the fund's value at that point.
The second route is a non-refundable donation of at least €1 million to a Hungarian public-trust higher education institution, to support education, scientific research or artistic work.
This option suits very few families, because you don't get the money back. One advantage is that you can renew your permit without making any further investment.
Note: Documents in languages other than English usually need an official Hungarian translation.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Real estate fund investment | €250,000 (minimum, held for 5 years) |
| Guest investor visa fee | €110 |
| Residence permit fee | HUF 26,000 (online) to HUF 39,000 (in person) |
| Fund entry and management fees | Varies by fund |
| Legal and advisory fees | Varies |
| Translations, attestations and documents | Varies |
| Health insurance | Varies by age and provider |
The Hungary Golden Visa for Indians makes the most sense if you want a long-term EU residence permit without much paperwork after approval, and without having to live in Europe. It suits business families who want a backup option, parents planning their children's education in Europe, and professionals who travel often within the Schengen Area.
If Hungary's fund route isn't the right fit, these are the closest alternatives. For a company-based route in the Baltics, see our Latvia Golden Visa guide.
The Portugal Golden Visa is the closest comparison to Hungary, because both are now fund-based routes after Portugal stopped accepting property. Most families qualify by investing €500,000 in a regulated Portuguese investment fund.
For families who would rather own property in Europe than hold fund units, the Greece Golden Visa remains the natural choice. Property investment starts at €250,000 for qualifying conversion and restoration projects, with higher thresholds in most regions.
Malta Permanent Residency gives your family permanent residence from day one, with no minimum stay. Government fees and contributions come to about €99,000, on top of a qualifying property lease or purchase.
On paper, Hungary looks like one of the easier programs. In practice, small things trip people up. Pick a fund that isn't on the approved list and your application stalls. Send the money from India in one go and you'll run into LRS limits. Miss the 30-day window after you land in Hungary and you're starting over.
As one of the best immigration consultants in India, we have helped Indian families through each of these steps, from checking funds and planning remittances across family members to putting together source-of-funds files that Hungarian officials will accept. That's a big part of why people see us as one of the best immigration consultants in India. And if Hungary isn't right for your family, we'll say so, even if that means pointing you towards Greece, Malta or somewhere else entirely.
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€250,000 in a qualifying Hungarian real estate fund, held for at least five years.
Yes. Indian citizens can apply. Because Indians need a visa to enter Hungary, they first apply for the guest investor visa in India and then collect the residence permit after arriving in Hungary.
No. There is no minimum stay requirement for the guest investor residence permit.
Yes. Your spouse and children can apply for residence permits through family reunification.
