As a holder of Hungary’s Guest Investor residence permit (“Golden Visa”), you benefit from a flexible, investment-backed status that doubles as a multi-entry Schengen visa and offers a clear path to full integration in Hungary. You can travel freely across Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without ever setting foot in Hungary, then relocate to unlock work authorization, public healthcare, social security, and free state education for your dependents. After three years of lawful residence, you become eligible for permanent residency—with a maximum 270-day absence allowance—and after eight years total, you may pursue Hungarian citizenship via a language and culture exam introduced in 2025.
Even if you never return to Hungary, your 10-year Guest Investor permit (plus one 10-year renewal) remains fully valid, thanks to the no minimum-stay requirement on this investment category. Your residence card functions as a multi-entry Schengen visa, letting you spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period across all 27 Schengen states. You aren’t required to register locally or file Hungarian taxes unless you earn Hungarian-source income. Compliance hinges solely on keeping your €250 000 real-estate fund investment at or above the original threshold. During this time, you cannot access public healthcare or social security until you relocate and begin contributions, but you can switch back at any point to enroll children in Hungary’s state or accredited international schools. You remain eligible to renew your permit three months before expiry without proving recent visits, and after five years of continuous legal status (regardless of physical presence), you may apply for an EU long-term residence permit—gaining broader EU mobility and family rights without returning to Hungary.
Once you establish residence under the Guest Investor permit, you receive unrestricted work authorization: no separate work visa is needed to be employed, start a business, or freelance. Your household immediately qualifies for public healthcare under NEAK, funded by automatic social-security deductions from salary or self-employment income, covering medical services, sick leave, and maternity benefits. Dependent children enjoy tuition-free state schooling (primary and secondary) with options for Hungarian-language or bilingual tracks. After three years of continuous residency, they also qualify for resident university tuition rates—typically €1 200–€2 500 per year, versus up to €8 000 for non-residents. Your initial €250 000 fund investment remains locked for at least five years, ensuring transparency and regulatory oversight by the National Bank of Hungary. Family reunification is seamless: spouses and children under 18 receive derivative permits with the same 10-year term and full rights to work, study, and access social services. You must register your address and health-insurance details with local authorities within 30 days of arrival.
After three years of lawful residence—permitting no more than 270 days of total absence and no single absence over four months—you may apply for the National Residence Card, Hungary’s permanent residency status. This card is issued indefinitely, no longer requires you to maintain the original investment, and confers almost all civil-law rights of Hungarian citizens (except voting). Permanent residents can sponsor family members freely, access broader social benefits, and hold a stable status that simplifies travel documentation and legal protections.
With permanent residency secured, you become eligible for Hungarian citizenship after an additional five years (eight years total under your Guest Investor permit). From January 1, 2025, naturalisation candidates must pass a basic Hungarian language and culture exam covering everyday communication and national history. Successful applicants obtain full EU citizenship—voting rights in local and European elections, unrestricted EU-wide work rights, and the ability to hold dual nationality under Hungarian law.
