Guest Investor Visa

A residence permit for guest investors may be granted to a third-country national whose entry and stay in Hungary is in national economic interest due to his/her investments realised in Hungary. Realisation of the following investments shall be considered as national economic interest:

  1. acquisition of an investment fund share of at least EUR 250 000 issued by a real estate fund registered by the Hungarian National Bank,
  2. ownership interest over a property, concerning a residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, located in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Registry of Hungary under its parcel identification/topographical LOT number, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances (in effect as of 1 January 2025), or
  3. provision of a financial donation in an amount of at least EUR 1 000 000 and for a purpose of educational, scientific research or artistic creation activities, to a higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission.

The first step to obtain a guest investor status is the guest investor visa, which entitles the guest investor to multiple entries, to stay for more than 90 days within 180 days and, most importantly, to apply for a guest investor residence permit. The application for a guest investor residence permit is the second stage of the guest investor status, as this can only be done after the investment has been implemented by the guest investor.

 

Please find below instructions on how to apply for a guest investor visa at the Consulate:

The first step is to fill out the application form correctly, and be signed by the applicant.

You can fix an appointment via e-mail: randevu.ist@mfa.gov.hu

Place of the application: Consulate General of Hungary in Istanbul

 

For the approval of your application for a residence permit, you are required to meet the conditions for entry and residence in Hungary. During the application procedure, mandatory attachments/enclosures may serve as proof of meeting the set conditions. Please be sure that the completion of the attachments/enclosures are complete, and that all the documents have been checked before submission. These might be:

  1. A certificate from the real estate fund manager registered by the Hungarian National Bank or from the distributor of the investment fund share on the investment fund share of EUR 250 000 issued under the name of the third-country national.
    Please note that in this case you are required, for at least 5 years, to have an investment fund share issued by a real estate fund whose net asset value comprises minimum 40% of investments in residential real estate in Hungary and its real estate fund manager is listed in the register of qualified market operators.
     
  2. A contract of sale and purchase, countersigned by a lawyer, concerning a residential property with a value of at least EUR 500 000, located in the geographical territory of Hungary and registered in the Land Registry of Hungary under its parcel identification/topographical LOT number, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances (in effect as of 1 January 2025). 
    A prohibition on alienation and encumbrance must be registered in the Land Register for a period of 5 years from the date of conclusion of the purchase contract, and the property may be owned exclusively by you, or you and one or more family members who are also applying for a residence permit for guest investor for a period of 5 years.
     
  3. A certificate from the higher education institution maintained by a public trust with a public-service mission certifying that the higher education institution has received a financial donation from you of at least EUR 1 000 000 to support educational, scientific research or artistic creation activities.

 

In case you do not yet have the above mentioned investment, the following documents must be attached to the application:

  1. a statement on which of the above mentioned investments you are planning to implement within 3 months after the issuance of the guest investor visa (the downloadable sample is available on our website), and
  2. a certificate issued by a foreign or Hungarian credit institution to prove that the necessary amount for the investment is permanently available for the applicant.

 

The legal origin of the available amount of money must be proven in a creditable manner, with a public document certifying the origin of the property, a right of property value, or a private document with full probative value; or with proof of taxable income from a regular employment-oriented legal relationship or business activity.

 

During the the visa procedure, the following must also be attached:

  • a document confirming the address of your real accommodation in Hungary;
  • the valid travel document;
  • a piece of ID photo.

Please note, that as a general rule, individual declarations and certificates must be submitted in English language. The applicant also has the option to submit declarations and certificates in other languages ​​with an English translation suitable for local conditions and acceptable as authentic.

For a more comprehensive and detailed information, please visit the website of the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság - also known as OIF) on the following links:

 

Information about residence permit for guest investors (in English):

http://oif.gov.hu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=2232&Itemid=2457&lang=en#

 

FAQ about residence permit for guest investors (in Hungarian):

http://oif.gov.hu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=2340&Itemid=2545&lang=hu#

 

General FAQ (in English):

http://oif.gov.hu/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=2282&Itemid=2502&lang=en#