Helpers Hungary
Sponsor
After much anticipation, Hungary finally launched its new investment immigration program in November of 2023.
Starting 1 July 2024, investors can apply for a ten-year residency permit in Hungary, granting them easy access to the EU and the Schengen zone.
Unparalleled Benefits
The new Hungarian program is currently the most attractive on the EU market of investment residency for the following reasons:
- Three investment options to choose from
- Minimum investment of just EUR 250,000
- The investment must be maintained for only five years
- 10-year residency with visa-free access to the Schengen zone
- Renewable residency after the initial ten years
- Inclusion of a spouse and children under 18, and
- Shorter processing time than other popular EU programs.
A Proven Track Record
This is not Hungary’s first investment immigration program. Between 2013 and 2017, investors could obtain permanent residency by purchasing special government bonds worth EUR 250,000-300,000.
Investors bought approximately 6,500 bond packages during this period, granting EU residency to about 20,000 people from 59 countries.
The new “Guest Investor Program”, commonly known as the Hungarian Golden Visa, is expected to be equally popular. Announced in November 2023 alongside Hungary’s new immigration law, it came into force on 1 January 2024.
Investors now have three options to obtain Hungarian residency. They must maintain their investment for at least five years, and the applicant can include a spouse and underage children.
A Standout Program
Hungarian residency is now granted for an impressive ten years, a significant improvement over the previous program and a considerable advantage compared to other European programs.
Processing times are also much shorter, promising a procedure that will take only a few months, unlike the 18-24 month wait in Greece and Portugal.
Currently, the longest part of the procedure is booking a consulate appointment, which may take longer due to the program’s immense popularity.
Tailored Investment Options
High-net-worth individuals have three investment options:
- EUR 250,000 in a real estate fund managing primarily Hungarian residential properties;
- EUR 500,000 in Hungarian residential real estate (live-in or rental); and
- EUR one million donation to a designated educational or cultural institution.
As of the program’s official launch on 1 July 2024, only the real estate fund investment is available. Direct real estate investment will become available from 1 January 2025, while the government is yet to announce the list of participating institutions for the donation option.
How to Get Started
Given the high demand, it is crucial to start the visa application process immediately. Once the visa is received, investors have three months to travel to Hungary and make the investment (the visa is valid for six months in total).
The process is straightforward:
- Apply for a guest investor visa by pledging to invest in Hungary and providing proof of funds;
- Travel to Hungary within three months of receiving the visa to fulfill the pledge;
- After making the investment and receiving the investment certificate, apply for the guest investor residence permit for the investor and their closest family members. The previously obtained visa remains valid for six months, allowing free travel to and from the Schengen zone during application processing.
For optimal results, contact Helpers Hungary, the country’s leading investment and immigration services provider.
They can manage investment, visa, and residency applications while providing informed advice and up-to-date information on available real estate funds.
For now, you will only need to decide what you want: which option to pursue and which family members to include. While you wait for your appointment to officially start the procedure, you can decide how you will cover your investment and move your assets around to have the right amount ready when needed.
Take the first step towards securing EU residency by investment. Act now to take advantage of this unparalleled opportunity.
Should you have any questions, you are welcome to get in touch with Helpers Hungary, Hungary’s leading provider of investment and immigration services, or directly contact their Sales Director, Mo Shaban, at [email protected], and he will be happy to tell you more about the program.
