Hungary permanent residence: all the ways to obtain PR in the heart of Europe in 2025

How to get permanent residence in Hungary

The first step towards obtaining permanent residence in Hungary is moving to the country with a temporary residence permit. This permit is typically issued for 1 to 5 years. However, it is possible to obtain a 10-year residence permit under the Hungary Golden Visa program.

After three years of living in the country, a foreigner can apply for permanent residency. One of the conditions for applicants is that they cannot leave the country for 4 months in a row or a total of 270 days over these three years.

Only certain types of temporary residence permits are suitable for permanent residency. For instance, digital nomads and students are not eligible to apply.

3 temporary residence options leading to permanent residency in Hungary

1. By employment. A high-skilled foreigner can obtain a temporary residence permit by getting employed by a Hungarian company. There are several options for them:

• the Hungarian Card — for third-country nationals employed in jobs that require high qualifications; when changing employers, one needs to apply for a new permit;
• the EU Blue Card — for high-skilled employees whose monthly salary is at least 1.5 times higher than the average salary of the year before the previous; there is no requirement to obtain a new card when changing employers after holding it for more than one year;
• intra-corporate transfer — for employees of foreign companies transferred to a Hungarian branch or affiliate of the same company;
• corporate card — for executive officers of companies which have an agreement with the Hungarian government. 

If they remain in the country for three years, they can apply for permanent residence.

2. By family reunification. Spouses, children, and dependent parents of Hungarian citizens are all eligible for residence permits. The same applies to family members of foreigners who obtained residency by investment or as a high-skill employee. 

After obtaining a residency permit, they can live in the country, but they must apply for separate permits if they want to work or run a business.

In some specific cases, permanent residency can be issued in less than the usual three years:

• spouses of Hungarian citizens and foreigners with permanent residence in Hungary apply after 2 years of marriage;
• dependent children of Hungarian citizens and permanent residents obtain permanent status after 1 year of living in the same household in Hungary.

3. By investment. Investors will have the opportunity to obtain a 10-year residence permit by contributing at least €250,000 to the country’s economy through the Golden Visa program.

Comparison of Hungary residence permit options

Permit type	Requirements	Validity	Right to work in Hungary	Residing in Hungary for permanent residence
Golden Visa	Investing at least €250,000	10 years	Yes	3 years
Hungarian Card	Contract with a Hungarian company	For the duration of the contract	Yes	3 years
EU Blue Card	A valid work contract or binding job offer for at least one year	Up to 4 years	Yes	3 years
By family reunification	Relationship with a Hungarian citizen or resident	Up to 3 years	No	1—3 years

What is a Hungary Golden Visa program?

In 2024, the Hungarian government approved a new law regarding the Golden Visa, which allows non-EU and non-EEA foreigners to receive residence permits in exchange for investments in the country’s economy.

The investor first obtains a Guest Investor Visa, valid for 6 months, which allows them to enter the country. Within three months of entering Hungary, the foreigner can apply for a residence permit after fulfilling one of the following investment options:

• €250,000 in a local real estate fund;
• €1,000,000 as a donation to a higher education institution.

The residence permit for investors is valid for 10 years and can be renewed once for the same period, even if the applicant does not reside in the country.

However, if Golden Visa holders wish to apply for permanent residency, they must not leave the country for four consecutive months or a total of 270 days or more in the three years before the application.

Documents required to apply for permanent residency

If applicants meet the minimum stay requirements after three years of living in Hungary, they can apply for permanent residence by providing the following documents together with the application:

• a passport;
• a birth certificate;
• a marriage certificate if applicable;
• a CV;
• a medical insurance;
• proof of no criminal record;
• proof of sufficient funds or income;
• proof of real estate ownership or rent.

Additional documents may increase the chances of approval. For example, a motivational letter could explain how the applicant’s presence in Hungary may benefit the country. Academic qualifications, awards, or letters of recommendation can also strengthen the applicant’s case.

Where to apply for permanent residence in Hungary?

The National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing is a government service dealing with foreign citizens who want to enter, stay or settle in Hungary.

The body has 7 regional directorates and 24 branch offices responsible for processing residency applications. Depending on the address of registration, the foreigner submits the application at a particular branch.

Alternatively, it is possible to apply for residency online on the ‘Enter Hungary’ website.

5 benefits of Hungarian residency

1. Visa-free travel to Schengen countries. Hungarian residents can spend 90 days out of 180 in all the other states of the Schengen Agreement without visas. The travel is made easier by Hungary’s location in the middle of Europe, as even the furthest countries on the continent are just 2 or 3 hours away on the plane.

2. Quality healthcare and education. Hungarian higher education fares well in the QS World University Rankings: in 2023, 11 Hungarian institutions were ranked among the 1,500 best in the world. Their diplomas are recognised across the EU, as well as in the UK and the US.

The Hungarian healthcare system is considerably cheaper than in other European countries. Dental services, vision correction surgeries, and plastic surgeries are especially popular among foreigners. In addition, Budapest is known as the spa capital of Europe, and it has an abundance of thermal springs.

3. Tax optimisation. Hungary has tax agreements with over 60 countries, including the USA, the UK, China, India, and Brazil, helping tax residents of those countries avoid double taxation.

In addition, the tax rates in Hungary are among the lowest in Europe. Personal income is taxed at just 15%, while the corporate tax rate is 9%.

4. Safety. As per the Global Peace Index 2023, Hungary is one of the 20 safest countries in the world. The crime levels have dropped by 65% over the past 10 years in the country.

5. Low cost of living. Hungary is one of the cheapest European countries to live in. In Budapest, the capital and the most expensive city in the country, estimated monthly costs for a family of four are less than €2,500 without rent.

For comparison, the same level of life would be over €3,500 in Vienna, over €4,000 in Berlin, and almost €6,000 in London.

How to become a Hungarian citizen after permanent residency

After 8 years of living in Hungary with permanent residence, foreigners can apply for citizenship by naturalisation.

The required residence time before applying for citizenship is reduced for these categories:

1. Foreigners born in Hungary or who received a residence permit before age 18 must live in the country for 5 years to be eligible for a Hungarian passport.
2. Spouses of Hungarian citizens and parents of Hungarian underaged citizens live in Hungary for 3 years.
3. Foreigners of Hungarian origin are granted citizenship by origin or by repatriation within up to 1 year of residing in Hungary.

A citizenship applicant must have a clean criminal record and pass an exam on knowledge of the Hungarian language, history, culture, and Constitution. Spouses of Hungarian citizens do not need to take the exam. The application is reviewed within 3—6 months.

Hungarian laws allow dual citizenship, meaning that a foreigner does not need to renounce their first citizenship to get Hungarian nationality unless it is forbidden in their country.

Living in Hungary: real estate, public transport and more

Real estate prices. The highest property prices are in Budapest: it is estimated that renting a three-bedroom apartment in the city centre would cost just above €1,000 per month on average. For comparison, in Vienna or Prague, the capitals of neighbouring Austria and the Czech Republic, the same apartment would cost over €1,800 per month.

Public transport. Hungary’s public transport network is pretty well-developed. Budapest stands out with its metro system and yellow trams, but buses run in all cities. For Budapest Public Transportation, tickets can be purchased at kiosks and vending machines, as well as online. A monthly ticket can cost around €24.

Expat community. The number of foreigners living in Hungary has been steadily rising over the past few years. In 2023, over 400,000 foreigners were legally residing in the country with residence permits. Nearly 100,000 of them live in Budapest, with most coming from China, Vietnam, and Ukraine.

Remote work. Hungary has a program for digital nomads, so they are creating favourable conditions for remote workers. In Budapest, there are plenty of coworking spaces and work-friendly cafes. The internet speed in the country is well above average, with some rankings putting them among the top 20 countries in the world.

Key things to know about permanent residency in Hungary

1. A foreigner can become a permanent resident in Hungary after three years of living in the country with a temporary permit.
2. There are multiple ways to obtain a temporary residence permit, including employment, business, family reunification, and investment.
3. The Hungary Golden Visa program allows non-EU and non-EEA citizens to receive a 10-year residence permit for investing at least €250,000.
4. After eight years of living in the country with a permanent residence permit, it is possible to apply for Hungary citizenship.