Hungarian Golden Visa: could be your last chance

In the latest proposal submitted for public debate just now, the Hungarian Golden Visa program is proposed to end this year, meaning that no new applications could be submitted after December 31, 2026. While this is only a proposal for now, the government is accepting public feedback for a few days and may vote on this bill as early as end of next week.

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Get started before 2026 is out

The application process has several steps, but you need to complete only the first one by the end of this year if you want to take advantage of Europe’s best investment residency scheme that grants visa-free access to the Schengen zone for the whole family for 10 years.

1. Visa application: Get the process started, and make sure your paperwork is submitted and the application fee is paid by December 31.
2. Make the investment: You get a visa valid for 6 months. Come to Hungary as soon as you can, and make the investment you pledge within 3 months after first entering Hungary.
3. Apply for residency: Based on your investment, you can apply for a residence permit that will be valid for 10 years.

If you can complete Step 1 by the end of this year, you should be able to get the guest investor residence permit for yourself and your family members in 2027.

Of course, guest investor residence permits already issued will remain valid until expiry.

10 years of EU residency guaranteed

The spouse and underage children (under 18) of the investor will be able to apply for Hungarian residency based on the residency of the main applicant. While the residence permit of the main applicant will be valid for 10 years, the permit of the family members will have an expiry based on their passport validity. However, family members will be able to extend their permits to match the permit of the main applicant, so the whole family will get EU residency for the full 10 years.

Don’t wait too much

The Hungarian Parliament will likely vote about the cancellation of the Golden Visa Program sometime next week. However, if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, there is no time to waste. The end of 2026 is less than 2 months away, and the last two weeks of the year are taken over by the holiday season with several public holidays, meaning that many governmental institutions will be closed.

We know from experience that for any program, the last days of application are the busiest. Don’t leave the application to the last minute, take action now.

About Helpers

Helpers has more than 20 years of experience providing business, immigration, and investment support to international clients in Hungary. We assist hundreds of clients every year with business setup and residency applications, and our colleagues are ready to commit to your cause.