​Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Hello and welcome to Bentley Golden Visa! Before entering into a service agreement with you, we first assess your prospects of obtaining a 10+10 year residence permit, the Hungarian Golden Visa. To do this, we suggest conducting a due diligence interview, preferably via video call, or in writing if preferred. During the interview we’re happy to answer any questions you may have throughout the process. The interview is not mandatory, but it will give you a clearer understanding of your chances of securing the Hungarian Golden Visa. If the outcome of the interview is positive, your prospects of obtaining a Hungarian residence permit are strong, and we will move forward with a service agreement. The pre-check is free of charge. This concludes the onboarding phase. After that, we will begin collecting all the documents required for your investor visa application.

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit has three stages. 1) First, you need an investor visa. The visa is granted only to the investing person, not to the other family members. It serves only to enable the investor to travel to Hungary to carry out the investment. If you hold a nationality or second citizenship that allows visa-free travel to Hungary, you will not need the 'investor visa' and can proceed directly to the second phase, which involves investing in a real estate investment fund. You can find the list of visa-free countries here. If you already have a Schengen visa (tourist or other type) for Hungary or another EU country, you will still need an 'investor visa' as your nationality does not allow visa-free entry. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 2) Then you make the required investment (€250 000) or donation (€ 1 000 000) to a Hungarian university of your choice. 3) Finally, you receive the residence permit, the Golden Visa. Together with you (the investor), the direct family members you have named will also receive their residence permits. At this occasion all involved family members have to travel once to Budapest in order to provide biometric data. The government has full authority to issue visas and residence permits. There is therefore no guarantee that the procedure will end successfully in every case. The government is, however, interested in attracting investors to the country.

Essentially, we need to prove the following with your application: a.) the lawful acquisition of the amount to be invested in Hungary (source of funds), b.) that you have this amount permanently at your disposal. c.) that you could support your family if you were to move to Hungary. However, there is no minimum stay requirement in Hungary. The procedure is purely document-based. All evidence must therefore be provided in writing. We will guide you through this bureaucratic process every step of the way. We will review all documents in advance so that your procedure can be completed as quickly as possible. The above requirements may sound daunting. Don't worry, we will guide you through this.

The investor (you) and the family members involved must submit a whole series of documents, which may vary from case to case. We will tell you exactly which documents you need after evaluating your individual situation. You will need to submit your investor visa application in person in your country of residence. A short interview will be part of the process, and we will prepare you for it. We will schedule the appointment and handle all the details—providing you with a seamless, end-to-end service.

In this section, we are referring to the visa, not the residence permit. The visa is the first step toward obtaining a residence permit, commonly known as the Golden Visa. It allows you to travel to Hungary and make your investment. In the meantime, there is a securities broker that offers remote account opening, so you may not need to travel to Hungary just to open the account where your fund units will be held. However, the visa remains legally required. The visa allows you to enter Hungary as often as you wish within a 180-day period and to stay for as long as you like during that time. Once you receive your residence permit, the visa will automatically expire. Please note that we are required to notify the authorities that you have made your investment no later than 90 days after your first entry into Hungary. This deadline is very important.

In order to obtain a residence permit, we must first apply for an investor visa on your behalf as the investor. Once you have received the investor visa, you can proceed with the required investment or donation. After that, we will submit the residence permit applications -commonly referred to as the Golden Visa - for you and your family members. The effort involved in applying for the residence permit is relatively limited, as most of the applicant’s information has already been reviewed by the authorities and the securities broker during the visa application and investment phases. The authority to grant residence permits rests solely with the Hungarian government. Therefore, no outcome can be guaranteed. However, if the documents are properly prepared, the chances of approval are very good.

The application for the residence permit is the final step in the three-stage process for obtaining a residence permit, commonly known as the Golden Visa. First you apply for a visa, then you invest and finally you get the residence permit. In addition to the application form, the effort involved here will be less than when applying for an investor's visa because we can reuse some of the documents we needed for the visa application and the securities account opening. We will inform you in good time and in detail which documents you would like to obtain. Essentially, on the one hand, you have to prove that you have made your investment. On the other hand, we have to prove that the other entitled persons are actually your relatives (marriage and birth certificates). If the authorities do not hear any new facts regarding your person after the investor visa has been issued and before the residence permit has been given, the risk of rejection is very low. However, the authorities always have the last word and they do not have to justify their decision.

We have outlined the advantages of a Hungarian residence permit, commonly known as the Golden Visa, on our website. Please read this page: https://www.bentleygoldenvisa.com/ .

Your residence permit is initially valid for 10 years. It can be renewed for a further 10 years provided that you have an investment at the time of the extension, i.e. after the first 10 years. You can withdraw your investment after five years at the earliest. Even then, your residence permit remains valid until the end of the tenth year. If you sell your investment before the first 10 years have expired and wish to renew for the second 10 years, you must reinvest before the end of the 10th year. It is therefore possible for you to sell your investment after 5 years and then reinvest before the end of the tenth year in order to meet the requirements for the renewal . We advise against this approach, as the government may increase the investment amount, which could have a negative impact on you. We recommend that you hold the investment until shortly after the renewal and then sell it in the eleventh year if necessary. These rules on renewal also apply to your family members.

The investor (€250 000) or the donor (€1 000 000). The married spouse Common and not common children (including adopted and foster children) under 18, Minor children, under 18, over whom they have parental authority, The investor's and the spouse's economically dependent parents The investor's and the spouse's siblings, if they are unable to care for themselves because of ill health. Children must be under 18 years of age at the time of applying for the travel visa to Hungary. If the child reaches the age of majority between the visa application and the issuance of the residence permit, this should not pose a problem. The legal situation on this point is unclear. This information is based on informal communication with the authority. Their written response did not provide any meaningful clarification. The residence permit does not expire if the children exceed the age limit of 18 after receiving it. No economical dependency is required. Grandparents are not included in the program. During the preliminary examination of your application, we will be happy to help you determine whether one of your relatives is eligible for a residence permit.

There are two ways to invest under the Golden Visa Program: a.) Investment of €250,000 in a Hungarian real estate investment fund: These funds are required by law to invest at least 40% in residential real estate in Hungary, with the remaining 60% permitted for other types of real estate. The law prohibits any non-real estate investments, which significantly limits risk. All Golden Visa real estate investment funds are approved and supervised by the Hungarian National Bank. Strict requirements apply. Several fund management companies have been active in the market for many years and have a solid track record. You invest directly in the fund — we never handle your money. If the fund performs well, it may pay dividends. Your capital is not spent; it is invested in a real estate fund. That said, you should not expect this to be the best investment of your life. The real value lies in obtaining your residence permit (Golden Visa), not in achieving an exceptionally high return. b.) Donation of €1,000,000: Alternatively, you may choose to donate €1,000,000 to a Hungarian university of your choice. Unlike the investment option, this amount is not refundable. This route is available for applicants who, for specific reasons, are unable to invest in funds. This applies to U.S. citizens.

Investment scope of Hungarian Golden Visa real estate funds is strictly defined by law. 40% of the fund’s assets must be invested in residential real estate located in Hungary. These properties must be actively used by the fund — typically through rental — to generate income and increase the fund’s value. The remaining 60% of the assets may also be invested exclusively in real estate, but without geographic or usage restrictions. This means the fund may invest in hotels, office buildings, retail spaces, logistics centers, and similar types of property, including outside of Hungary. A portion of the fund’s assets may be held in cash reserves to ensure liquidity at all times. All other types of investment — including higher-risk assets such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or derivatives — are strictly prohibited by law.

In July 2025, two real estate investment fund management companies were approved to accept Golden Visa investments. One fund management firm has no track record; it was only established in 2024, and the majority of ownership appears to be in Chinese hands. The other fund management firm, Hungarian owned, has been in existence since 2009 and has been successfully operating in the fund business since before the Golden Visa program began in 2024. Of course, the two funds are aware that competition between the funds is limited due to their small number. Accordingly, we expect conditions to improve over time. The decision in which funds you want to invest is yours. Under Hungarian law, neither the fund management firms nor we are permitted to market or advertise the investment funds.

Under Hungarian law, Golden Visa funds are classified as so-called private funds. These funds are intended for high-net-worth investors, such as Golden Visa applicants. In general, the minimum investment for private funds is €100,000, which naturally excludes small-scale retail investors. This distinction is important because, unlike public funds, private funds are not allowed to conduct marketing activities. As a result, no promotional materials are available for these funds. Many people misunderstand this as intentional lack of transparency. However, that is absolutely not the case. The immigration law specifically requires Golden Visa funds to be structured as private funds, which limits what fund managers are legally permitted to do. We can provide you with the following information: One of the Golden Visa funds is called Gravitas Real Estate Investment Fund, and the other is Sprint Real Estate Development Fund. Each fund is managed by a licensed fund manager and distributed through licensed securities brokers. Here are some details: Gravitas Fund Fund Manager: https://granitalapkezelo.hu/en/golden-visa/ 2024 annual financial statement Securities Brokers: a.) Equilor Investment Ltd.: https://www.equilor.hu/en/ 2024 annual financial statement b.) MBH Investment Bank Ltd.: https://www.mbhbefektetesibank.hu/ (Hungarian only) 2024 annual financial statement Key information about the fund management company: Year of establishment: 2009 Number of funds managed: Over 30, including one Golden Visa fund Assets under management: Approx. €2.5 billion Number of employees: Around 90 Annual financial statement for 2024 (AI translation to English) Sprint Fund Fund Manager: Sprint Asset Fund Management Ltd.: https://www.sprintasset.hu/fund-manager/ 2024 annual financial statement Securities Broker: Codex Treasury Ltd.: https://ertektar.hu/ (Hungarian only) 2024 annual financial statement: n/a Key information about the fund management company: Year of establishment: 2024 Number of funds managed: 1 Assets under management: Unknown, estimated under €200 million Number of employees: Fewer than 10 The available 2024 annual financial statements have been translated into English using AI. The original documents are in Hungarian. Golden Visa investors are free to decide which fund they wish to invest in. Bentley Golden Visa is not permitted to provide investment advice or offer any promotional materials in this regard. The information above is provided without guarantee and is based on publicly available sources as of February 2025.

We work primarily with funds that have a long track record. Real estate investment funds have been around in Hungary for many years without any scandals or bankruptcies. Real estate funds may only invest in real estate. Historically, this has been associated with lower risks than other asset classes. We work with several funds. You are free to decide which ones you want to invest in. Your money goes directly from you to the funds, never to us. Only investments in Hungarian real estate funds that are authorized and supervised by the Hungarian National Bank are permitted. You will receive your fund units in the form of dematerialized units. Since the dematerialized units are assigned directly to you and are secured by an independent custodian bank and depository, this form is considered one of the safest forms of investment. In addition, the units are securely protected in the event of a bank insolvency, so that they remain available to the investor. The funds we recommend meet the requirements of the AIFM Directive (Alternative Investment Fund Managers). This is a legal framework created by the European Union to supervise the management and distribution of alternative investment funds (AIF) in the EU. The directive applies to various types of AIF, including real estate funds. When a fund manager offers a wide range of funds, they will be particularly careful not to let any single fund run into trouble. A blow to their reputation could easily spill over to all their other funds — much like a domino effect. This requirement compels fund managers to operate with careful and responsible business conduct.

The law on Hungarian investor residence permits (Golden Visa) requires that 40% of the assets of a real estate investment fund be allocated to residential real estate within Hungary. This is a new development in Hungary. In the past, real estate funds typically focused on commercial properties, which historically offered higher returns. As a result, there is no track record of historical yields for these new funds, which now also include residential real estate in their portfolios. Fund managers estimate potential returns in the range of 2% to 3% (in euros). However, there is no guarantee that returns at this level will actually be achieved. What is certain, though, is that Budapest faces a shortage of rental apartments - demand clearly exists. Ultimately, the real value of this investment is not the potential yield, but the 10-year residence permit it provides for you and your family.

Whether you are required to pay tax on fund income earned in Hungary depends on several factors - most importantly, whether a double taxation agreement exists between your country of residence and Hungary. For this reason, we are unable to make a general statement. If you are tax resident in your home country, capital gains and dividends may be taxable there. Since this falls outside our jurisdiction, we strongly recommend consulting a qualified tax advisor in your country. If you choose to make Hungary your primary residence, Hungarian tax laws will apply. In that case, income from the fund will be subject to a flat personal income tax rate of 15%. In addition, a health insurance contribution will be required, capped at approximately USD 1,400 per year. Please note that each case is unique and should be assessed individually. We would be happy to review your personal situation in detail. However, the information provided here is non-binding and does not constitute tax advice.

Minimum holding period: 5 years The law requires you to hold your investment for at least five years. After this period, you are free to sell it at any time. Sale within the first 5 years According to securities experts, it is technically possible to sell your investment during the first five years. However, in this case, the bank must notify the immigration authority, which will revoke the residence permits of both you and your family members. Sale after 5 years, but within the first 10 years If you sell your fund units after the five-year holding period, your residence permit remains valid for the full 10-year term. Golden Visa renewal after 10 years To renew your Golden Visa after 10 years, you must hold a qualifying investment at the time of renewal. If you plan to extend your residence status, we recommend maintaining the investment for the full 10-year period. Sale after renewal (after 10 years) If you maintain your investment through the first 10 years, you may sell the fund units immediately after the renewal process is complete. Your residence permit will remain valid until the end of the 20th year. Selling and reinvesting While the law is not fully clear on this point, in theory you may sell your investment after five years and reinvest before the 10th year to meet the renewal requirement. However, we advise against this strategy, as the government may increase the required investment amount in the future, which could negatively affect you. Our recommendation To minimize risk, we recommend that you retain the investment until shortly after the 10-year renewal. If necessary, consider selling in the 11th year.

Hungarian real estate investment funds can only accept payments in euros. If you plan to convert a larger amount of foreign currency into euros, we strongly recommend asking your bank for preferential exchange conditions. There are also online platforms — such as Wise or Revolut — that typically offer favorable exchange rates with low or no fees. If you prefer to exchange your funds at a Hungarian bank, we will be happy to assist you with the process.

The funds themselves are required to repurchase the fund units they have issued. This is done at the so-called Net Asset Value (NAV), which reflects the value of the real estate portfolio at the time of sale. The NAV is regularly determined by an independent party. Currently, banks charge a redemption fee of 1%. Please note that this fee may change without our knowledge. As a rule, the intention to sell must be communicated to the bank approximately one year before the expected payout. This is understandable, as the fund is invested in real estate and may require time to sell properties on the market in order to ensure sufficient liquidity.

One broker, Equilor Investment Ltd., has agreed to allow you to view the contracts. Here are the available documents: a) Account Opening Form b) Client Account Agreement c) General Framework Agreement d) KYC (Know Your Customer) Form e) Securities Purchase Order The other two brokers have not consented to the release of their documents. However, the content of the agreements is largely similar. Upon specific request, the documents can be sent to you directly by the broker. Please let us know if you wish to proceed, and we will coordinate this for you. Two of the three brokers - both distributing units of the Gravitas Fund - differ mainly in one aspect. With Equilor, the investor must appear in person to open the account. With the other broker, remote account opening is possible without being physically present. Of course, you may also choose to appear in person if you prefer. It is important to note that the securities account you open will be in your personal name. You will transfer the €250,000 to this account. The funds will remain there until you submit a written purchase order, instructing the broker to buy units of the real estate investment fund of your choice. In summary: The Gravitas Fund is distributed by two brokers. If you choose Equilor, you will need to travel to Hungary twice: once to open the account, and later to submit your biometric data. If you choose the other Gravitas broker, or invest in the Sprint Fund, only one trip to Hungary is required.

The investor visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days. Within this time, we must report the completion of the investment – with the corresponding evidence – to the relevant authority. If this is not done, your visa will expire. A new investor visa cannot be applied for under the current regulations.

We will inform the bank in advance if you prefer to make the payment in multiple installments. The individual amounts will first be collected in your account, and the investment in the real estate fund will only be made once the full required amount is available in the Hungarian account. Please note that your investor visa is valid for 180 days. We recommend ensuring that the total amount is available in the account within 90 days at the latest.

You submit your application for a Hungarian investor visa before making any investment. In other words, you invest only after your investor visa has been officially granted by the state. If no negative information about you arises between the issuance of the investor visa and the residence permit - a period of approximately two months - it is highly unlikely that your residence permit will be denied. During this time, the immigration authority generally does not conduct any further checks, as they did them in the very beginning, when granting the investors visa. Even in the very rare and unexpected event that negative information does appear and the residence permit is not granted, your investment will be refunded - however, only after a waiting period of 250 business days.

Yes, of course.

If you hold cryptocurrencies, you can have them converted into euros in advance and then proceed with the investment. Please note that only euros can be deposited into the securities account. The requirement to provide credible proof of the source of your funds also applies when converting cryptocurrencies.

We charge a one-off fee for our services, depending on the number of applicants. This includes our end-to-end assistance throughout the entire official process from the investor visa to the residence permit for the investor and their family members. We are also at your side during the investment process. The above costs include official fees and other direct costs (for translation, certification, apostille, courier, etc.), provided they are incurred in Hungary. Costs incurred abroad (translations, notarizations, apostilles, official fees etc.) are at your expense, as are travel and accommodation costs and the costs associated with purchasing and holding of fund units. Details are regulated in the contract. The initial consultation (Client's onboarding), during which we determine together with the potential investor whether you are eligible for the Hungarian Golden Visa Program, is free of charge. Please contact us to get a personal quotation: myquotation@bentleygoldenvisa.com

Russians: As of 4 June 2025, we will fully accept Russian applications for the Hungarian Golden Visa. This includes Russian nationals currently residing in Russia, dual citizens, as well as Russian nationals holding a residence permit in another EU Member State. Americans: There are no legal obstacles here, but none of the currently approved funds want to get into trouble with the US tax authorities. That is why both funds categorically reject US citizens. For US citizens there is a way out, albeit an expensive one. In addition to investing in a real estate fund (€250,000), there is the option of making a donation to a Hungarian university (€1,000,000). The latter is not refundable, but it does not constitute a securities purchase and will therefore not cause any problems. Since the donor can choose the university, the university will do its best with the authorities to ensure that the residence permit is granted. We will inform you if this situation changes, for example, if other funds enter the market.

In order to obtain Hungarian citizenship, you must have resided in Hungary for at least 8 years. You will also have to pass a civics and a language test. Therefore there is no automatic transition from right of residence to citizenship. These are separate procedures. There are, even if unofficial, exceptions. If you invest significantly more than required, are important to Hungary for some reasons, the process can be much quicker. If you think that you have such reasons, we kindly make inquiries for you.

There is no minimum stay required in Hungary for holders of a investor's residence permit (Golden Visa). This means that you do not have to use your residence permit and there is no risk that it will expire as a result. Accordingly, you can regard it as security for a rainy day in your home country. However, you also have the right to move to Hungary with the family members involved in the process and spend an unlimited amount of time here.

Holders of an investor visa or an investor residence permit (Golden Visa) may stay in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. With the exception of Ireland and Cyprus, all EU countries are part of the Schengen Area. Romania and Bulgaria are members with certain limitations. Switzerland and Norway are not EU member states, but they do belong to the Schengen Area. For example, if you travel to Paris on January 1, you must leave France by April 1 at the latest. You may then return to France no earlier than July 1. You are free to enter and exit the Schengen Area as often as you wish. However, you are only permitted to establish residence in Hungary.

You can travel to any Schengen-country within 180 days for a maximum of 90 days. However, you may only take up residence in Hungary. After a 90-day stay in a Schengen country, you must leave it for 90 days. After that, you can travel there again for 90 days, etc. In Hungary, you can, of course, spend as much time as you like.

Depending on the selected investment fund or securities broker, the investor—that is, the main applicant - will need to travel to Hungary either once or twice in total. The broker who offers remote securities account opening without the investor being physically present is slightly more expensive, but the savings on travel costs generally outweigh the price difference. The entire family will need to travel to Hungary together once in order to provide their biometric data to the immigration authorities. This step is mandatory and cannot be skipped. Travel and accommodation expenses are not included in our service fee. However, we will personally pick you up from your hotel in Budapest and accompany you to the broker and the immigration office, and then back to your hotel.

If your passport was issued within the last three months, we will need your previous passport as well. The residence permit (Golden Visa) is a credit card–sized document that is independent of your passport.

No, unfortunately not. They will be required to pay international tuition fees. These are higher than local rates but still significantly lower than in the UK or the US. Hungary is a very popular destination for international students, particularly in fields like medicine.

Newly born children of the investor or the spouse are also entitled to receive a residence permit and can receive it immediately after reimbursement of minor costs.

The investor will need to travel to Hungary either once or twice. Since the purpose of the first visit is to open a securities account - and this can be done either in person or remotely - this first trip may be avoided. The second visit is mandatory for all participating family members (together with the investor) in order to provide biometric data in Budapest. We kindly ask that you arrange your own hotel accommodations for your stay in Hungary. We will gladly provide recommendations for hotels located near the fund management company and the immigration office. Please travel to your hotel independently. We will coordinate the appointments with the fund and the immigration office in advance and confirm everything with you in writing. On the day of your appointments, we will pick you up at your hotel at the agreed time and bring you back afterward. We kindly ask that you arrange your own transportation from the hotel to the airport. Both Uber and Bolt are available in Hungary.

You are required to notify the Hungarian immigration authority of any change in your marital status. Since your spouse obtained their residence permit under the legal basis of “family reunification,” this permit will be revoked if the family relationship is officially dissolved. Please note that the Hungarian authority does not receive automatic notifications about divorces finalized abroad.

Yes, there is no limitation.