News brief · Residency
Hungary: draft bill to abolish the investor visa from 2027
On 4 November 2026, the Hungarian government published a draft bill abolishing its visa and residence programme for investors. If adopted, it would enter into force on 1 January 2027, with transitional rules for pending applications.
By Editorial team · on November 9, 2026
- Countries concerned
- Hungary
- Source
- imidaily.com
- Writing
- Brief written with the help of AI from the cited source, published without human review.
What the draft bill provides
On 4 November 2026, the Hungarian government published a draft bill to abolish the visa and residence permit programme for foreign investors (Guest Investor). If adopted, the text would enter into force on 1 January 2027 and close the programme to new applicants.
The measure is part of a broader legislative package amending several laws on law enforcement and public security. Its stated aim is to remove this programme from immigration legislation.
Transitional provisions
Applications submitted no later than 31 December 2026 would be processed under the current rules, provided that the administrative fees had been paid by that date. This would cover visas, new residence permits and extension applications. An investor holding a valid visa issued before 1 January 2027 could then apply for a residence permit under the existing rules.
One exception would concern visa-exempt nationals already legally present in Hungary: from 1 January 2027, they would no longer be able to submit an application for an investor residence permit.
Current holders and reminder of the programme
Existing permits would remain valid until they expire, with no possibility of extension. Family members would retain their rights, with a permit limited to a maximum of 10 ans, with no extension beyond that. The right to work would be maintained for the duration of the permits' validity, and the authorities could withdraw a permit if the qualifying investment ceases to exist.
Launched in 2024, the programme offered two routes: an investment of 250 000 € in units of eligible real estate funds, with a minimum holding period of 5 ans, or a donation of 1 million € to an eligible higher education institution. The permit is valid for up to 10 ans and can be extended for a further 10 ans under current legislation.
What to check
This is a draft bill: the source specifies neither the timetable for the vote nor any possible amendments to the text. People wishing to remain in Hungary after their permit expires would need to obtain another residence status, such as national permanent residence, if they meet the conditions.
Please note