Immigration to Hungary. Which is better – residence permit or permanent residence?
Quite often you can hear from people who are going to emigrate to Europe that they consider exclusively developed countries as a new country of residence – Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland.
Notably, a slightly biased attitude remains towards the countries of the former socialist camp: few people want to live, study and work there. Countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary cause ambivalent feelings. It seems to be Europe, but with vestiges of the socialist past.
However, those who have chosen the most popular destinations for emigration very often face severe disappointments. Developed European countries that are members of the EU are scrupulous about the selection of candidates for citizenship.
Getting a temporary residence permit and then a permanent residence permit with an outlook for naturalization can be very difficult, as more and more harsh quotas are introduced every year. The situation has become especially complicated in the conditions of mass migration from Africa and the Middle East region.
What remains for the majority of our fellow citizens? Could a dream of a quiet life somewhere in developed Europe remain a dream? In fact, things are not that bad as you may think: there are certain ways and loopholes that legally allow you to naturalize in the European Union.
One of these ways is to emigrate to Hungary by getting a residence permit. This stage will be a real and quick way for many people to officially naturalize in the EU. Later you can always use the citizenship of this country as a “springboard” for immigration to more economically developed countries.
Getting a residence permit and permanent residence in Hungary
A Hungarian residence permit and permanent resident status subsequently, as it was mentioned above, is an opportunity to obtain citizenship of any EU country of your choice with minimal effort and financial investment.
That is why this way may be relevant for most of our fellow citizens who cannot take advantage of naturalization programs through investment, for example. Getting permanent residence status in Hungary is quite easy, especially if you compare this process with such in Spain or Germany, for example.
Advantages of a residence permit in Hungary
The main advantage of the Hungarian residence permit is that you enjoy all the rights and privileges of residents of a country that is a part of the European Union. The other benefits are:
- Free travel within the countries included in the Schengen area;
- Possibility to have a backup in Europe in case of a serious political, economic or military crises in your country;
- Reliability and security of personal funds in any currency in European financial institutions with an unassailable reputation;
- Opportunity to conduct business in Europe;
- Purchase and ownership of real estate objects with the possibility to rent and resale;
- Getting the best European education in any selected educational institutions of Europe (no need to apply for student visas);
- Opportunity to experience high-quality medical services.
Rapid emigration to Hungary from Russia as well as from other countries of the post-Soviet space, is possible if you have the opportunity to invest a certain amount in the Hungarian economy, which we will discuss later.
Immigration advantages of Hungary
What can be attractive in immigration to Hungary? The first thing is that this country provides quite attractive conditions for all applicants and candidates for citizenship. If you plan to live, work, study and conduct business here, you definitely will not lose.
As for integration into the local community, for Ukrainians and Russians this process goes as smoothly and comfortably as possible. Despite the fact that the Hungarian language is not considered to be the easiest to learn, it is phonetically close to us, so it is quickly mastered if desired.
The Hungarian mentality is very similar to the Slavic one, so you will have no difficulty in communicating and accepting the values of the country’s natives. We draw your attention to the level of development of the healthcare system, as well as to the high-quality educational program in any educational institution of the country. On these points, Hungary is equal to the most developed countries of the EU.
Moreover, Hungarian real estate objects are very cheap compared to those in other countries. You can buy an apartment or a house for a reasonable price. We also note moderate prices for food and inexpensive utilities.
The country has a very developed tourism industry, so you will have places to go and things to see. The crime rate is one of the lowest in Europe, so you will feel absolutely secure about the safety of your family members.
In many ways Hungary is an ideal place to live and work. Located in the heart of the Schengen area of Europe, it is a modern country with a prosperous arts and culture, a relatively low cost of living and a very business-friendly climate.
Hungary is also very hospitable to newcomers, but it is important to strictly follow all the rules. To determine the best way to a new life in Hungary, it is better to consult a Hungarian immigration specialist at our company. We will be happy to assist you throughout your naturalization journey.
Ways to get a residence permit of Hungary
Whether you move here for work, business, or simply look for a safe and inexpensive way to gain residency of the EU, Hungary can be a great choice with multiple naturalization options available to clients of all nationalities and backgrounds.
You can get a temporary or permanent residence permit for employment, setting up a business in Hungary, investing in the economy, marital status, etc. To find the best option for you and your family, apply for a free consultation with our company!
Residence permit in Hungary for investment
How to immigrate to Hungary for investment? Until recently, the Hungarian government actively promoted the naturalization program, which allowed people to obtain permanent resident status in the shortest possible time. If you had a certain amount, you could invest it in particular areas with the possibility to get a temporary residence permit in three months, and a permanent residence permit in just 6 months.
How to get a permanent residence permit in Hungary in such a way? It is necessary to purchase specially issued securities (government bonds) in the amount of €300,000 or more. It is not worth counting on dividends on government bonds, since they cannot become profitable by definition, but after five years the country guarantees to return the investment to the investor.
In other words, you lend the country the funds for economic development, which you get back in the same amount after 5 years. Moreover, the investor must pay certain fees, the amount of which reaches €60,000, but at the same time (and this is very important) each member of the applicant’s family gets a residence permit.
After obtaining a permanent residence permit (in six months, as it was mentioned above), you will be able to travel throughout Europe without problems and visas. You can also conduct business in the European Union.
The chain of steps “residence permit in Hungary – permanent residence – citizenship” takes only 8 years. This is longer than in Portugal, for example, where a passport can be obtained in 5-6 years, but faster than in any other country of the EU. In addition, our fellow citizens and their families assimilate easier in Hungary specifically due to the similarity of mentalities and languages.
Buy property in Hungary and get a residence permit
If you are familiar with programs like GoldenVisa, which are quite popular in Spain or Portugal, for example, and offer simplified conditions for obtaining temporary and permanent residence permits, in Hungary everything is mildly more complicated in this regard.
You can choose and buy one or more real estate objects, but only few people will get a temporary residence permit. You just get in line (quite a long one, we must say) of applicants, and the probability of obtaining a status is quite small.
For this, it is necessary to:
- Buy appropriate medical insurance;
- Fulfill the requirements of the laws of Hungary regarding real estate objects, which may be the reason for obtaining the status of a resident;
- Provide information on the availability of sufficient funds on bank accounts in Hungary (€6,000 per family member);
- Prove the legality of the source of funds;
- Provide certificates of good conduct, etc.
In fact, as evidenced in practice, obtaining temporary resident status when purchasing a real estate object is more luck than an accepted rule. Real estate prices in the country are very low, there are no restrictions and there is a minimum purchase level.
Register a business in Hungary
The option of a residence permit in Hungary through employment may become possible if you decide to set up your own business in this country. Registration will cost at least € 2,500, and the main conditions are: transparent business, due payment of taxes, creation of job opportunities for local citizens.
Many businessmen note that the Hungarian legislation in terms of registration and conducting business, as well as taxation, is quite confusing and complicated. It is better to hire a highly qualified local expert to handle the bookkeeping.
Obtaining a temporary residence permit through opening a business is strictly controlled at the state level, so you need to be prepared for all sorts of bureaucratic delays and prevarications.
Other ways to get a residence permit in Hungary: marriage, student visa and emigration of retirees
For those who are going to marry a resident of the country, there are simplified conditions for obtaining a temporary residence permit. You can get a temporary residence permit in just 3-4 weeks, provided that all the necessary documents and application are available.
The number of refusals to grant status by this option is minimal, since family priorities are quite important in Hungary. At the same time, you must be prepared for a thorough check: the policy of fictitious marriages has not gone away, so special authorities check all marriages for possible fraudulent schemes very scrupulously.
Applicants who have been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 3 years can count on obtaining citizenship under an accelerated procedure. At the time of inspection, you shall not be divorced.
Immigration to Hungary is possible under conditions of family reunification, however, such options will be relevant only for members with a close relation degree (parents, children, grandparents, brothers, sisters). Aged parents and children must obtain dependent status.
Conditions for immigration to Hungary for non-residents working in the country are rather vague. As a rule, foreigners cannot obtain a temporary residence permit if they have not previously got an employment visa. The visa shall be opened on the basis of an agreement between the employer and the employee and existence of a valid employment contract. Highly qualified specialists can count on obtaining permit under the accelerated program.
Emigration to Hungary according to the educational program will be relevant for students from other countries applying to local higher education institutions. They shall obtain a long-term visa valid for more than 3 months, as well as pass a test for the level of knowledge of the Hungarian language.
Retirees who have lived within the country for at least one three-year period can apply for permanent residence permit. They shall provide a certain package of documents, including:
- Pensioner ID card;
- Bank certificate on availability of at least €10,000 on the accounts;
- Certificates of pension accruals for the last 6 months;
- Documents confirming the availability of a place of residence, etc.
Additionally, there are several more options for obtaining temporary residence permit in Hungary, which are quite specific and not suitable for everyone. You can be engaged in scientific research activities, be a member of a diplomatic mission or stay in the country in order to receive high-quality medical services.