Hungary Golden Visa May End on January 1st, 2027

Hungary plans to stop issuing residence permits by investment from January 1st, 2027. The changes are proposed by the government in a new bill amending Act XC of 2023, which regulates the entry and residence of non-EU nationals^{[1]Source: Bill amending Act XC of 2023 on the Hungarian government website}.

Hungary’s Ministry of Interior published the bill for public consultation on November 4th, 2026. Comments on the document are accepted until November 12th^{[2]Source: Official Hungarian government notice dated November 5th, 2026, on the publication of the bill for public consultation}.

The Hungary Golden Visa allows non-EEA nationals to obtain a 10-year residence permit, renewable for another 10 years. The applicant first obtains a Guest Investor Visa and enters Hungary to submit the residence permit application.

The draft law contains transitional provisions for investors who have already submitted an application or obtained a Guest Investor Visa or residence permit.

Applications submitted by December 31st, 2026, will continue to be processed under the current rules. The transitional provisions apply to applications for:

• Guest Investor Visas;
• initial investor residence permits;
• renewal of an existing residence permit.

A mandatory condition is that the administrative fee must be paid no later than December 31st, 2026. Without payment, the application will not fall under the transitional provisions.

Existing residence permits will remain valid until the expiry date shown on the residence card. However, they will not be renewable. The draft law preserves the right to work in Hungary for residence permit holders and their family members while the permits remain valid.

Investors who plan to obtain resident status in the EU can consider residence permits in Greece, Portugal and Malta. Key benefits include visa-free travel within the Schengen Area, residence permits for close family members and the possibility of recovering the investment in some cases.

Greece

Foreigners obtain a residence permit in Greece for 5 years with the possibility of renewal. Permanent residence in Greece is not required to retain the permit.

The minimum property value depends on the location and category of the property:

• €250,000 for certain property conversion projects and the restoration of historic buildings;
• €400,000 for property purchases in most regions of Greece;
• €800,000 for property in Athens, Thessaloniki and other high-demand areas.

The property must remain in the investor’s ownership throughout the validity period of the residence permit. 

Real estate objects can be sold and the investment recovered after obtaining permanent residence or citizenship.

Portugal

A residence permit in Portugal can be obtained with an investment of at least €250,000. To retain the permit, the investor and their family members must spend at least 7 days a year in Portugal.

The most popular investment option is the purchase of investment fund units worth at least €500,000. The money can be recovered after the mandatory 5-year holding period.

Malta

Malta Permanent Residence Programme, or MPRP, allows citizens of countries outside the European Union to obtain permanent residence in Malta. 

Investors must pay fees and make a charitable donation. They must also choose one of two real estate options:

1. Renting property for at least €14,000 per year.
2. Buying property for at least €375,000.

The main applicant must also demonstrate ownership of assets worth at least €500,000, including at least €150,000 in financial assets.

Permanent residence in Malta is granted through a dedicated programme, it is not a Golden Visa. Investors obtain permanent residence status that does not need to be renewed: only the residence card must be renewed every 5 years.