Hungary as a window to Europe: Tranio client shares his experience of buying an apartment to obtain a residence permit

To reside permanently in any country of the European Union means to live in a stable economic and political environment, have a good salary and access to high-quality medicine and education. Plus have all civil rights and freedoms, as well as join the rich cultural and social life of the Old World. Russians planning to acquire Hungarian citizenship also count on all these benefits. The Central European republic, a member of the EU, is attractive for moving to permanent residence. And it is easier to obtain a Hungarian passport than, for example, Austrian or French citizenship.

How can a Russian citizen obtain Hungarian citizenship?

It is relatively easy to settle permanently in this European power. And then citizenship is just a stone's throw away. Of course, only if you follow the procedure established by the Hungarian authorities and comply with the Hungarian citizenship law. In addition, it is necessary to meet all the requirements imposed by official Budapest on “new” citizens. These requirements include, for example, knowledge of the Hungarian language, which is considered very difficult to learn.

There are several ways to obtain the coveted status. Here is how a foreigner can obtain Hungarian citizenship:

1. As a result of adoption by a Hungarian citizen. For obvious reasons, this option is suitable for few people.
2. By repatriation. The procedure is also not available to everyone.
3. Through naturalization. In theory, anyone who has lived in the republic for a certain period of time can apply for citizenship by naturalization.

What about citizenship by investment?

Investors will no longer be able to obtain a Hungarian passport on preferential terms. The program for obtaining a permanent residence permit through a one-time investment has been discontinued. The opportunity for investors to obtain permanent residence or citizenship under a simplified procedure is also excluded.

Persons wishing to invest in the Hungarian economy directly or through company registration will be able to acquire a residence permit, permanent residence permit, and then citizenship only on a general basis. That is, they will have to go through the full naturalization procedure.

If I buy real estate, will I get citizenship?

Investments through real estate also do not grant the right to automatic or simplified issuance of citizenship.
Purchasing an apartment, house or villa in a Central European state will provide the opportunity to apply for a residence permit on a general basis. 3 years after obtaining a residence permit, you submit an application for permanent residence to the immigration authorities. And if approved, you will receive permanent residence. And after another 5 years you can apply for citizenship. Owning real estate will be an additional point in your favor.

Who is entitled to birth status?

A child will receive Hungarian citizenship if his father and mother or one of them is a citizen of Hungary. Place of birth does not affect the granting of status.

If children of foreign parents were born in the country, they do not acquire Hungarian citizenship by birth. An exception to this rule is children born to stateless persons.

Is it possible to resume the permanent residence program in Hungary?

Today, the Hungarian permanent residence program for investment, which has been successfully operating since 2013, has been suspended. But experts in the migration field predict its resumption in the near future, already in 2018. At the same time, the Migration Group company offers an alternative - investment citizenship of Malta, which is even more attractive than the Hungarian residence permit.

The program was suspended in January 2021 due to the improving economic situation and the lack of need to attract additional finance. Thanks to the program, the budget was replenished by € 1 billion. 4,700 applicants, in addition to family members, expressed a desire to participate in it, as a result, about 10,000 people received permanent residence in Hungary.

Conditions for obtaining Hungarian permanent residence for investment

The increased popularity of obtaining Hungarian citizenship is due to the fact that they issue permanent rather than temporary status, as in other EU countries. In Hungary, permanent residence is granted to the whole family and for life with the prospect of obtaining citizenship under a simplified scheme. Another advantage is a one-month processing period for the application without the need to submit documents in person. They can be issued at the Consulate or Embassy.

Permanent residence in Hungary gives you the opportunity to live in any country in the Schengen area. The issue price is € 360,000, including 300 thousand investments in Hungarian government bonds with a guarantee of return in 5 years, and 60 thousand in a single administration fee. There is no additional charge for relatives. A non-refundable investment of €120,000 is possible. It is important to know that this is the lowest cost of residence status in Europe.

In addition to the main applicant, a wife/husband and minor children can participate in the program. You can register grandchildren, adult children, and parents for an additional fee. State legislation establishes lifelong status.

Registration procedure

Documents are accepted by the Consul at your place of residence. There are no residency requirements. To obtain permanent residence in Hungary you must prepare:

• international passport and internal passports of the applicant and all relatives + copies;

• a document indicating the maiden name and mother's name of each candidate;

• marriage certificate and its apostilled copy;

• registration of the place of residence of each applicant;

• bank details (IBAN / SWIFT);

• contact details: phone, e-mail.

Before completing the paperwork, the candidate must transfer the entire investment amount (€ 300,000) and the administration fee (€ 60,000) to the escrow agent of the program, to an account in “GRANIT BANK”, 49% of which belongs to the state, which guarantees the return of funds.

Since, according to experts in the migration field, the possibility of obtaining permanent residence in Hungary will resume in the near future, everyone should know that the team will provide fast and reliable paperwork. The company’s specialists will help you fill out forms, issue an apostille, and transfer funds. It is important that payment for services is made only after complete provision of the service.

Repatriation as a quick way to obtain status

Expedited acquisition of Hungarian citizenship and passport is allowed for ethnic Hungarians. Travel for accommodation within the framework of the state program for returning to the historical homeland is available:

• persons born in the former Hungarian regions - Transylvania, Southern Slovakia, Vojvodina, Transcarpathia;
• direct relatives of citizens born in one of these 4 territories.

The borders of Austria-Hungary on a modern map.
Hungarian roots are taken into account only up to the 4th generation - up to great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers. If a Russian’s relatives lived in one of the above territories before 1920 or in the period 1938–1945, then he has the right to immigrate to Hungary under the repatriation program.

A foreign citizen can receive the coveted passport as part of the return program in the shortest possible time. After this, it is not necessary to stay in the country permanently. You can return to the Russian Federation or move between other states for an unlimited period of time. Citizens will be allowed back into Hungarian lands without any restrictions and, of course, without visas - with a republican passport.

Conditions imposed on candidates

Applicants applying for citizenship through ethnic origin will be required to provide the following documents:

1. Application with autobiography.
2. Photo of the established sample (2 pieces). Photo requirement
3. International passport.
4. Russian passport.
5. Certificate of good conduct.
6. Birth papers.
7. Certificates of marriage or divorce (if available).
8. Documents on the birth of children (if available).
9. Any papers confirming nationality (Hungarian roots):

• birth certificates (your own, your ancestors along any line with confirmation of relationship with them);
• certificates of marriage or divorce;
• papers on change of name;
• archival extracts (from federal, regional or city archives, from the archives of various government agencies);
• labor characteristics from the place of work;
• registration cards from the enterprise;
• trade union member registration cards;
• academic cards of the Komsomol/CPSU member;
• Form A or 16 (registration/registration at the place of residence);
• extracts from the house register (including those registered with the street committee);
• Form 1 for obtaining a passport;
• sentences, rulings and court decisions;
• resolutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB, interrogation reports, indictments;
• documents from the Red Cross (if the relative was evacuated);
• military tickets;
• library reader ID cards, etc.

1. Confirmation of knowledge of the Hungarian language at a level not lower than B2 (without this the application will not be accepted):

• at least 1.5 years of study with a tutor (2-3 times a week);
• minimum 2 years of study in group classes.

If the papers were previously lost, they can be restored using metrics and records from the registry office or by submitting a request to the appropriate institution. An apostille is not required for documentation. But all documents not in Hungarian must be translated into this language. Translations are accepted only from OFFi or made by consular officers. Notarized translations from the Russian Federation/Ukraine have recently become unsuitable.

Keep in mind that translation of one document to OFFi with certification costs approximately 20 thousand forints. Transfer time is approximately 20 days. For an expedited transfer completed within 1 week, an additional additional payment of about 10 thousand forints is required. The originals of the translated documents are kept by the organization's employees until the translation is completed.

It is important to know! If you try to confirm your relationship with fake documentation, you will not only face a denial of citizenship, but also a ban on further entry into Hungary and criminal prosecution

Who accepts documents

A fully prepared documentation package is submitted to:

1. Or to the Immigration Office in Budapest.
2. Or to the diplomatic mission of Hungary in the Russian Federation (by prior agreement):

• embassy in the Russian capital;
• Consulate General in St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg.

In addition to submitting documents, the applicant will have an interview in Hungarian. However, when submitting an application directly in Hungary, the applicant may not be called for an interview - only to accept the necessary documents. In this case, the interview will take place later, but before taking the oath of allegiance to Hungary. The applicant will be interviewed in Hungarian, with two witnesses.

The reply is in process

The processing time for applications for citizenship for repatriates is 3–6 months. After approval of the application, you must take an oath of allegiance to Hungary. You can then obtain a state passport.

The date of taking the oath is notified in advance by a special letter. Usually it is sent 2-3 weeks before the special event.

Hungary: obtaining a residence permit through the purchase of real estate and family reunification

As you know, most European countries have tightened the rules for issuing residence permits, in particular, from September 1 of this year, Latvia introduced a minimum limit for the purchase of housing in the amount of 250,000 euros.

In this regard, we decided to interview one client of a company that specializes in providing support in obtaining a residence permit in Hungary through the purchase of real estate.

— Andrey, why did you decide to purchase real estate in Hungary and not in another Schengen country?

— Before settling on Hungary, I monitored almost all the countries of the Schengen agreement and made my choice for the following reasons: Hungary is included in the list of countries of the Schengen agreement, Hungary is located in the very center of Europe, there is no property tax in Hungary (with the exception of only 2 regions of Balaton and Heviz), and the most important thing is that at the moment in Hungary there is no limit on the cost of purchasing real estate to obtain a residence permit.

— What are the current requirements for the applicant, what exactly must be provided in order to obtain a residence permit?

— The main requirement today, according to the Hungarian Law on Third Country Nationals, is the availability of real estate, the availability of a means of subsistence, and health insurance. It is also an important fact that you can show both cash and insurance in Russia; it is not necessary to open bank accounts and insure your health in Hungary. Moreover, real estate is registered directly in the name of an individual without opening law firms, as required by many countries.

— Tell me, are you the only one who received a residence permit in Hungary?

— Another advantage of a Hungarian residence permit is that in addition to me, my entire family received a residence permit, namely my wife and two adult children. The fact is that in many countries you cannot reunite your adult children, but Hungary allows this.

— How long did it take you to reunite with your family? Those. first you received a residence permit, and then your family?

— No, we all submitted documents for obtaining a residence permit at the same time. The only thing is... I am the only owner of an apartment in Hungary, I had to give a notary document that I am not against my entire family living in this apartment, in addition, I attached a marriage certificate and birth certificates of children, and when submitting documents, different forms are simply filled out. I, as the owner, filled out one form, all other family members filled out an Application for Family Reunification.

— How much did your property cost and perhaps there were any additional expenses?

-The price for an apartment in Hungary was 50,000 euros, 3 rooms with a total area of ​​75 sq.m. bought in Western Hungary in the town of Keszeg, 5 km away. from Austria. The services of a lawyer + various government fees cost approximately 3% of the cost of the property (not counting the services of the company I contacted). The fact is that one of the requirements of the Migration Service is that the housing be suitable for living and that there be at least 6 sq.m. per person. living space. This is more than enough for four people, and besides, my wife wants to take her mother to Hungary. Therefore, there will be 5 of us.

— How can your mother-in-law obtain a residence permit?

The fact is that the mother-in-law could also immediately obtain a residence permit in Hungary for family reunification, we just decided to try to get it ourselves first. In the same way, documents for obtaining a residence permit are submitted, a birth certificate is attached that my wife is her daughter, and I, as the owner, must write a notary document that I do not object to living in my living space. And my mother-in-law is reunited with her daughter.

— It turns out that in other countries everything is more complicated?

— Judging by what I read in the media, tightening is happening almost everywhere, or the real estate threshold is such that not everyone can afford. Glad I made it on time. After all, the Law does not have retroactive force, and even if in Hungary, as well as in other EU countries, the threshold for the cost of real estate for obtaining a residence permit increases, then I already have it.

Material provided by Dmitry Efuni, General Director of ICON

Naturalization is a suitable option for obtaining citizenship for most

Through naturalization, citizenship can be obtained by persons who have legally resided in Hungary for a certain period of time. They also need to meet a number of requirements.

Conditions for applicants

Obtaining Hungarian citizenship by naturalization by a foreigner requires deep integration into local society. The requirements for applicants are as follows:

1. Live in the republic for at least 8 years. At the same time, it is prohibited to leave Hungarian territory for a long time without a good reason. During each year, you can safely be absent from the country for only 45 days. Residence requirements are reduced for:

• foreigners who received a Hungarian residence permit before their 18th birthday (they are issued a passport after 5 years);
• stateless persons (can obtain the status of a Hungarian citizen after 5 years);
• citizens born in Hungary (eligible to obtain status after 5 years);
• wives/husbands/widows/widowers of Hungarians who have been married for at least 3 years (citizenship can be requested after 3 years);
• fathers and mothers of Hungarian citizens who have not reached the age of majority (you can apply for citizenship after 3 years);
• persons adopted by Hungarians (can obtain a passport after 3 years);
• refugees (you can obtain citizenship status after 3 years).

1. Have a source of income that is constant and transparent. Financial resources must be sufficient for the accommodation and provision of the applicant and his family.
2. Have a place of residence. Housing can be not only your own, but also rented.
3. Excellent command of the state language. Knowledge of the Hungarian language is tested in an exam. Moreover, this exam is not a formality, but, indeed, an important stage on the path to obtaining citizenship status.
4. It is good to know the basics of the Constitution and legislation of a European power. Knowledge testing is carried out in the form of an exam.
5. Be a law-abiding citizen and have no criminal record.
6. Submit the following documentation to the Immigration Department (all papers submitted are translated into Hungarian and notarized):

• completed application;
• autobiography;
• autobiography of your spouse (if available);
• 2 photographs;
• documents confirming the legality of residence in Hungary for the required period;
• papers on successful completion of exams - language and knowledge of the fundamentals of the political system;
• a copy of the foreigner;
• birth papers;
• documents on registered marriage or its dissolution (if applicable);
• birth certificates of children (if available);
• a letter from work or paper for your business;
• papers confirming continuous and legal income (certificate from the employer, income statements from the tax office);
• documents for your own or rented housing.

Please note that the following are exempt from law and language exams:

• pensioners over 65 years of age;
• foreigners who have received a diploma from a Hungarian university or completed certified language courses;
• persons with serious medical problems or special physical/mental disabilities.

Step-by-step registration of naturalization status

The path from entering Hungary to obtaining a passport is quite long, but overall quite simple. Obtaining Hungarian citizenship, as well as a Hungarian passport, requires sequential completion of the following stages:

1. Submitting an application for a residence permit. In the Russian Federation, applications are submitted to the embassy in the capital or to one of the consulates general (in St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg). The dossier is reviewed for 30 days (15 days when traveling to study or conduct scientific activities). In some cases, you can submit an application while in Hungary (applications are accepted by the Immigration Department). The grounds for obtaining permission may be:

• family reunion;
• business;
• employment;
• training, etc.

1. If the application for permission is approved, you will receive a single-entry visa for 1 month of stay from the Hungarian diplomatic office. Its cost is 60 euros.
2. Departure to Hungary. Registration within 1 month after the arrival of an already approved initial residence permit (RP). It costs 30 euros and is valid for 1 year. To obtain a permit, you must contact the Immigration Department. Read more about obtaining a residence permit in our other articles.
3. After 11 months of residence under a residence permit, apply for its extension for a second year. The deadline for submitting an application is 15 days before the document expires. After another year, the residence permit will be extended again.
4. After 3 years after moving to Hungary, you can apply for a permanent residence permit - permanent residence. An important condition for applicants is that you can be absent from the republic for a maximum of 45 days annually over a 3-year period. In exceptional circumstances, documented, this rule is not taken into account.
5. After 5 years of residence with permanent residence, apply for citizenship. Applications for citizenship status are processed within 3–6 months.
6. If the application is approved, foreigners take an oath of allegiance to the republic. If you do not complete this procedure within 1 year, the approval of the application will be canceled.
7. The final immigration stage is obtaining a Hungarian passport. The document will be issued by the Immigration Department at the applicant’s place of residence.

Who will be denied citizenship by naturalization?

The following persons will not receive citizenship status:

• those who violated the conditions of the residence qualification;
• those who violated Hungarian law;
• posing a threat to state security.

Applications for permanent residence in Hungary were accepted until March 20, 2021. What are the alternatives?

For those who did not manage to obtain status under the Hungarian program, there is the opportunity to use an alternative option: Malta permanent residence by investment, which, unlike the Hungarian option, offers a more transparent way of investing in the country’s bonds and a higher credit rating.

In addition to Malta, permanent residence by investment is provided by Cyprus, and residence permit status by investment in Europe can be obtained in Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Latvia.

In our practice, most investors are accustomed to comparing the conditions of programs in order to make a truly correct decision. We know at least three more reasons to pay attention to the second citizenship of an island state:

• Antigua and Barbuda passport: visa-free entry to more than 136 countries; registration process (3-5 months).
• Saint Kitts and Nevis passport: visa-free entry to 132 countries; there are no requirements for residence in the country; registration process (3-5 months). The program has been running since 1984!
• Dominica passport: visa-free entry to 91 countries; registration process (3-6 months); no residency requirements; no personal interview.

How to choose the right program? Get free expert advice.

Hungary

These offers are not related to investments.

PROS AND CONS OF OBTAINING A RESIDENCE PERMIT IN HUNGARY:

Programs for obtaining a residence permit of any state have both positive aspects and disadvantages: the choice of country and the specific method of acquiring this status are usually determined by the needs of the person himself (for example, the need to live in the European Union or the opportunity to conduct business on favorable terms) and available financial resources. Hungary is one of the few countries that (along with the accessibility and high speed of obtaining a residence permit) can offer many advantages for holders of this status.

Among the main advantages of a Hungarian residence permit:

• Visa-free visits to Schengen countries. Registration of a residence permit provides a unique opportunity - the holder of the status has access to unhindered visits to all countries for travel to which, in the absence of a residence permit, a Schengen visa is required. Thus, the holder of a residence permit can easily travel and make business trips at any time without issuing visas.
• Use of banks. An absolute advantage is access to European banks (conducting monetary transactions, storing funds).
• Possibility of including parents over 65 years of age in the application. The program for obtaining a residence permit provides for the inclusion in the application of dependent parents whose age exceeds 65 years. Thanks to this, the applicant’s parents can easily obtain insurance and use the services of medical institutions.
• Doing business in the EU. The residence permit status provides the right to do business in the countries of the European Union.
• The opportunity to become a full citizen of the country in the future. Registration of residence permit status involves obtaining permanent residence after a three-year period and obtaining citizenship after five years. As a result, you can become a Hungarian citizen in eight years. A Hungarian citizen acquires all the rights of a citizen of a country that is a member of the European Union.
• Tax benefits. The status holder is exempt from paying monthly taxes.
• Availability of a safe alternative place of residence. The residence permit status provides the opportunity to change place of residence if the need arises.
• It is also important that a residence permit provides the opportunity to live in a country with a fairly high standard of living. The undoubted advantages of Hungary as a place to live are its mild climate, stable political situation, low crime, excellent conditions for doing business and quality education. The many thermal resorts and mineral springs that the country is rich in deserve special attention: combined with developed medicine, Hungary is considered an excellent option for those who are used to taking care of their health. In addition, the favorable geographical location of Hungary (combined with visa-free entry into the Schengen countries) provides all the opportunities for traveling around Europe.

Obtaining a residence permit through the purchase of real estate, in addition to all the listed advantages, is a cost-effective investment option. An additional advantage is the absence of annual tax payments on residential real estate (with the exception of properties located in the major tourist centers of Hungary - Balaton and Heviz).

It should be noted that purchasing real estate in this country has its own specifics. Thus, the completion of all transactions requires the mandatory participation of lawyers who, in addition to documentary support, carry out an audit of the selected object. This ensures maximum transparency of the transaction.

The residence permit is valid for one year. After this period, an application for extension is required (the residence permit is extended for two years). Then it is possible to submit documents for permanent residence.

The disadvantages of a Hungarian residence permit include the requirement to stay on the territory of the state: thus, the holder of the status is required to stay in the country for at least 183 days a year. Compliance with this requirement is monitored by the police: law enforcement officials can visit the place of residence of the person who has received a residence permit, and also request documents that must confirm their presence in the country during the specified period. If it is revealed that the status holder was in the country for less than 183 days a year, there is a possibility of refusal to renew the residence permit.

The purchase of real estate is carried out within three months after receiving the status.

Methods for obtaining a Hungarian residence permit

A residence permit in Hungary is obtained in various ways. Which one to choose, everyone decides for themselves, based on their capabilities. Emigration to Hungary, reviews of which can be easily found on the Internet, can be carried out in one of the following ways:

• employment in the country. To do this, you need to find an employer, undergo an interview, conclude an agreement with him and obtain a work permit. A prerequisite is the availability of funds and housing;
• company registration. A business license and information about financial solvency are required;
• family reunification. Marriage to a Hungarian citizen or confirmation of family ties with other persons living in the country is required to obtain a residence permit under this scheme;
• Residence permit for pensioners. Retired Russians only need to present a bank account for 10,000 euros and proof of receipt of a pension;
• getting an education. One of the grounds for obtaining a residence permit is studying at universities in Hungary. A certificate of payment and enrollment in the educational institution is presented;
• learning the Hungarian language. This option has no age restrictions for residents of Ukraine and the CIS, so it is the simplest and relatively inexpensive.

Real estate can be called affordable.

Tuition fees are approximately 3,000 euros per year.