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Hungary Country Profile

Passport
For more details visit Hungary Passport Ranking
  • Passport Grade
    A
  • Passport Ranking
    19/198
  • Passport Score
    177/198
  • Visa-free Countries
    157
  • Visa-required Countries
    41
  • Access to the World's GDP
    75%
  • Access to the World's Surface Area
    61%
  • Access to the World's Population
    47%
  • Access to the Unesco Sites
    81%
Citizenship and Naturalization
Birthright citizenship (Jus Soli)
  • Birthright citizenship (Jus Soli)
    No
    No provisions
Naturalization - Standard Conditions
  • Minimum residency period
    8 years
  • Physical presence requirement
    On average, 9 months a year. Also, cannot leave for longer than 6 months at a time
  • Language test
    Yes, Hungarian
  • Need to renounce original citizenship?
    No
  • Can minor children naturalize?
    –
  • Can naturalized parents pass citizenship to a child born abroad?
    –
  • Can you lose naturalization due to prolonged absence/ naturalization elsewhere?
    –
Naturalization - Your Spouse is a Citizen
  • Living IN the country: Residency/marriage requirement
    3 years / 3 years
    Must be both married and reside in the country for 3 years.
  • Living ABROAD: Marriage requirement
    10 years
    Must be married for 10 years if residing abroad (5 years in case of a common child).
  • Language test
    Yes, spoken Hungarian
  • Need to renounce original citizenship?
    No
Naturalization - Other Beneficial Provisions
  • Your child is a citizen
    3 years
    May apply immediately after having a child with a Hungarian citizen, assuming you have resided in Hungary for 3 years. If living abroad and having a common child, may apply after 5 years of marriage.
  • Citizens of specific countries
    No provisions
"–": The provision has not been analysed.
Visas and Residencies
Visas and Residencies
Taxation
For more details visit Cost of Living
  • Taxation Type
    Citizenship-based
A citizen of a country practicing CITIZENSHIP-BASED taxation generally pays taxes on their WORLDWIDE income, regardless of where they reside. The only way to get rid of a tax residency status in such a country is by renouncing citizenship.

Personal income tax is a flat 15%. Corporate taxation is a flat 9%. Hungarian citizens who move abroad continue to be taxed by Hungarian government UNLESS they are dual nationals, in which case, residence-based taxation applies. Also, if a citizen moves to a country with a tax treaty with Hungary, treaty provisions may override the domestic rule.
Hungary is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), allowing its citizens to live and work in any other EEA country, plus Switzerland. (The EEA consists of 27 European Union countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.)
Schiff Sovereign's Take on Hungary
While we usually are not big fans of such comparisons, we do believe that Budapest is the Paris of Eastern Europe... at a 60% discount, making it one of the least expensive places in the European Union. 

It is a magnificent and highly livable city. So livable in fact, that one of Sovereign Man’s friends relocated  from London to Budapest just a few years ago.

The city was one of two capitals of the Austro-Hungarian empire (the other being Viena), and hence it still feels like an imperial capital.

It has a number of gorgeous monuments, with architecture that harks back to a long-gone era. The Soviets left Hungary largely untouched, so it has retained much of its Old World charm.

That charm – and its rich cultural diversity – make Hungary highly appealing from a lifestyle perspective.

In addition, Hungary is home to a very popular Citizenship By Ancestry program, allowing you to become Hungarian without ever visiting the country. Definitely investigate this program if you have any Hungarian roots.

At the same time, we have to highlight that Hungary is probably not a place we would go to try and start a new business, or structure an existing one. There’s a degree of corruption and some political issues that thwart the government’s good intentions.

If you're a digital nomad, it’s a different story. Budapest is very popular among the digital nomad crowd, thanks to its low cost of living and excellent internet connectivity.

You can live well in Hungary and not spend a lot of money. Just keep in mind that the country is landlocked, so you won't get the benefit of a mild Mediterranean climate that nearby Croatia or Montenegro enjoy. Still, Croatia’s magnificent coast is situated only a five-hour drive from Budapest.

Also… an unpleasant surprise came a few years ago, when the country switched to citizenship-based taxation. This change meant that Hungarian citizens will now continue being taxed on their worldwide income, even if they won't live in the country.

Luckily, there are many ways to avoid this atrocity; for example, being a dual citizen is one of the legal ways out…
Schiff Sovereign's Rolodex
Service Providers available in Hungary
  • Immigration (residency, citizenship)
  • Tax advice (attorneys and/or accountants)
  • Corporate services (company formation, etc.)
Obtain access to our Rolodex by signing up for Sovereign Confidential Join Sovereign Confidential Today

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Hungary Overview
  • Region
    Europe
  • Capital City
    Budapest
  • Largest City
    Budapest
  • Currency
    Hungarian forint
  • Languages
    Hungarian
  • Population
    9.7 million (92nd)
  • Life Expectancy
    77.2 years (89th)
  • GDP (Nominal)
    $184.7 billion (58th)
  • GDP/Capita
    $19,058 (61st)
Useful Data
For more details visit Cost of Living
  • Cost of Living
    Inexpensive (3/7)
  • Climate
    Comfortable (2/5)
  • Safety
    Very Safe (2/7)
  • Pollution
    Average (3/5)
  • English Proficiency
    High (2/5)

Sovereign Global Explorer

Benefiting from over a decade of our team’s boots-on-the-ground experience, Global Explorer is where your international journey begins.
Explore Now
Found a mistake /
Have a suggestion ?
Please let us know if you spot any inaccuracies on this page or have a suggestion on how to make it even more useful.
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PREMIUM REPORTS
Hungary inside Schiff Sovereign resources
Resource TitleProductTypeDate
July 2024 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A31-Jul-2407/31/24
Sovereign Confidential Video Content: Hungary's Golden Visa Program is Open for InvestorsSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert23-Jul-2407/23/24
European Golden Visas Update: Fewer Choices, but Some Bright Spots AheadSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter16-Feb-2402/16/24
January 2024 SC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A30-Jan-2401/30/24
TA Monthly Call: Hungarian Golden Visa Program with Laszlo KissSovereign Total AccessTAMonthly Calls26-Jan-2401/26/24
Reminder about next week’s call– and our fantastic Mexico eventSovereign Total AccessTAMonthly Calls19-Jan-2401/19/24
Digital Nomad Visas Roundup: Part I (Europe and Asia)Sovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper06-Mar-2303/06/23
Europe Offers Great Tax Incentives for New ResidentsSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert25-Oct-2210/25/22
February 2022 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A28-Feb-2202/28/22
The Blue Card: European Residency for ProfessionalsSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Feb-2202/15/22
January 2022 SMC Q&ASovereign ConfidentialSMCQ&A28-Jan-2201/28/22
European Citizenships By Ancestry: Part II (Eastern Europe)Sovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper07-Jan-2201/07/22
Here Are 15 Factors to Consider Before Your International MoveSovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter15-Jun-2106/15/21
This photographer doubles his business profits by moving to BudapestSovereign ConfidentialSMCCase Study05-Mar-1903/05/19
Medical tourism: Discover high quality, less expensive healthcare options abroadSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert05-Dec-1712/05/17
Sovereign Man Country Rankings: The Right Country for YOU, with Simon's insightsSovereign ConfidentialSMCBlack Paper06-Apr-1704/06/17
These countries could give you a second residency or passport in 2016Sovereign ConfidentialSMCMonthly Letter14-Oct-1610/14/16
Living in Hungary: Budapest, the Paris of Eastern EuropeSovereign ConfidentialSMCCase Study26-Sep-1609/26/16
Meet FATCA’s even nastier cousin: CRSSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert26-Feb-1602/26/16
Two doorways into the EU via Hungary—residency and citizenship optionsSovereign ConfidentialSMCAlert01-Dec-1512/01/15

Articles featuring Hungary

Hungarian White Card 2023
Second Residency

Getting Citizenship By Descent in Hungary in 2023

Are your parents, grandparents or even great-great grandparents Hungarian? If so, an A-grade European passport could be within easy reach. In today’s episode, we explore Hungary’s Citizenship By Ancestry Program and how you can benefit… Join Sovereign Confidential to… Hungary is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. It is renowned as an international travel destination, and […]
Hungarian White Card 2023
Second Residency

A closer look at Hungary’s Digital Nomad Visa (a.k.a.The White Card)

If working remotely in the heart of old Europe sounds like your thing, Hungary might already be on your bucket list. Situated in Central Europe and bordered by no less than seven other countries, it can serve as an excellent central base from which to explore the region. And thanks to the introduction of Hungary’s […]

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