Hungary offers €250,000 residency route as wealthy Chinese seek second passports

More wealthy Chinese are weighing a second passport or overseas residency, and Hungary has emerged as one of the European destinations they are asking about. The country offers long-term residency through qualifying investments starting at 250,000 euros ($290,000), according to the migration and wealth advisers quoted in the report.

Key facts

• Hungary grants long-term residency through qualifying investments from 250,000 euros ($290,000)
• The route is a regulated fund investment that provides residency in the Schengen area
• China does not recognise dual nationality, so Chinese nationals taking a foreign passport must give up their own
• Inquiries from Chinese clients rose 33% since July, investment migration firm Savory & Partners said
• Global Citizen Solutions reported an increase of nearly 40% compared with the same period last year
• Caribbean citizenship can potentially be secured within six months

What is Hungary offering?

Hungary provides long-term residency to investors who meet qualifying investment requirements, with the minimum starting at 250,000 euros ($290,000). Global Citizen Solutions described the country as a regulated fund investment route to residency in the Schengen area, at a time when larger European golden visa schemes have closed or become more expensive.

"Hungary is the one that surprises people," Global Citizen Solutions said.

Why is interest growing?

Wealth advisers say the trend is being driven by concerns over taxes, geopolitical uncertainty and the desire for greater international mobility. In July, Beijing introduced new measures targeting offshore trusts, with certain incomes and transactions potentially subject to a 20% tax, prompting some families to reassess how they hold and transfer assets overseas.

Ryan Lin, director at Singapore-based Bayfront Law, said that while clients previously only discussed giving up their citizenship, more are now expressing concrete intentions to do so. Armand Arton, chief executive of Arton Capital, said the choice of passport depends on clients' lifestyle and business needs.

Which other destinations are being considered?

For those seeking a passport rather than residency, Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes, such as Antigua and Barbuda's, are popular, and Manish Tibrewal of Farro Capital said citizenship there can potentially be secured within six months — faster than routes in Europe or the United States, where residency requirements often precede naturalisation.

Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal's golden visa remains popular, while Italy attracts families through favourable tax arrangements for qualifying new residents, international schools and financial services. Singapore appeals for its political stability and wealth management industry, though naturalisation there is neither automatic nor guaranteed. Australia, Malaysia — particularly Kuala Lumpur and Penang — Thailand's long-term resident visa, Argentina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria are also cited as emerging options.

What are the caveats?

Renouncing Chinese citizenship does not automatically erase existing tax liabilities. Experts said individuals could remain liable for taxes on historical gains depending on how their wealth was structured, although a genuine change in citizenship and residency could affect future obligations.

Lin said those most willing to renounce generally have few remaining business links to China. Advisers also caution that exploring residency, building a portfolio of passports and relocating a family are very different decisions, and that rising interest does not necessarily translate into completed renunciations or moves.

What this means for travellers

Anyone weighing Hungary's investment residency route should note the minimum qualifying investment of 250,000 euros and that the offer is framed as residency in the Schengen area, not citizenship. The report does not set out application procedures, processing times or start dates for any of the programmes it mentions.

No further changes to Hungary's investment residency terms have been announced in the report.