Acquition of premises by foreigners in Hungary

(The text is of informal character only and does not substitute studying of the relevant Law Act.)


Agricultural land may me aquired by natural persons with domicil in the EU on the same conditions like Hungarian citizens i.e. according to the legal restrictions and with permission of the competent authority. The most important restriction is, that the acqusition of the ownership of agricultural land is only possible for persons dealing with agrecultural activity and for not more than 1200 ha.Organizations may not aquire ownership notwithstanding the fact wether they are foreigners or not.

Persons without domicil in the EU are excluded from aquisition of agricultural land. The legal restrictions concern not only the acquisition of the ownership, but the different forms of right of use as well. The contents of the legal rules concerning the acqusition of non- agricultural premises especially but not exclusively flats and other premises depend on the fact, wether the natural person or organization has domicile in the EU or not. Since persons with domicile in the EU are not qualified as foreigner the may aquire the ownership of such premises on the same conections and restrictions (in nature conservation areas) like persons with domicile in Hungary.

Persons without a domicile in the EU may acquire the ownership by force of an authority permission. The competent authority has the right of discretion wether public or municipal interest would be violated by the acquisition and wether there is recoprocity between Hungary and the state of the applicant. In lack of violation of above interests and if reciprocity exists the acquisition shall be permitted by the authority.

Expenses connected with the acquiry of premises
  • expenses of drafting the purchase contract and legal  representation - 1-3 per cent of the purchase price
  • ownership assigment fee - 2-10 per cent of the purchase price depending on the nature of the real estate
  • registration fee: HUF 2.200
  • other expenses (translation fee, extract from the Land Register)

Source: Law Act 2013: CCXII

             Gouverment Order Nr. 25/2014