Hungary restarts golden visa scheme: everyone can join

The initiative aims to facilitate business and travel for citizens of developing nations within the European Union. While obtaining one can be costly, it significantly streamlines life for the affluent. Hungary ceased its involvement in 2017 amid heightened tensions during the illegal migration crisis. However, the scheme has been reinstated, now even offering the possibility of acquiring EU citizenship through substantial investment in Hungary.

In 2015, Hungary faced a significant illegal migration crisis. Tens of thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East breached the southern borders, making their way towards Budapest and Western Europe via trains. Despite their financial means, the disorganised nature of these migrant groups roaming Hungarian roads sparked panic and fear among the local population.

The Orbán administration adeptly capitalised on the situation, attributing the influx to the so-called Soros Empire and alleging complicity from Western European nations like Merkel’s Germany, which allegedly encouraged Africans and Middle Easterners to come to Europe for a better life.

In response, Orbán’s government closed the southern borders, resulting in violent clashes between illegal migrants and Hungarian law enforcement in September 2015. Subsequent anti-Soros and anti-migration campaigns successfully painted opposition parties and pro-migration entities in a negative light.

Outrage and visa purchase halt

However, a dilemma occurred. Hungary started issuing so-called golden visas for wealthy third-world nationals. While it offered residency permits and, eventually, citizenship to those willing to invest substantially in Hungary, opposition parties decried the scheme as discriminatory, favouring the affluent over the economically disadvantaged migrants. Furthermore, since the Hungarian authorities were unable to thoroughly examine each applicant, they might allow terrorists and gangsters to enter Hungary and the EU.