PM Orbán proposes new rules giving Hungarian municipalities greater control over newcomers, foreigners

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has introduced a draft regulation for public consultation that could bring significant changes to life in Hungarian towns and villages. The aim is to equip local governments with more tools to regulate who may settle in their communities, particularly when it comes to property purchases.

Parliament had previously passed a law on “protecting local identity”; this new decree outlines how that law would be implemented in practice. According to Economx, the proposal centers on giving communities the authority to choose whom they welcome and whom they may reject—based on cultural or community values.

Clarifying rules, not tightening them

The Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development emphasised that this is not about tightening restrictions, but about creating clear procedural rules for the enforcement of an existing law. The draft regulation, now open for public input, is designed to provide municipalities with the legal backing they need to preserve local identity. The rules will not be uniform across the country: municipalities can tailor them according to local values, priorities, and goals.

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Under the proposal, municipalities will be required to publish the criteria they use to decide on settlement requests. They must also assist individuals seeking to move in by helping them understand whether they are eligible to do so. A new element in the draft is that municipalities will gain preemption rights, allowing them to block certain properties from being sold to buyers deemed undesirable. The local notary will be responsible for designating who can exercise this right on behalf of the municipality.

Who qualifies as a “newcomer”?

The draft regulation defines “newcomers” as individuals who neither own property nor have registered addresses in a particular town, but intend to buy property or establish residence there.

These individuals would need to submit a request to the local municipality seeking approval for property acquisition. If denied, the municipality could invoke its preemption rights.