Germany and Hungary both tax a resident on worldwide income. Germany naturalises after 5 years of residence (and an unlimited right of residence before you apply), and Hungary naturalises after 8 years of residence.
Germany sources verified 2026-08-07. Hungary sources verified 2026-07-12.
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| GermanySources verified 2026-08-07 | HungarySources verified 2026-07-12 |
|---|---|
| Personal income tax | |
| WorldwideSection 1 EStG, tax liability (gesetze-im-internet.de) | WorldwideA short summary on the taxation of private persons (NAV) |
| Lowest cited income floor, a month | |
| Not in this dossier yet | Not in this dossier yet |
| Lowest cited investment route | |
| Not in this dossier yet | $270,000 Guest investor fundResidence permit for guest investor (National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, OIF) |
| Citizenship | |
Residence first5 yrs and an unlimited right of residence before you apply | Residence first8 yrs |
| Your current passport | |
| Kept on naturalisationSection 10 StAG, naturalisation (gesetze-im-internet.de) | Kept on naturalisationAbout Hungarian citizenship (Embassy of Hungary, Washington) |
| EU access and English | |
| EU accessEnglish not widespread | EU accessEnglish not widespread |
* OmniFlag's own assessment, not a figure from a statute.
The full comparison, in words
Germany and Hungary differ on the three things a mover weighs first: what each taxes, the cheapest cited way in, and how long citizenship takes. On tax, both tax a resident on worldwide income. On entry, Germany's dossier carries no entry figure yet. Hungary's lowest cited way in is $270,000 on its guest investor fund route. On citizenship, Germany naturalises after 5 years of residence (and an unlimited right of residence before you apply), and Hungary naturalises after 8 years of residence. The table below sets every cited figure side by side, and each dossier carries the full detail.
Common questions
Does Germany or Hungary tax foreign income?
Germany: Unlimited income tax liability, meaning Germany taxes worldwide income once either test is met. Hungary: Worldwide income, taxed at a flat 15 percent, whether earned in Hungary or abroad.
When do Germany and Hungary treat you as tax resident?
Germany: A dwelling you keep, Having a dwelling in Germany under circumstances suggesting you will keep and use it, with no minimum number of days anywhere in the test. Habitual abode, staying in circumstances that show the stay is not merely temporary, and in any case a continuous stay of more than six months, counted from its beginning. Hungary: Day count, at least 183 days in the calendar year, counting the day of entry and the day of exit as full days. Permanent residence status, Holding a permanent residence permit or being stateless in Hungary, with no day count required. A tax residency test runs separately from the permit that lets you live there, so holding one does not settle the other.
What is the cheapest cited way to live in Germany or Hungary?
Germany's dossier carries no entry figure yet. Hungary's lowest cited way in is $270,000 on its guest investor fund route.
Which grants citizenship sooner, Germany or Hungary?
Germany naturalises after 5 years of residence (and an unlimited right of residence before you apply). Hungary naturalises after 8 years of residence. Germany lets you keep your current passport. Hungary lets you keep your current passport.
Read each dossier in full
Central Europe
Germany
A citizenship claim the old law took away, open until 19 August 2031.
- Declaration deadline
- 19 Aug 2031
and an unlimited right of residence before you apply
Central Europe
Hungary
A guest-investor route into EU and Schengen residence, worldwide-income tax at a flat 15 percent, and citizenship after eight years.
- Investor route
- EUR 250,000
- Tax rate
- 15% flat
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