France or Hungary Residency: Which One to Choose in 2026? Full Breakdown for Citizens of Russia, Belarus, and the CIS countries.

We have been approached by several clients from the Russian Federation whose French residency applications were rejected by the French court. The matter reached the French judicial system, and even the French court refused them the right to apply for French residency. This is a worrying sign.

We have developed a new strategy for our clients to obtain residency in the European Union and selected Hungary. Not because we live in Hungary, love this country, or are trying to promote it. But because it is currently the fastest Golden Visa program in the European Union.

In this article, we will provide a detailed comparison of obtaining residency in France and Hungary, and will also touch on the situation in Portugal and Greece. You will see why Hungary is today the most pragmatic choice for those who want to obtain European status quickly and without endless legal battles.

The situation in France: the Visitor Visa residency has become practically unattainable

Today, obtaining French residency on the grounds of a “Visitor” visa for one year has become practically impossible for citizens of third countries, especially for citizens of Russia, the Republic of Belarus, and other CIS countries.

French consulates have started refusing applications without notification or explanation of reasons. Some of our clients decided to go to court, to dispute, to sue the French state for refusing them without any justification. Their lawyers in France, whom they found on their own, promised to resolve the issue in three days. However, we believe this procedure takes much longer. Court proceedings in the European Union last from three years upwards, and in France the courts are highly bureaucratic, so everything moves very slowly.

The main problems with obtaining French residency in 2026:

Refusals without explanation of reasons.

Consulates are increasingly rejecting applications without providing clear justifications. The applicant is left in the dark about what exactly went wrong.

Strict income requirements.

The main reason for refusals is insufficient proof of financial means or errors in the document package. If you prepare your income confirmations incorrectly or submit an incomplete set of documents, the consulate may reject your application.

Bureaucratic delays.

Even with a positive decision, the processing time stretches over months. The Visitor visa is formally not renewable and cannot be converted into other statuses within French territory.

Problems with permanent residency and citizenship.

Holders of the Visitor visa often face refusals when applying for permanent residence. Prefectures reject them, suspecting that applicants are “hiding income to avoid paying high taxes.”

Long path to citizenship.

Obtaining French citizenship is a very lengthy process. We know clients who came to us from France. They say that after living 10 years in France, they wait 2–3 more years to get citizenship and still have not received it. In short, France is a wonderful country, but their bureaucracy is enormous.

Hungary: a fast Golden Visa with no residency tie-in

Now let us take a look at Hungary. Unlike France, where residency is granted for 1 year with annual renewal, Hungary offers an investment-based residency immediately for 10 years with the possibility of renewal for another 10 years.

Key advantages of the Hungarian Golden Visa

1. Processing speed – 3–4 months

While in France court proceedings drag on for years, in Hungary the residency application process takes only 3–4 months. This is one of the fastest results among all European programs. According to some sources, application review can take from 21 to 70 days, and the full cycle from submission to receiving the card – 4–5 months.

2. 10-year residency – immediate and long-term

You receive a residence permit immediately for 10 years. Not for one year, not for two, but for an entire decade. And it can be renewed for another 10 years. This is the longest term among all investment programs in Europe.

3. No tie-in to Hungary

The most important aspect in this whole situation – there is no requirement to permanently live in Hungary. You are not obliged to become a Hungarian tax resident. The investor has the right to live wherever they want and will be a tax resident wherever they wish.

We have clients who, while holding a Hungarian investment residency, are residents of the UAE. In this case, they do not pay income tax. Hungary gives you freedom – you obtain European status but are not tied to the country of residence.

4. Free movement within Schengen

With a Hungarian residency permit, you can travel freely throughout Europe, living both in Hungary and in France. The Hungarian residency gives you the right to visa-free stay in any Schengen country for up to 90 days out of every 180 days.

5. Path to permanent residency and citizenship

If you decide to live in Hungary, after three years you receive a permanent residency card for 10 years – almost automatically (of course, subject to meeting certain requirements). Obtaining Hungarian citizenship is possible from six months to one year on various grounds: if you have lived in the country for more than eight years and run a business, or if you have Hungarian roots (documentarily confirmed), or on other grounds.

Comparison with Portugal

Previously, Portugal was one of the most popular destinations for obtaining a Golden Visa. Now everything has changed.

What happened in Portugal

In 2026, the Portuguese parliament adopted amendments to the citizenship law. The waiting period for obtaining citizenship has now increased from 5 to 10 years for most foreigners. For citizens of CIS countries, this means the path to an EU passport now stretches to at least a decade.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that the counting period now begins from the moment the residence permit is issued. This means that even after receiving residency, you must wait 10 years before applying for citizenship. And then another year or two of waiting for a decision. What will actually happen in 10 years’ time who knows. They may introduce further amendments and increase the term to 15 years.

Portugal’s problems in 2026:

• Citizenship now after 10 years, not 5
• For citizens of CIS countries, the term has doubled
• Further tightening changes are possible
• Our clients spent years fighting through the courts to obtain Golden Visas

Greece: unavailable for citizens of Russia

Since 28 February 2022, Greece has suspended the issuance and renewal of residence permits for Russian citizens under the investment programme (Golden Visa). The basis is an official order of the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi, which remains in effect “until further notice.” New applications from Russian citizens holding only a Russian passport are not being accepted.

Key nuance: the ban applies exclusively to the main applicant holding a Russian passport. If the investor holds second citizenship of a country not subject to sanctions restrictions, they may participate in the programme on equal terms with other foreign nationals. At the same time, family members (spouse, children) may obtain residency even while holding Russian citizenship.

Practical solution for Russian citizens: to bypass this restriction, many investors first obtain a second passport from a country with a simplified procedure, and then apply for Greek residency. The most accessible and fastest options are:

• Citizenship of Vanuatu – processing time 2–4 months, investments from $130,000.
• Citizenship of São Tomé and Príncipe – also used in combination with the Greek Golden Visa.

Comparative table: France, Hungary, Portugal

*For citizens of the Russian Federation, obtaining is only possible through the court. Restrictions apply in 2026.

Why our clients choose Hungary

We are not just promoting Hungary because we live here. We choose Hungary for our clients because: