Hungarian Citizenship

If you do not have Hungarian citizenship but would like to acquire it, you can apply for it through several different procedures, depending on which criteria you meet.

If you were previously a Hungarian citizen, you can request that it be reinstated, or in some cases (e.g. deprivation of citizenship for political reasons) you can also obtain Hungarian citizenship by making a declaration.

If you have not previously had Hungarian citizenship, you can obtain it through a naturalisation procedure, which has simplified and preferential criteria if you have an ancestor or spouse (registered partner) with Hungarian citizenship.

Note for applications referencing ancestors:

The ascendant chain/ lineage must be clear, ie. it is not sufficient to attach, for example, the birth certificate of the grandfather referred to, but it is also necessary to certify the intermediate ascendants (eg. father or mother). In the case of a reference to a maternal branch, it is necessary to certify the maiden name and the marriage name, therefore it is also necessary to attach any relevant marriage certificates. Certain limitations may apply to applications that reference descendants with related events (e.g. birth, marriage, emigration, etc.) before October 1, 1957.

If you did not previously have Hungarian citizenship and you are not eligible for the simplified naturalisation procedure, you must apply through the classic (full) naturalisation procedure. The process is longer and requires several years (3-8 years) of proven and continuous residence in Hungary.

Citizenship applications in this representation's jurisdiction are handled by the Embassy of Hungary, Washington, DC.

For a detailed guide on eligibility, explanation of paths, related forms, and supplemental information, please visit the Hazaváró website of the Government of Hungary