For detailed information about naturalization processes, please visit the official website.
Applications for naturalization and requests to establish citizenship can only be submitted in person, and require an appointment. Appointments are free of charge, and no fees will be applied.
Simplified Naturalization Process
A simplified naturalization request can be submitted by individuals who:
- Have an ancestor (parent, grandparent, etc.) who was a Hungarian citizen or can reasonably prove their Hungarian origin, or
- Have been legally married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 10 years, or
- Have been legally married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 5 years and have a child together,
- And can prove their Hungarian language proficiency.
Proving Hungarian language skills is a mandatory requirement for simplified naturalization! Applicants must understand and speak Hungarian at a conversational level, independently submit their application, and answer simple questions in Hungarian during the process. The application form also includes a handwritten Hungarian autobiography. Intermediate-level language communication, which involves comprehension and expression, is necessary. Insufficient language skills may result in rejection of the application.
Required documents for submission:
- Completed application forms;
- Valid passport or ID card;
- Original birth certificate with certified Hungarian translation;
- Original marriage certificate with certified Hungarian translation (if applicable);
- Supporting documents proving Hungarian ancestry, such as:
- Birth, marriage, or death certificates of parents, grandparents, etc., with certified Hungarian translations;
- Church or archival certificates confirming Hungarian citizenship of ancestors, with precise references (volume, page, entry number), and certified Hungarian translations;
- Military service book, work book, school diplomas, or any official documents proving the ancestor's name, place, and date of birth
- Former passports, ID cards, or citizenship certificates;
- Additional supporting documents;
- One colored passport photo;
The familial relationship between the applicant and the mentioned ancestor must be clearly evidenced with appropriate documentation. Note that family records issued by Azerbaijani authorities alone are not sufficient to prove Hungarian origin.
For minors, both parents must consent to the naturalization process. If one parent is absent, a notarized consent form from the other parent is required. Applications for registration of foreign civil events (birth, marriage, divorce, spouse's death) should be submitted alongside the simplified naturalization application.
The evaluation of the application takes at least 6-7 months. The consular office cannot provide status updates during the process. If the President of Hungary approves the application, the applicant will be notified of the citizenship oath date upon receiving the citizenship document.
Applications for passports can be submitted at the embassy after naturalization, with prior appointment. For passport application details, check the "Passport Matters" section.
Establishing Hungarian Citizenship
The purpose of this process is to determine the existence of Hungarian citizenship and, in case of an application, issue a certificate of citizenship. Please note that during the procedure, the authorities examine whether you or your ancestors (parents, grandparents) have retained Hungarian citizenship and have not lost it.
Hungarian citizenship can be proven by:
- A valid Hungarian ID card,
- A valid Hungarian passport,
- A valid citizenship certificate,
- Until proven otherwise, a naturalization certificate.
If a Hungarian citizen cannot prove their citizenship with the above-listed documents, Hungarian citizenship can also be validated—until proven otherwise and for one year following the expiration of validity—by an expired Hungarian passport. For those who do not possess any of the above documents, their citizenship will be examined either officially or upon request by the Citizenship and Naturalization Department of the Budapest Government Office.
An application to verify citizenship can be submitted by individuals who have both or one parent as a Hungarian citizen, or who have ancestors who are or were presumably Hungarian citizens.
Required documents for submission:
- The form required for the citizenship examination,
- A valid passport or ID card,
- A passport expired for over one year,
- Original documents required for registering foreign civil events: birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage certificate; for divorced individuals, the final divorce decree; for widowed individuals, the deceased spouse’s death certificate,
- All documents (birth and marriage certificates) that demonstrate the familial relationship between the applicant and their Hungarian citizen ancestors, including the parents’ birth or death certificates and marriage certificates; if available, grandparents’ birth or death certificates and marriage certificates.
Please note that completing the application requires substantial information, so we recommend bringing all available documents and filling out the form in advance. Additionally, foreign documents must be accompanied by certified Hungarian translations.
The citizenship examination process typically takes 12-18 months, which the embassy cannot expedite. For more precise updates on your case, please contact Hungarian authorities directly.
Alongside the citizenship examination, applicants must also submit an application for the registration of foreign civil events (birth, marriage, divorce, death of spouse). Once citizenship has been established, the authorities will prepare Hungarian birth certificates and, if applicable, marriage certificates.
The citizenship certificate confirms the existence of Hungarian citizenship for three years from the date of issuance.
