ON THIS PAGE YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT
• Eligibility criteria for Hungarian citizenship
• Application process for citizenship
The process of applying for and obtaining citizenship in your country of asylum is called naturalization. On this page, you will get an overview of the naturalization process in Hungary, highlighting the criteria, exemptions, and application procedures.
Eligibility criteria for Hungarian citizenship
Applying for citizenship is a complex procedure, with several criteria you have to meet. Please find official information about the procedure here (in Hungarian). You do not have to renounce your previous citizenship in order to obtain Hungarian citizenship.
Acquiring citizenship as a refugee and stateless person, and other grounds for accelerated procedure
If you hold refugee status or you have been recognized as stateless, or have been married to a Hungarian citizen for three years or more (or your marriage ended due to the death of your spouse), or have a minor child who is a Hungarian citizen, or have been adopted by a Hungarian citizen and are now an adult, you may apply for naturalisation through an accelerated procedure after three years of continuous residence in Hungary with additional pre-conditions mentioned below.
Additionally, you can submit a declaration for your naturalization to the President of Hungary in the following cases, before your 19th birthday:
- If you were born in Hungary and you did not acquire the foreign citizenship of your parents at birth based on foreign law, if your parents resided in Hungary on the day of your birth, and you have resided in Hungary for at least five years immediately before making the declaration.
- If you were born in Hungary and became stateless, if you have resided in Hungary for at least five years immediately before making the declaration.
If you can prove that you are in one of the situations above, you do not need to fulfil other requirements to receive Hungarian nationality. The declaration will be sufficient for your naturalization.
Acquiring citizenship as a beneficiary of subsidiary protection
If you hold subsidiary protection status, you are not eligible for the accelerated naturalization procedure. Instead, you can apply for citizenship under the general rules of naturalization (after eight years of residing in Hungary, but in some special cases three or five years), while still meeting the same requirements mentioned below.
Preconditions to apply for citizenship
You have no criminal record and there is no ongoing criminal procedure against you in Hungary, your housing and livelihood are provided for, your naturalisation is not a threat to national or public security (this is decided by a state body).
You also have to pass the exam on basic constitutional knowledge in Hungarian, except if any of the following conditions apply to you:
- You are a child, or whose legal capacity was limited by court in relation to citizenship or if you do not have legal capacity.
- You have a final degree in Hungarian language from an educational institution or from a higher education institution in Hungary.
- You are older than 60 years old when you submit your application for citizenship.
- You prove (with a medical certificate) that your health condition prevents you from successfully taking the exam.
Acquiring citizenship as a child
Until proven otherwise, children shall be deemed Hungarian citizens in the following cases:
- They are born in Hungary to stateless persons residing in Hungary.
- They are born to unknown parents and found in Hungary.
The child of a Hungarian citizen is considered a Hungarian citizen by birth.
The naturalization of a child requires the consent of both parents. Parental consent may be given by signing the application form before the authority, or by a declaration to that effect before the authority or notary. The declaration of consent in a language other than Hungarian will only be accepted if accompanied by a translation into Hungarian.
A child who has been adopted by a Hungarian citizen can be naturalised on preferential terms regardless of his or her residency.
The condition of continuous residence in Hungary may be waived if the child’s application for naturalization is submitted together with that of his or her parent or if his or her parent acquired Hungarian citizenship.
Acquiring citizenship if you have Hungarian ancestry
You might be naturalized on preferential terms, if your ascendant was a Hungarian citizen, or if you can substantiate your descent from Hungary and provide proof of your knowledge of Hungarian language. Please find official information about the procedure here (in Hungarian).
In this case you are required to provide the documents proving or establishing the former Hungarian citizenship of your ancestors.
The chain of ancestry must be traceable. That is, it is not sufficient to attach, for example, the birth certificate of your great-grandfather, but also proof of intermediate ancestors (for example, your father and grandfather). If one of your relatives has already acquired citizenship by simplified naturalisation, it is not necessary to provide the ancestry certificates again, but only the naturalised person’s details (name, place and date of birth), and possibly a copy of his or her naturalisation certificate.
Application process for citizenship
To apply for citizenship, you can submit your application in person at either of the following locations:
- Local government offices (járási hivatal in Hungarian).
- Integrated client service offices of the county or Metropolitan government offices (integrált ügyfélszolgálati iroda in Hungarian).
- Hungarian consulate (if you are abroad).
When applying, the application needs to be submitted in Hungarian language. Make sure you have attached the following documents to your application:
- Birth certificate.
- Certificates proving family status and relations (marriage certificate for example).
- All official documents that prove the fulfilment of the above detailed requirements.
If you're submitting foreign documents, remember to provide their authenticated Hungarian translation and diplomatic verification. It’s also possible to submit a joint application with your spouse and/or children.
