Who qualifies
- Usually already HungarianA Hungarian parent when you were bornChildren of Hungarian citizens are generally Hungarian from birth. Ask the consulate about registering your birth and getting a citizenship certificate.
- Simplified naturalizationAny ancestor who was a Hungarian citizenOr if there’s reason to believe your family is of Hungarian origin. You need to speak Hungarian, have no criminal record and not be under prosecution.
How to apply
- Prove your ancestor was HungarianFor example their birth certificate or military book, showing clearly when and where they were born.
- Get your own certificates translatedYour birth or marriage certificate needs a translation by an official registered translator. So does any foreign-language proof about your ancestor.
- Apply in person at a Hungarian consulateBring the originals. This is where your Hungarian is checked.
- Wait for the decisionThe consulate in Toronto says it takes about 6 to 12 months.
- Take the citizenship oathIf you’re accepted, the President of Hungary issues a naturalization certificate. You must take the oath within one year of being invited, or the decision lapses.
How good does my Hungarian need to be?
The consulates ask for “knowledge of the Hungarian language”. They don’t publish a set level or a formal test, so ask your consulate what they expect before you apply.
What a Hungarian passport gives you
The right to live, work, study and retire across all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. See what an EU passport lets you do.
Living there
A Hungarian passport lets you live and work in any EU country, and in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Not eligible? The long way round
If descent doesn’t work for you, you can still become a citizen by living in Hungary and applying to naturalize. It takes longer, but it’s open to anyone who meets the conditions.
A shortcut for people with Hungarian roots
If you have Hungarian ancestors and speak Hungarian, the simplified route in this guide needs no residence at all.
- Time living there first
- 8 years’ continuous residence.
- Language and tests
- An exam on Hungary’s constitution.
- Keep your current passport?
- Yes. Hungary allows dual citizenship.
- Main ways to get residence
- Work permits, family and study.
Already have, or able to get, a passport from an EU country through another family line? Then you can live and work in Hungary without a visa. See what an EU passport lets you do.
General information, not immigration advice. Residence rules change often, so check the official source before you plan a move. Sources: Wikipedia: Hungarian nationality law (secondary source).