SIMPLIFIED NATURALISATION
Obtaining Hungarian citizenship based on ancestry
Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian citizenship (’Citizenship Act’) provides for various ways of obtaining Hungarian citizenship (naturalisation). Apart from the standard naturalisation process, the Citizenship Act provides naturalisation on preferential terms and simplified processes.
One such simplified naturalisation process, is obtaining nationality based on Hungarian Ancestry.
According to section 4(3) of the Citizenship Act, a person not holding Hungarian citizenship may be naturalised under preferential terms upon application if he/she
- he/she has no criminal record under Hungarian law and no criminal proceeding is pending against him/her in Hungarian court at the time of assessment of the application; and
- his/her naturalisation does not violate the public safety and national security of Hungary, and
- the person has an ascendant who was a Hungarian citizen or substantiates his origin from Hungary; and
- demonstrates knowledge of the Hungarian language.
Hungarian ancestry: An ancestorin linear lineage (a parent, grand-parent, great-grand-parent or further), who was a Hungarian citizen or who was born in the territory of Hungary.
(NB.Hungary’s territory has changed over the centuries, in particular in the last 2 centuries, therefore a person’s birthplace which is outside of Hungary’s current territory, may also qualify for citizenship, if at the time of their birth, their birth place constituted a part of Hungary’s terrritory.)
Hungarian language requirements: intermediate level, conversational Hungarian, which must be demonstrated in writing by writing a CV in Hungarian as part of the application form, and orally at the
time of submission at the Government Office or Hungarian Consulate by submitting the application in person.
Living in Hungary: For this particular simplified naturalisation process, living in Hungary is NOT A REQUIREMENT.
Family members: Family members of Hungarian citizens, who are not living in Hungary, may also apply for Hungarian citizenship on preferential terms. Children: Children(descendants) of a Hungarian citizen (or the applicant) may be naturalised in a simplified naturalisation process, or at the same time as the applicant.
According to section 4 (3a) of the Citizenship Act, a person not holding Hungarian citizenship may be naturalised under preferential terms upon request if that person
a) has been living in a valid marriage for at least
aa) ten years with a person who is a Hungarian citizen at the time of the submission of the
application for citizenship, or
ab) five years with a person who is a Hungarian citizen at the time of the submission of the
application for citizenship, and a child has been born to them;
b) he/she has no criminal record under Hungarian law and no criminal proceeding is pending against him/her in Hungarian court at the time of assessment of the application; and his/her naturalisation does not violate the public safety and national security of Hungary, and
c) demonstrates knowledge of the Hungarian language.
Exemptions: There are only a few exemptions from the above conditions of citizenship.
Accordingto section 4(7) of the Citizenship Act, the President of the Republic may, acting on a submission by the minister responsible for citizenship matters, grant an exemption from the remaining conditions of naturalisation, if
- the applicant’s naturalisation is of significant interest to Hungary; and
- he/she has no criminal record under Hungarian law and no criminal proceeding is pending against him/her in Hungarian court at the time of assessment of the application; and his/her naturalisation does not violate the public safety and national security of Hungary.
Accordingto section 4(8) of the Citizenship Act, demonstration of knowledge of the Hungarian language may be waived in the case of persons having no capacity to act (eg. minors).
If you are thinking of obtaining Hungarian nationality based on your Hungarian ancestors, contact us for a consultation to verify if you are qualified!