How to Get Hungarian Citizenship in 2022?
In the heart of Central Europe, Hungary is a booming hub. Hungary belongs to both the European Union and Schengen Zone. Hungary’s capital is Budapest, where the Danube River divides it. Budapest is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Hungary has a number of World Heritage Sites. Turkish and Roman influences influence the culture of Hungary. The climate in the country is relatively dry and temperate. The Alps and the Carpathians protect Hungary from extreme weather conditions. Each season has its own beauty.
Hungarian passports are highly coveted since they allow visa-free travel across Europe, the United States, and Canada. Furthermore, it gives you freedom of movement within the European Union (EU).
In other words, if you’re in love with Hungary, you want to learn how to become a Hungarian citizen. We will discuss the fastest way to obtain Hungarian citizenship in full detail through your descent and other options.
Have you ancestors from Hungary? In that case, you could qualify to receive a European passport. We recently started offering a service that helps people claim their Hungarian citizenship by descent and other options if they don’t feel like doing the paperwork themselves.
Together with our trusted lawyers and agents on the ground, we’ll confirm your eligibility, collect documents (from you and Hungary), deal with bureaucracy, and file for citizenship.
Table of Contents
The process of becoming a Hungarian citizen
The process of becoming a Hungarian citizen, as in other countries, consists of several steps. In order to become a Hungarian citizen, applicants must first meet the necessary citizenship requirements. After that, depending on the status of the applicants, they may be able to immigrate and become citizens through any of the following methods.
How to Get Hungarian Citizenship by Descent?
It has been reported that lucky sperm club members have a relatively easy time obtaining citizenship by descent because their family tree entitles them to it. Many European countries offer second citizenship to those with a bloodline tracing back to the continent by filling out paperwork and paying a fee.
This process can be very bureaucratic and lengthy due to the sheer amount of paperwork involved. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be done by you if you don’t want to. According to the country and your particular circumstances, these cases typically take six months to two years to process.
In light of the fact that European residency – not citizenship – would cost between 50-60,000 euros, paying a couple of thousand dollars to a professional organization like Stephen M.S.Lai is very inexpensive. Hungarian citizenship by descent is one that almost no one talks about.
The same as Italy’s citizenship by descent program, there is no limit to how far back you can look in your family tree to find a Hungarian ancestor. That’s interesting. If a person has the last name Almasy, one of the most common names in Hungary, they will almost certainly obtain Hungarian citizenship. In Italy, the ancestry can only be claimed for as long as the country existed today, which differs from the citizenship program in Hungary.
Even so, in Hungary, if you can establish a paper trail linking each generation to the next, and then through you, you may qualify. Last but not least, Hungary accepts dual citizenship – if you wish to add a Hungarian passport to your portfolio, that’s great news.
The Process of Applying for Hungarian Citizenship by Descent
Even though Hungary has made it very easy for its descendants to qualify, you should first determine if you are eligible to apply. In the case of Hungarians, it is possible to apply based on their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and even further generations.
The important aspect is determining whether the ancestor was a citizen when the applicant was born. As Hungary follows the jus sanguinis citizenship law, it’s pretty easy. Hungarian citizens’ children are Hungarian citizens by birth, irrespective of their place of birth. This should make it relatively easy to determine if one of your ancestors qualifies you for a Hungarian passport.
However, there have been a few instances in the past when Hungarians could have lost their citizenship:
- If a Hungarian citizen left the country before 1929 and stayed abroad for 10 years, they lost their citizenship.
- Before October 1, 1957, Hungarian women who married non-Hungarian citizens lost their citizenship.
- A child born to a non-Hungarian father and a Hungarian mother had no automatic right to citizenship before October 1, 1957. Alternatively, the person could have become a Hungarian citizen by making a declaration, but then his/her descendants would have to be naturalized.
- The descendants of an ancestor who left Hungary before September 1, 1929, are highly likely not to have been born Hungarian.
When you determine you are eligible to apply, the actual process is quite paperwork-intensive. The application form must be filled out in Hungarian (an English version is available).
Here are the documents you will need to submit:
- Birth certificate.
- The marriage certificate of your parents.
- The birth certificates of your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.
- Other relevant Hungarian documents include old passports, military records, ID cards, etc.
Having a paper trail proving your connection to the country is crucial. When all your documents have been gathered, you can apply for your Hungarian citizenship at your nearest Hungarian Consulate.
In order to apply, you must go in person. What’s the really good news? First, you will need to pay just over $100 to apply and obtain your Hungarian citizenship.
How to Get Hungarian Citizenship by Marriage?
Let’s say you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for quite some time. Then, it is possible to obtain Hungarian citizenship by a simplified naturalization procedure, similar to the requirement for citizenship based on Hungarian ancestry.
Who is Eligible for Hungarian Citizenship by Marriage?
If you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 10 years, you may be eligible for Hungarian citizenship. Furthermore, after five years of marriage, you can apply if you have at least one child together. As a result, one of the main benefits of this procedure is that it does not require 8 years of residence in Hungary, as in the case of the regular naturalization process. Furthermore, it is not necessary to have a permanent address in Hungary. However, it is an advantage if you have one and live at the same address as your spouse.
Additionally, one benefit of the simplified citizenship procedure is that one does not need to examine basic Hungarian knowledge, including history, literature, and constitutional studies (referred to as a “citizenship exam”). However, you will still need to meet an administrator (or a consul) and discuss why you wish to become a citizen. In order to do so, you will need basic Hungarian language skills.
Hungarian citizenship by Marriage requirements
You will need to submit the following Documents:
A certified copy or the original of your birth certificate and a marriage certificate. Although it may seem odd at first, if you had previously been married, you will also need to submit certificates of the former marriage(s) and divorce(s). This is because every major event in your life should be entered into the Hungarian records once you become a Hungarian citizen (the same as it happens for all Hungarian citizens).
You will also need a certified Hungarian translation if your documents are not Hungarian.
Unlike many other countries, the Hungarian citizenship process does not require a criminal record check.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
You can submit your application package in person once you have collected all necessary documents and their certified translations at any government office in Hungary or the Hungarian consulate nearest your permanent address (within the same country/district).
The consul or administrator will discuss the situation with you and your plans, but you won’t have to take a citizenship test.
Are you eligible for the program?
You can determine if you qualify for Hungarian citizenship through marriage by filling out our eligibility test. By answering a few questions about yourself and your family, you can see if you are eligible and have the necessary documents. If you qualify and need assistance taking the next steps, you can schedule a consultation. We will be happy to assist you in becoming a Hungarian citizen.
How to Get Hungarian Citizenship by Investment?
Investing in Hungary is one of the best ways to become a citizen of the country. You can invest in Hungary in several ways, for example, by registering a company, buying property, starting a business, etc., all of which can eventually lead to a permanent residence. Hungary used to offer government bonds worth 250,000 euros, but these have now been cancelled. A minimum capital of around 10,000 euros is required to register a company in this country.
A business can be started after the business plan has been approved. It takes three years to obtain permanent residence in Hungary by registering a company. Furthermore, the process of obtaining Hungarian citizenship takes three to five years after receiving permanent residency. A person may apply for a Hungarian passport after his or her seventh or eighth year.
Benefits of Hungarian Citizenship
Schengen countries allow Hungarian citizens to travel visa-free. Hungary’s passport gives you visa-free entry to 168 countries. Applicants for Hungarian citizenship are also entitled to free access to the education and healthcare systems of Hungary. For those who wish to set up a company or conduct business in Europe, Hungary offers favorable business conditions.
If you are a citizen of an EU member state, you will have access to great infrastructure and a thousand-year-old culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get hungarian citizenship?
The procedure takes about 8-12 months. To apply for a Hungarian passport, you will have to request it separately, and it will take approximately one to two months.
How easy is it to become a Hungarian citizen?
Compared to other EU countries, naturalization in Hungary is quite straightforward and quick. You would be eligible for citizenship if your ancestors were Hungarian citizens – you need to prove your eligibility with the proper documents.
Who is eligible for Hungarian citizenship?
You can acquire Hungarian citizenship by descent from a Hungarian parent or naturalization. In general, foreigners born in Hungary do not acquire Hungarian citizenship. Hungarian citizens are also European Union citizens. The current Hungarian nationality law was passed in 1993.