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Mikkel Thorup : February 9, 2023
Hungary is an EU member country with a beautiful capital city, Budapest, and the biggest lake in Central Europe, Balaton. Hungary has many distinct destinations: relatively low mountains in the northwest, the Great Plain in the east, various lakes and rivers, and many attractive small villages and hidden jewels of towns. Combine this with Hungary's convenient location in the heart of Europe, vibrant culture and economy, and a strong passport (currently rated 10th in the world), and you have a place that is well worth visiting if you're in the region.
The Hungarian passport is one of the most sought-after passports in the world since it provides visa-free travel across Europe, the United States, and Canada, among other countries. It also grants you European citizenship, allowing you to live and work freely across the European Union (EU).
However, to apply for Hungarian citizenship, you must first reside in Hungary for an uninterrupted period of eight years. If you have Hungarian ancestry or your spouse is Hungarian by birth, you may expedite the procedure. Anyone with Hungarian heritage, even if it goes back to the nineteenth century, is eligible for Hungarian citizenship by descent.
Hungary follows the jus sanguinis citizenship law
Hungarian citizenship law is based on the principle of jus sanguinis, meaning "right of blood," and grants citizenship to those born to a Hungarian citizen parent. It only applies to children born to one or both Hungarian parents and does not extend to those born in Hungary to non-Hungarian parents.
Related article: Ireland Citizenship By Ancestry
First, you should determine if you are entitled to apply, even though Hungary has made it quite simple for its descendants to qualify. Being Hungarian allows you to apply based on your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or even beyond generations. The critical factor is whether the ancestor in issue was a citizen at the time the person applying for citizenship was born.
Luckily, Hungary follows the jus sanguinis citizenship law, like Italy, making it straightforward. This means that children born to Hungarian citizens are automatically Hungarian citizens, regardless of their place of birth. That should make it rather straightforward to assess if one of your ancestors qualifies you for a valid Hungarian passport.
However, there are a few major cases in the past when Hungarians might have lost their citizenship:
If the ancestor lost Hungarian citizenship for any of the reasons stated above (and not just one), there may be a method to reclaim it via a statement (Simplified naturalization process) if the ancestors:
Esztergom, Hungary
The simplified naturalization procedure offers the benefit of not requiring the applicant to live in Hungary on a permanent basis or provide proof of financial stability in the country. Acquiring Hungarian citizenship through ancestry does not necessitate employment or a bank account. The only requirement is to furnish proof of Hungarian ancestry through relevant documents.
Once you've determined you're eligible, the application procedure is rather paper-intensive. The easiest part is to fill out an application form in Hungarian (an English version is available).
Then, you must produce the following documents, which must be translated into Hungarian and certified by a Consul:
It is critical to creating a documentation trail of documents that ties you to the nation. Once all of your paperwork is in order, you may apply for Hungarian citizenship at your local Hungarian Consulate. You must submit your application in person.
Related content: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency
Hungary is an excellent place to get a second citizenship
If you believe you may be eligible for Hungarian citizenship via ancestry, it may be worthwhile to speak with an immigration and citizenship specialist. During a session, your case will be assessed for eligibility and possible difficulties, some of which you may be unaware of.
During the consultation, you may have your concerns regarding the procedure answered and find out how much it would cost to have our team handle the case for you, putting your mind at rest.
When you're ready, contact us straight away to schedule a consultation.
Related content: Romanian Citizenship By Ancestry
Balaton is the biggest lake in Central Europe
Overall, Hungary might be an excellent place to get a second citizenship, even if your ancestors have resided in your home country for many generations. It's unusual to find a citizenship-by-descent policy with such a generous timeline. Furthermore, when you consider the genuine worth of a legitimate Hungarian citizenship certificate and, therefore, an EU passport, the cost of gaining Hungarian citizenship this way or any other European Union citizenship for that matter, is relatively affordable. Hungarian citizenship is precious. There is also a simple option to renounce this citizenship if it no longer benefits you.
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Written by Mikkel Thorup
Mikkel Thorup is the world’s most sought-after expat consultant. He focuses on helping high-net-worth private clients to legally mitigate tax liabilities, obtain a second residency and citizenship, and assemble a portfolio of foreign investments including international real estate, timber plantations, agricultural land and other hard-money tangible assets. Mikkel is the Founder and CEO at Expat Money®, a private consulting firm started in 2017. He hosts the popular weekly podcast, the Expat Money Show, and wrote the definitive #1-Best Selling book Expat Secrets - How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas And Make Giant Piles Of Money, and his second book: Expats Guide On Moving To Mexico.
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