You May Be Able To Get Hungarian Citizenship If You Have Ancestors From Hungary

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

HOW DOES HUNGARIAN CITIZENSHIP BY ANCESTRY WORK?

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

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

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:

• As per the Act on Hungarian Citizenship, Hungarian citizens who resided abroad for 10 or more years before 1929, or failed to maintain their Hungarian citizenship within 10 years, forfeited their citizenship;
• Before October 1, 1957, Hungarian women who married non-Hungarian nationals lost their citizenship;
• Children born to a non-Hungarian father and a Hungarian mother did not automatically acquire Hungarian citizenship before October 1, 1957. The individual may have become a Hungarian citizen by a declaration, but his or her descendants were then required to be naturalized;
• Additionally, if the ancestor left Hungary before September 1, 1929, their descendants were not automatically considered Hungarian citizens at birth.

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:

• Was a Hungarian citizen or is of Hungarian descent; ( If you are claiming citizenship for someone who was not born in present-day Hungary, you must use the Simplified naturalization procedure);
• Deprived of citizenship due to expatriation between September 15, 1947, and May 2, 1990;
• Was obliged to move to Germany;
• Has been married for at least 10 years to a Hungarian citizen, or has been married for five years to a Hungarian citizen and they have children.

Esztergom, Hungary

Furthermore, if the applicant:

• Demonstrating proficiency in the Hungarian language (assessed by the application processing authorities through a brief interview where you discuss your background, family, and reason for seeking Hungarian citizenship) is required;
• Has no criminal record and no outstanding criminal procedures against the applicant.

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:

• Your original birth certificate;
• Marriage certificates for your parents;
• The applicable parent(s), grandparent(s), or great-grandparent's certificate(s);
  
• Documents verifying the ancestor(s)' name change, which is common when naturalizing or marrying;
• Other official Hungarian documentation, such as old passports, civil or military records, ID booklets, soldier's small book, school certificates, occupational record book, address proof, parish/pastoral certificates, and so on.

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.

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Hungary is an excellent place to get a second citizenship

PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

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

CONCLUSION

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.