Hungarian simplified naturalization, step by step

Simplified naturalization (egyszerűsített honosítás) is how most people with Hungarian roots become Hungarian citizens today. It has no residence requirement and no limit on how many generations back your ancestor was. The catch is the language: you have to hold a conversation in Hungarian with the official who takes your application.

It’s one of three Hungarian routes. If your family line never broke, you may already be Hungarian and only need it confirmed; the Hungarian citizenship by descent guide explains how to tell which route fits you.

Who qualifies

Hungarian missions list these conditions. You can apply if:

• an ancestor of yours was a Hungarian citizen, or your Hungarian origin is likely, or you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 10 years (or 5 years with a child together); and
• you can communicate in Hungarian, checked by the authority that receives your application;
• you have no criminal record and no criminal proceedings pending under Hungarian law; and
• your naturalization doesn’t threaten Hungary’s public or national security.

Many families qualify through an ancestor from the historical Kingdom of Hungary, whose records may now be in archives in Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Croatia, Austria or Slovenia.

The Hungarian conversation

There’s no exam and no certificate to submit. The official who receives your application talks with you in Hungarian and records your language knowledge on the form. The Hungarian embassy in Tel Aviv describes the expected level as intermediate two-way communication: you need to understand questions and answer them. Speaking a dialect or imperfect Hungarian is not a problem.

Two practical points from the same embassy: the whole procedure runs in Hungarian, including conversations before you hand in the application, and your Hungarian can be checked again at any later stage, for example when you apply for a passport. Applicants aged 14 and over are checked. Our language requirements guide compares this with other countries.

I also built Let’s Learn Hungarian, a free beginner course aimed at this conversation. It’s my own site.

Documents

Hungarian missions ask for:

• the naturalization application form, which includes a handwritten CV for applicants aged 14 and over, plus the forms to register your birth (and marriage or divorce, if any) in Hungary;
• your own birth certificate, and marriage or divorce documents, with certified Hungarian translations;
• proof that your ancestor was a Hungarian citizen: their birth, marriage or death records, church or archive certificates that cite the volume, page and entry number, or their military book, work book or school certificate showing name, place and date of birth;
• records for every generation between you and that ancestor. A grandfather’s birth certificate alone isn’t enough; you also need to link your parent to him. For a female line, include marriage records showing her maiden and married names;
• a valid passport or ID card.

If a relative already became Hungarian through the same ancestor, you can give their details on the form instead of resubmitting the ancestor’s documents. Certified translations are made in Hungary by OFFI (the National Office for Translation and Attestation) or abroad by a Hungarian consul. Bring originals to your appointment.

Applying, step by step

1. Book an appointment at a Hungarian embassy or consulate, or apply at a government office in Hungary. You apply in person; every applicant, including children, must attend.
2. Fill in the forms in advance, but sign them only in front of the official. Fingerprints, signature and photo are taken at the appointment for your future Hungarian ID card.
3. Have your conversation in Hungarian and hand in the application. For a child, both parents must consent.
4. Wait for the decision. The legal time limit is usually 3 months, extendable by 60 days; the Toronto consulate says 6 to 12 months is typical in practice.
5. Take the oath. If approved, the President of the Republic issues a naturalization certificate and you’re invited to take the citizenship oath or pledge at the mission or Hungarian town you chose on the form. You become Hungarian on that day. If you don’t take it within one year of the first invitation through your own fault, the naturalization lapses.

After the oath you’re registered with a Hungarian personal identification number and address card and can apply for a Hungarian passport.

Cost

The procedure itself is free. Expect to pay for certified translations, certified copies and any consular authentication of documents, and for getting records from archives.

Things that go wrong

• A gap in the chain. One missing generation, or a woman’s name change with no marriage record, holds up the whole file.
• Underestimating the conversation. It’s a real conversation, not a few memorised sentences, and it can be repeated later.
• Inaccurate information. Hungarian citizenship obtained by giving false information or hiding facts can be withdrawn for up to 20 years.

I became Hungarian through this route; here’s how it went.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Embassy of Hungary, Tel Aviv: Simplified naturalization (eligibility, language level, documents, time limit, fee, oath)
• Consulate General of Hungary, Toronto: Simplified Hungarian naturalization (in-person application, documents, processing time, oath)
• Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship (official English text, National Legislation Database)

Checked against these sources on 21 October 2026. Requirements can differ slightly between missions; check with the embassy or consulate where you’ll apply.