Hungarian citizenship can be obtained in several ways, and the requirements depend on the route. The most accessible for people abroad is citizenship by descent, while others gain it through residence in Hungary or through marriage. Here is what each route requires.
The routes to Hungarian citizenship
Most people qualify through one of three routes. Each leads to the same result, a Hungarian passport and full EU citizenship, but the requirements differ.
- By descent, if you have a Hungarian ancestor. This is the simplified route, with no need to live in Hungary.
- By naturalisation, based on a period of legal residence in Hungary.
- By marriage to a Hungarian citizen.
Our guide to citizenship by descent covers the first route in full, and our Hungarian citizenship service explains how our partner lawyers handle each one.
At a glance, here is how the three routes compare:
| Route | Live in Hungary? | Language | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| By descent | No | Basic, checked in an interview | Anyone with a documented Hungarian ancestor |
| Naturalisation | Yes, usually 8 years | Constitutional exam in Hungarian | People already settled in Hungary |
| Marriage | 3 years, or a 10-year marriage route | Basic | Spouses of Hungarian citizens |
Requirements for citizenship by descent
This is the simplified naturalisation route, and the most common one for the Hungarian diaspora. You generally need to:
- Have a Hungarian ancestor, with no limit on how many generations back.
- Document an unbroken line back to that ancestor, usually with birth and marriage certificates, plus evidence that the ancestor was a Hungarian citizen.
- Show a basic, conversational command of Hungarian, assessed in an interview rather than a formal exam.
- Have a clean record and pose no national security concern.
There is no residence requirement, so you can apply from abroad, usually through a Hungarian consulate.
Requirements for naturalisation by residence
If you do not have Hungarian ancestry, you can still naturalise after living in Hungary legally. The standard requirements are:
- Eight years of continuous lawful residence in Hungary. This drops to five years if you were born in Hungary, settled before the age of eighteen, or are stateless.
- A stable livelihood and a place to live in Hungary.
- A clean criminal record and no threat to public order or national security.
- Passing the basic constitutional studies exam, a written test of forty questions in Hungarian, with twenty-eight correct answers needed to pass.
Some applicants are exempt from the exam, including those aged sixty or over, people who studied at a Hungarian-language institution, and those exempted on health grounds.
Requirements for citizenship by marriage
Spouses of Hungarian citizens have shorter routes:
- If you live in Hungary, the residence requirement falls to three years once you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least three years. The same applies to widows and widowers.
- There is also a route for spouses married for at least ten years, or five years if you have a shared child, counted from the child’s birth.
Marriage-route applicants still need to show Hungarian language ability and meet the good-character and security conditions.
Documents you will usually need
The exact list depends on your route, but most applications include:
- A completed application form, filled in Hungarian.
- Your birth certificate, and marriage certificates where relevant.
- For a descent claim, the chain of certificates linking you to your Hungarian ancestor, plus proof of the ancestor’s Hungarian citizenship.
- For naturalisation, proof of your residence, livelihood, and accommodation in Hungary.
- A valid passport or identity document, and a recent criminal record certificate.
Documents in another language usually need an official Hungarian translation.
Can you keep your current citizenship?
Yes. Hungary permits dual and multiple citizenship, so you do not have to give up your existing nationality, as long as your home country allows it too. We explain this in our guide to whether Hungary allows dual citizenship, and what it means for your Hungarian passport.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main requirements for Hungarian citizenship?
It depends on your route. By descent you need a Hungarian ancestor and a documented family line, plus basic Hungarian, with no residence required. By naturalisation you need eight years of residence, a stable livelihood, and a clean record, and you must pass a constitutional studies exam.
Do I need to live in Hungary to get citizenship?
Not for citizenship by descent, which can be applied for from abroad. Naturalisation does require a period of legal residence in Hungary, usually eight years, and less in certain cases.
Is there a Hungarian language requirement?
Yes. Applicants need to show a basic command of Hungarian. For descent claims this is assessed in an interview, while naturalisation applicants sit a written constitutional studies exam in Hungarian, unless they are exempt.
How does the marriage route work?
If you live in Hungary, the residence requirement falls to three years after three years of marriage to a Hungarian citizen. There is also a route for spouses married at least ten years, or five years with a shared child.
Can I keep my current citizenship?
Yes. Hungary allows dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce your current nationality. Whether you keep it depends on your home country’s rules.