Foreigners legally resident in Hungary for a certain amount of time – depending on their status - can file an application to become a citizen. Different factors are taken into account for eligibility for nationalization in Hungary.
The application for the Hungarian citizenship has to be submitted in person to the Registrar at Local Council ( Anyakönyvvezető). An individual living outside of Hungary is required to submit an application to in the Hungarian Consulate in their country of residence.
What are the requirements?
Valid Immigration Card
Clean criminal record
Certificate of a legal, valid accommodation
Exam on constitutional fundamentals (citizenship exam); this exam has to be taken in Hungarian language
When can you apply for citizenship?
You can normally make an application for Hungarian citizenship once you have completed 8 years of continuous residence in Hungary. There are exceptions to this minimum limit in the following circumstances:
If you were born in Hungary, you can apply for citizenship after 5 years of continuous residence.
If you are married to a Hungarian citizen and/or are the parent of child who is Hungarian and is a minor and/or hold refugee status, you can make a Citizenship application after 3 years of continuous residence in the country.
If you profess yourself to be Hungarian and can verify your ancestors were Hungarian citizens. In this case you can apply for Hungarian citizenship right after you received the Immigration Card.
The President of Hungary approves a certificate of naturalization or a certificate of repatriation. This deed acts as a legal document for the acquisition of Hungarian citizenship. At the end of the naturalization process the applicant swears a citizenship-oath and becomes a Hungarian citizen.
