Required Documents for Hungarian Citizenship by Descent

Applying for Hungarian citizenship by descent is often seen as one of the more accessible EU pathways for descendants, but it still requires precise documentation. Whether you are applying for yourself or your children, the Hungarian government will only approve cases that are fully documented and verified. The process is rooted in jus sanguinis, or citizenship by blood, meaning Hungarian ancestry is key.

This guide explains which documents are required, why they matter, and what challenges families often encounter.

Why Documentation Matters

Hungary’s Ministry of Interior evaluates applications primarily on ancestry. Even if you qualify under the law, your application will not succeed without proper records to prove your lineage. Missing certificates, inconsistent spellings, or poor translations can be the causes of major delay. Applicants may also need to complete an application form and show ties such as Hungarian roots or family reunification connections.

Core Categories of Documents

1. Civil status documents: proof of birth, marriage, and family links.
2. Proof of Hungarian origin: records showing your ancestor was Hungarian.
3. Identity and legal documents: passports, police clearances, and residence records if relevant.

Civil Status Documents

Birth Certificates

• Your own long-form birth certificate is required.
• Your parent’s and grandparent’s birth certificates are usually needed to prove descent.
• If the ancestor was born in former Austro-Hungarian territories, records may come from archives outside modern Hungary.

Marriage Certificates

If surnames changed through marriage, certificates must be provided.

Death Certificates

Death certificates for parents or grandparents may be required if their birth or marriage certificates alone don’t establish the chain.

Proof of Hungarian Origin

Hungarian Birth Certificates

If your ancestor was born in Hungary, their birth certificate can be evidence of your claim to citizenship by descent. Municipal registry offices from Hungary can issue extracts.

Hungarian Passports or ID Cards

Historic passports or ID cards can help confirm your Hungarian ancestor’s nationality.

Registry Extracts

Civil registry extracts or nationality certificates from Hungarian authorities can also serve as proof of your lineage.

Archive Records

For ancestors from areas once part of Hungary (Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Croatia), you may need to request records from local archives.

Identity and Legal Documents

Current Passport

You must provide your current, valid passport.

Police Clearance Certificate

Adults must present criminal record checks from their country of residence and any country lived in for more than six months.

Apostilles and Legalization

All foreign records must be apostilled or legalized, depending on whether the issuing country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Translation Requirements

All documents not in Hungarian must be translated. Translations must be:

• Completed by an official translator.
• Certified according to Hungarian legal standards.

Common Challenges

• Name Variations: Hungarian names are often altered abroad, e.g., “Nagy” becoming “Nagyh.” If this happened to your ancestor, you may need to provide supporting documents.
• Territorial Changes: Records may be scattered across countries once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It can take time to track down and get certified copies of these documents.
• Language Requirements: While minors do not need Hungarian language ability, adults applying independently generally need to have basic use of the language.

Example Document Trail

Katalin, born in Argentina, applies based on her Hungarian grandfather. She gathers:

• Her own Argentine birth certificate.
• Her father’s Argentine birth certificate.
• Her grandfather’s Hungarian birth certificate from Szeged.
• Her passport and police clearance certificate.
• Apostilles and certified Hungarian translations of all Argentine documents.

This is an example of a simple, clear lineage proving Hungarian origin. However, mot every case will be this simple. It’s important to have a trusted professional guiding you through your application process.

FAQs

Important Note

Every Hungarian citizenship case is unique. Even with all documents, approval is not guaranteed. Authorities may also request more evidence at their discretion, so gathering as much evidence as possible is usually advisable.

We recommend starting with our $250 full service guide and consulting a trusted citizenship expert before applying.

Final Checklist: Documents for Hungarian Citizenship Applications

• Applicant’s long-form birth certificate
• Parent’s and grandparent’s birth certificates
• Parents’ and grandparents’ marriage certificates (if names changed)
• Ancestor’s Hungarian birth certificate or registry extract
• Ancestor’s passport or ID card (if available)
• Death certificates for ancestors (if relevant)
• Applicant’s current passport
• Police clearance certificate(s) (not required for minors)
• Residence permit in Hungary (if naturalization path)
• Apostilles or consular legalization
• Certified Hungarian translations of all foreign documents
  

If you can check every box, you may be ready to move forward with your application. The Hungarian government may ask for additional documents, but these will give your application a good foundation.

Ready to learn more about citizenship by descent? See if you qualify with our eligibility assessment. We also offer a complete guide to the application process: read it here.

Sources

Government of Hungary, acquisition of nationality. emberijogok.kormany.hu

Hungarian MFA consular page, simplified naturalisation.telaviv.mfa.gov.hu