Hungarian nationality law

Hungarian nationality law is based on the principles of jus sanguinis. Hungarian citizenship is acquired mainly on the basis of a Hungarian parent, or by naturalisation. Children born in Hungary to foreign parents do not generally acquire Hungarian citizenship. Every Hungarian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union.

The existing Hungarian nationality law dates from 1993. Prior to this date, rules for acquisition and loss of Hungarian citizenship may have been different. With the new Hungarian nationality law, by January 2011, every person who was a Hungarian citizen or is a descendant of a person who was a Hungarian citizen before 1920 or between 1941 and 1945 and speaks Hungarian may apply to become a Hungarian citizen even if he or she does not live in Hungary. Till August 2015, more than 750,000 applications were filed and 700,000 people were already granted citizenship thanks to the new nationality law. These people are mostly from Transylvania (Romania) with 300,000 people, Vojvodina (Serbia) with 130,000 and Ukraine with 120,000.

Dual citizenship is permitted under Hungarian law.

A person acquires Hungarian citizenship at birth if at least one parent is a Hungarian citizen. The place of birth is irrelevant.

Children born in Hungary to foreign parents do not acquire Hungarian citizenship at birth unless they would otherwise be stateless.

Minor children adopted by Hungarian citizens may normally be granted Hungarian citizenship.

A person may be naturalized as a Hungarian citizen on the basis of the following requirements:

The residence requirement is reduced to 3 years for:

The 2011 Hungarian Citizenship law allows all ethnic Hungarians to apply for simplified naturalisation if they are able to prove knowledge of the Hungarian Language and provide evidence that he or she does indeed have Hungarian ancestry.

A 5-year residence requirement applies to a person who is:

Applicants aged 65 or over, those of diminished capacity, and persons holding a Hungarian language diploma (from a Hungarian institution) may be exempted the constitutional studies requirement.

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Wikipedia