The consulates list two ways in. Either one of your ancestors was a Hungarian citizen, or you are likely to be of Hungarian origin. Or you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least ten years, or for five years if you have children together.
There is no limit on generations. The document list asks for the certificates of parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., and the whole chain must be proven, every generation between you and the Hungarian ancestor. Through a mother or grandmother you also need the marriage certificates that link the maiden name to the married name.
On top of that, no criminal record and no pending criminal case. You do not need to live in Hungary.
The consulates call weak Hungarian a frequent problem. Everyone aged 14 or more is checked by the officer who takes the application. The level is intermediate level communication skills in Hungarian, understanding and speaking. There is no language exam and no certificate. Dialect or broken Hungarian is accepted, what counts is that the conversation works both ways.
The consulates add two warnings. You must hand in the application and answer the officer on your own, in short sentences, with no one helping. And your Hungarian can be checked again later, when you apply for a passport or by phone.
More on the level and the conversation on the language requirement page.
The application form, which exists only in Hungarian. A CV written by hand inside the form, in Hungarian, for everyone aged 14 or more. Your birth certificate with a certified Hungarian translation. Your marriage or divorce certificates if any. The certificates of the ancestor chain, or church and archive records with volume, page and entry number, or the ancestor's military book, school report or other official paper. If a relative already got citizenship this way, you can give their details instead of the ancestor documents.
In person at a Hungarian consulate, by appointment. Every applicant must be there, children too. The consulates give 3 months, which can be extended by 60 days, not counting extra documents they ask for. The procedure itself is free. You only pay for authenticated copies or translations if the consulate does them.
The questions the consul asks, in Hungarian with translation, are on this page.
Sources, the pages of the Hungarian consulates in Tel Aviv and Los Angeles, read on 28 September 2026. Rules can change, check with your consulate before you book.
This page in Spanish and in Portuguese.
Independent publication, not affiliated with the Government of Hungary or any consulate.