If you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for some time, you might be eligible for Hungarian citizenship in simplified naturalization, similar to the procedure required when you apply for citizenship based on your Hungarian ancestry.
Who is eligible for Hungarian citizenship through marriage?
You can apply for Hungarian citizenship if you have been married to a Hungarian citizen for at least 10 years. If you have had at least one child together, you can apply already after 5 years of marriage. Accordingly, one of the main advantages of this procedure is that you do not need 8 years of Hungarian residency, as in the case of the regular naturalization process. Having a Hungarian permanent address is not even a requirement. However, it is definitely an advantage if you do have one, and if you live at the same address as your spouse.
Another main advantage of the simplified naturalization procedure is that you do not need to pass an exam on basic Hungarian lore including knowledge of history, literature, and constitutional studies (usually referred to as a “citizenship exam”). At the same time, you will still need to meet an administrator (or a consul) and have a short talk about why you want to become a citizen – for which you will need basic Hungarian language skills.
What documents are required?
You will need to submit an original or a certified copy of your birth certificate and your marriage certificate. Odd as it may sound, if you had been married formerly, you will also need to submit certificates of the former marriage(s) and divorce(s). The reason for this is simple: when you become a Hungarian citizen, all your major life events should be registered in the Hungarian records (same as they are regularly registered for all Hungarian citizens).
If the language of your documents is not Hungarian, you will also need a certified Hungarian translation.
A pleasant surprise: as opposed to the practice in many other countries, there is no need to provide a no-criminal record for the Hungarian citizenship procedure.
How to apply?
Once you have collected all necessary documents, together with their certified translations, you can submit the application package personally at any government office in Hungary or at the Hungarian consulate nearest to your permanent address (in the same country and/or district).
As mentioned above, you will not be required to take a citizenship test, but you must have a short interview with the consul or the administrator to talk about your situation and your plans.
You can learn about the procedure in detail at the website of the Hungarian government on this link. However, the description is unfortunately available only in Hungarian.
Are you eligible?
The easiest way to find out if you are eligible for Hungarian citizenship through marriage is to fill out our eligibility test. Just answer a few questions about yourself and your family, and you will see if you are eligible and in possession of the necessary documents. In case you find you are eligible, and if you need help taking the next steps, you can request a consultation. We will be happy to aid you on your journey to becoming a Hungarian citizen.
