Hungarian people in the U.S. eligible for Hungarian citizenship

Hungarian people in the U.S.

According to the latest census data, there are about 1.4 million people living in the United States who consider themselves Hungarian, and who, therefore, are Hungarian. Although about 1 million of them do not speak Hungarian, even second, third, or fourth generation Hungarians are aware of their roots and maintain communities with fellow Hungarians.

According to the Hungarian American Coalition, an umbrella organization for Hungarian groups, institutions, and communities, in the U.S. there are

• 100 organizations
• 78 churches
• 33 schools
• 25 scout groups
• 12 Hungarian houses, museums, and libraries

Hungary supports Hungarian communities abroad

Their work is also supported by the Hungarian Diaspora Council, which aims to connect Hungarian people living in diaspora all over the world and let them share best practices for preserving their Hungarian heritage. This goal is furthered by the Körösi Csoma Sándor scholarship, named after the great Hungarian linguist and traveler, thanks to which volunteers can spend 6-9 months with Hungarian communities abroad. During their stay, they can actively participate in the life of the local community, help them organize events, or teach Hungarian language, literature, and history.

What’s new in the U.S.?

In a recent interview, Andrea Lauer Rice, the president of the Hungarian American Coalition talked about the work done by the organization. She mentioned that during the lockdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic, people’s need for community increased, and they were able to reach out to more Hungarians through online, remote events.

She added that she sees two major challenges in the near future. One is about how to get young people more involved in the life of the diaspora. For that, the work of Hungarian scout groups and weekend schools seems crucial. The other challenge is involving people who do not speak Hungarian, which is in fact the majority of Hungarian descendants living in the U.S.

Want to get closer to your roots? Consider citizenship

According to the 20^th century poet Gyula Illyés, you are Hungarian if you consider yourself Hungarian. In line with this, thanks to the Citizenship Act of Hungary, you can easily gain Hungarian citizenship if one or more of your parents, grandparents, or other ancestors were Hungarian. You just need to verify your lineage with the right documents and you can become a citizen, get a passport, and travel to Hungary to get closer to your roots. The Hungarian passport also lets you live and work anywhere in the EU without limitations and gets you visa-free access to 185 countries around the world.

Are you eligible? Take our short survey now! You just need to answer a few questions and you will see whether you are ready to start your citizenship journey. The evaluation is free of charge, and you get a precise answer with no strings attached.

Do you have any questions? Contact our expert team and learn more about how you can become a Hungarian citizen.