The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every aspect of life all around the world. Most people are asked to stay at home if they can, and with a positive attitude, this can be seen as an opportunity to slow down, grow, learn new skills, and focus on what is most important in your life.
Well, to start with, the process of getting the Hungarian passport can take up to 6-18 months. So why not start it right now?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.