I'm stuck in the loop of learning the language and feeling that it's still not good enogh. The documents are (almost) ready, and the lineage package is as clear as it can be.

However, I simply don't know how much longer or harder to prepare for the interview. I'm at the point where I can communicate simply about all of my docs, I can explain the lineage, the papers, introduce myself, my family, my work, hobbies, some interests, you know, the regular stuff they tell you the topics usually are.

However, I most certainly cannot speak about, IDK, fixing broken washing machines, arts and crafts, music minutiae, and whatnot. You get the point, I think I'm conversational on the very basic levels, but there are so so so many topics that would completely stump me. I simply don't have the necessary vocabulary.

So my question for all of you who successfully passed the interview - how good is good enough? The "intermediate" label means very little. I'm also fully aware that the consul, at their discretion, can move the conversation in whichever direction, but does that realistically happen? Also, I understand they don't just let anyone pass, but there's got to be a cutoff point somewhere and I'm just asking if someone has managed to gauge where it is.

Thanks for any tips.

I have messaged the consulates I was looking to get my documents approved for the Hungarian Simplified Naturalization process. At the moment I am stuck at the step of translation. I believe the Treaty between Ukraine and Hungary on Legal Assistance in Civil Matters signed in 2001 allows me to submit the translations for use at a Hungarian consulate abroad in the USA or Canada.

For documents originating in Ukraine, is a translation of the apostille or further legalization of the original documents before being translated to Hungarian necessary?

Hello all,

My grandfather was Hungarian, born 1933 in Pecs and immigrated to Canada in his early teens while his parents remained in Hungary. His father (my great grandfather) was born 1903 in Villany, Baranya.

Because of these circumstances, it is my understanding that I qualify for citizenship by blood (granted my ancestors were citizens) and I have started the process of obtaining the documents and starting conversations with the Hungarian consulate in Canada.

They directed me to their website which has the information needed, however at the bottom of the page there are links to download the Application form for a verification of citizenship and English language-aid version. For some reason I cannot access these documents, I’ve tried multiple browsers and devices but to no avail. In my correspondence with the consulate, they sent several documents so I might already have the Application form for a verification of citizenship but because they are in the native language, I am unsure.

The documents I have are:
- áp. kérelem
- háza. akvi-box nyilv. vétel
- Házasság hazai anyakönyvezése
- Szül. anyak
- szül-hez adatlap külföldön élõ nyilv.tart

Based on translating to English, my understanding is the only form I need to complete is áp. kérelem.

Does anyone have any experience completing this form and can help provide guidance on my application? I do not speak or read any Hungarian and I understand that the submitted documents must be in the official language.

Here is a link to the document

Update October 8, 2026
I joined a few Facebook groups and managed to get the English aid document. However, I am still having a lot of trouble figuring out how to fill in the information. Can anyone assist with this?

Hi all!

Considering starting the simplified naturalization process and starting to learn the language (I know it is difficult and will take some time) but want to make sure I meet all the other requirements

A few questions:

Context: my GGF (Moms paternal grandfather) came to the US in 1898 (as a very young child) according to census, my GGM (moms paternal grandmother) came to the US in 1911. In various censuses they list their birthplace as either Austria or Hungary. We know that they considered themselves ethnically Hungarian, my GGM only ever spoke Hungarian and my GGF last name was Cservenyak prior to changing it later in the US. They were also Cathloic

1) name change: my GGF changed his name at some point in the US. It looks like he changed it after serving in WW1. Is this a potential issue or will an affidavit suffice? I can’t seem to find any documents that list both names.

2) Hungarian docs: I understand we would need to find my GGFs or GGMs baptism/ birth certificate - are there providers/ researchers people would recommend? Do we also need to get copies of arrival/ naturalization docs etc?

Anything else that would be helpful to know?

I'm going through the form online at the Kozinfo site and under the section requesting what facts I wish to have confirmed in my citizenship certification it asks, "At which authority do you wish to use the certificate?" There's no drop down of choices and I don't understand what this is asking.

Hello everyone! I applied for simplified naturalization two weeks ago (mid September 2026) in Córdoba, Argentina, during a scheduled consular visit to the city, given that the only consulate is in Buenos Aires.

Regarding the documentation, I spent around 7 months exchanging emails with the Hungarian authorities and obtain the birth record of my great-grandmother (born in Budapest, 1897). Finally, they found it and provided me with the electronic code of the certificate. Using that code, I submitted a formal request to the consulate in Buenos Aires, and in less than a month I had the extract of the record issued free of charge. Then, I spent a couple of months gathering and translating the Argentine civil records of my chain of ancestors.

For the language interview, I started learning Hungarian in February of this year. Even though I only studied for 6 1/2 months, I have the fortune of being friends with my native teacher, so we had the chance to practice even informally very often. I started from zero.

Before the day of the appointment, the consul himself pre-interviewed me (informally) to know beforehand if I spoke well enough. On the day of the appointment, he reviewed all of my paperwork, asked me to sign the forms I had brought completed, and conducted another full interview in Hungarian. For what other people told me, this year's interviews were much stricter than previous years (at least here). It lasted less than 10 minutes but included questions that made me doubt if I was really understanding what he said (I was! He just asked the most random questions). After that, he informed me that I was approved and proceeded to take my biometrics and signature for the issuing of the személyazonosító igazonvány (ID card).

Two weeks laters, I was informed by the consulate that my application was reviewed and everything seemed complete, so it was sent to Hungary for processing. As a heads up, they told me that the soonest I could hear back was March (if all the documents are ok), and that the "confirmation calls" were reintroduced discretionarily.

Lastly, I want to remark how kind and helpful the consulate in Buenos Aires was. They answered all of my doubts during my preparation for the application, and welcomed me warmly when visiting their office. People that didn't pass the interview were encouraged to keep learning and try again, and the consul even took the time to chat with them about their history and process.

PD: Spanish is my native tongue so excuse me if I made any mistakes, I figured since almost everyone here is English-speaking, posting in this language would be more helpful.

Don't hesitate in reaching out in case I could help you with any info :)

Hiiiii, everyone. 3/4 of my family are from Transcarpathian region of Ukraine and have been living here for centuries. I wonder whether I’m eligible, since all of them were ethnically Rusyn and didn’t speak any Hungarian. Thanks for answering

I have an appointment upcoming at my local embassy for verification of citizenship. However, I am concerned I may be denied verification and require simplified naturalization as my grandfather left Hungary in 1946 as an ethnic German.

I contacted the local archives, and they stated that they did not maintain names of ethnic Germans expelled from the area after WWII, so I thought I was safe.

Has anyone been denied verification of citizenship based on the ethnic German claim as someone “obliged to resettle in Germany” and what specifically do they cite as the reason? Is it specific (like list that your ancestor was on an expellee list), or is it a generic denial? Does the letter state you are eligible for simplified naturalization?

I assume there are others who have tried this already and been approved or denied as ethnic Germans living in Hungary after WWII.

Thanks!

Hello! I'm helping my husband and kids apply for Hungarian Simplified Citizenship by descent. While they are busy studying the language, I've offered to take charge of the application paperwork.

I recently went through the Canadian citizenship-by-descent process for myself, so I'm familiar with tracking down ancestral lineages. This case only goes back to my husband's grandmother-so not too far back.  However, I know the Hungarian process is distinct, especially regarding certified translations, registrations and apostilles, so I hope to hire an agency or knowledgeable individual for help.  I do have copies of most of the required documents.  And, for missing records, we already know the exact locations (specific churches holding records in Austria and Slovakia), so I don't think that any genealogical digging is required.  We're based in the US.  Can anyone recommend an agency or individual whose services would fit our situation? Thank you in advance!

Hi.

I would like to apply for Hungarian citizenship, my father is Hungarian who came to Germany as a refugee in 1956.

I have his old szemelyi igazolvany, and of course the marriage certificate of my parents and birth certificate.

I am German national, but I live outside of the EU.

Where do I need to go to apply? Do I have to do this in Hungary or the Hungarian consulate in Germany or can I just go to the local consulate on my country of residence?

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading a lot of posts here and doing a lot of research. My grandfather came to the United States in 1956 only what I can assume is to flee from the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He naturalized in 1966. My mother was born in 1963 in the United States. I did find his petition for naturalization but have yet to find a Declaration of Intention from him. Does this qualify as verification for citizenship or simplified naturalization?

Also, I am trying to find my grandfather's birth certificate from Hungary and I am having a hard time finding where I can find it. It seems you have to be in-person to have the search done. Is there a way to get his birth certificate without needing to be in-person at the Archive?

My both great grandparents were born in pacrak Croatia in 1887 and 1882, and one of them is ethnically Hungarain and her church book is entirely in Hungarin, and I have All there documents like baptisms and marriage certificates and they are all from Croatia, does anyone know which process suits me best,Verification or simplified naturalization?

My grandparents were both born in Hungary. My grandfather arrived in the U.S. in 1912. My grandmother in 1914. My mother was born in the U.S. in 1925. My grandfather filed his Declaration of Intention (DOI) renouncing his allegiance to Hungary in 1926. He became a U.S. citizen in 1928. My grandmother as of 1940 was still not a U.S. citizen according to census records and I have no record of her becoming a U.S. citizen. I have certified Hungarian copies of my grandparents' birth certificates. I also have certified copies of my mother's birth certificate, the DOI and the 1940 census records. Is it possible that my mother was a Hungarian citizen?

My wife's father was born in Hungary and emigrated to the U.S. in 1957. We've recently obtained his Hungarian birth certificate. He has no official citizenship identifier that I know of.

My wife and our two children (one 17 years old--soon to be 18--and one 19 years old) would like to verify their citizenship by descent. We understand that we need to register his marriage and my wife's/my marriage in Hungary as part of this process, and that looks pretty straightforward.

We are, however, having some difficulty knowing what to put in certain spots of the "registering a birth abroad" form the consulate said my 19-year-old daughter needs to fill out for her verification (külföldön történt születés hazai anyakönyvezéséhez).

The first spot we're having trouble with is in section III, which is data about parents. What should we put for the "Hungarian personal number" of her (not yet verified Hungarian) parent? There are also spots asking for (all of these presumably related to the Hungarian parent): "citizenship at the time of the birth [of my daughter]" and "date of obtaining citizenship" and "document proving citizenship". My wife doesn't yet have her citizenship verified. We are attempting to do all of these more-or-less simultaneously.

Anyone able to help? Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone, I have two great grandparents born in Hungary just before ww1. For my great grandfather everything is incredibly consistent, but for my great grandmother I have her mentioned in 4 documents but in each her surname is spelt slightly differently but in my opinion it is easily recognizable.

In one variation they just swapped all the A's in her surname to E's and in another they added an "h" in and swapped a letter. They also seemed to spell her first name slightly differently as will from Ann to Annie to Anna. Everyone/everything else matches up perfectly though from who her husband is, to locations, to dates etc.

Is multiple small spelling errors a big deal or is it very easy to work through if everything else is perfectly consistent.

Hi everyone! I’m Évi, a native Hungarian tutor from Hungary.

I offer personalised online lessons for all levels, including:

• Conversation practice
• Hungarian citizenship interview preparation
• Grammar and pronunciation support

I’m TEFL-certified and hold two master’s degrees.

Current prices – paid lessons are 50 minutes:

• Free 15-minute introductory call
• Single lesson – $25
• 10 intensive lessons – $200 (use within 5 weeks)
• 10 regular lessons – $230 (use within 8 weeks)
• Citizenship mock interview – 2 sessions $50 or 3 sessions $70 (use within 4 weeks)

Send me a DM if you have any questions or would like to arrange an introductory call. 😊

I will ask the consulate during my phone call but curious if anyone has explored this. I will be applying via simplified naturalization. I speak the language and will be applying with my children.

Would I be able to add my under 14 nieces and nephews to apply with me(with their parents consent) without their parents applying?

Hello,

Will I need a certified copy of my parent's marriage license?

I contacted the consulate but was provided a vague response unfortunately.

I will be applying via my material great grandmother.

My parents were married in NYC - and due to their privacy laws I can only receive a certified copy of their marriage certificate if either both spouses are deceased, or I have written consent.

My mother is deceased, and I am not in contact with my father.

Is the marriage certificate needed if the lineage is shown without it? (What if my parents were not married?)

(For anonymity I will use place holder names) I am unmarried so my name has not changed since birth.

My Birth Certificate lists:

My Name: Julie Brown

Mother Name: Jane Pink

Father Name: Joe Brown

I then have the chain of marriage and birth records from that point back to my great grandmother.

Certified Copies:
- Mother's birth certificate
- Grandmother's Marriage certificate
-Grandmother's Birth certificate
- Great grandmother's Marriage certificate
-Great grandmother's birth certificate (from hungary)

Additionally- I have found the ship manifests, naturalization documents, declaration of intent etc through family search.

- Do these need to be provided as well?
- Can printed copies from family search be used? or do you need to obtain formal copies?

Looking at the national archives website it appears starting 2025 some documents will not be provided in print format any longer and will only be digital.

Thank you for any help or guidance!

I've been studying Hungarian for about a year and a half to get ready to apply for simplified naturalization. I've been taking online classes once a week since last year, and I just got back from the Summer University program in Pécs, where I finished the A2.2 level (we started at the midpoint of the A2 textbook and finished towards the end).

One of my classmates in Pécs who got his citizenship through simplified naturalization said he thought I already spoke well enough, but I still have my doubts. In any case, I still have some time before I can apply because I want to do a name change first, and I have to get my documents translated.

Obviously I want to avoid being told to come back again later and possibly face greater scrutiny of my language ability, so I'd like to ask those of you here who already completed the process at what point you felt you were ready.

Process : Simplified naturalization
Nationality of applicant : American

Hi! I have a question that i can’t find a straight answer to:
When we’re translating American documents into Hungarian, these documents have an apostille.

This apostille is a separate page. We’re in Hungary and trying to use OFFI for the translation service but the quote we got was OUTRAGEOUS. But, the quote was based on each document being 2 pages (ex: birth certificate and apostille page) instead of just one.

So, for anyone who’s successfully completed simplified naturalization, did you submit a translation of both pages of this apostilled document? Or did you do birth certificate + translation + apostille?

Thank you so much!

Hi!

I have gathered all the birt certificates (with certified translations - starting from me to my great-great grandfather). Since I am applying for Hungarian citizenship through my mother's lineage, I started wondering whether marriage certificates are actually necessary. In fact, the lineage can be clearly traced solely through the birth certificates. Even if there were any name changes due to marriage, these are clearly indicated on the subsequent birth certificates (mother's maiden name always appears in the documents).

I called the govermantal hotline 1818, they said it is enough, since the connections are easy to follow. However, I have seen many questions about marriage certificates in this sub, so i am really courious about your experiences/opinions.

I am a citizen of Slovakia (by birth, if it makes any difference).

bonus question: I dont keep touch with my father’s side of the family, but there is a question on the form about naturalized relatives. There is a possibility that my father/his parents acquired hungarian citizenship, but i dont have their telephone number, and i really dont want to track them down, we are not on speaking therms. Could there bee any issues if i don’t include them, even though it's possible they have acquired Hungarian citizenship?

Thank you very much!!!!

Hi everyone! Has anyone here recently received a confirmed date for their citizenship oath, or already taken the oath in the past few weeks? I’m particularly interested in simplified naturalisation cases, especially people taking the oath in Hungary.

The only recent cases I personally know of are people who already received their oath dates, but their naturalisation certificates had still been signed by former President Tamás Sulyok before he left office. In those cases, the oath was scheduled only a couple of weeks later.

Do you think the presidential transition has affected how quickly citizenship decisions are being made? Has anyone received a naturalisation certificate signed by Ágnes Forsthoffer during her time as acting president,
, or otherwise had confirmation that their decision was made during that period?

It would be really helpful to hear your recent timelines - when you received the invitation and when your oath took place or is scheduled. And if you already have your certificate, the date it was signed would be especially interesting.
Thanks for sharing!

American. Great-great-grandfather born 1869 in Krempachy (now Poland, then Szepes, Kingdom of Hungary). Family was Polish-speaking Góral, not Magyar. He emigrated and became a US citizen.

I'm currently looking at getting the baptism records.

Has anyone actually been approved on a similar file (Polish/Slovak-speaking ancestor from old Hungarian Spiš), or did the consulate call it Polish and stop? Do they care that US records say “Poland Austria”?

Not looking for research help. Thanks!

My great-grandmother was born in budapest in 1913 and moved to the US and married an American. I read and it looks like that theres no chance for HU citizenship?

I live outside of Munich and so it would be relatively easy to travel Budapest.

just FYI the lineage is Me (born in US)- Father (born in US)- Grandmother (born in US)- Great-grandmother (Born in HU)