Expat Community > Hungary

environs
Joined 2013
Posts: 4

Simplified Naturalization Procedure/Requirements;

11 years ago

Hello, I've ran a search on the site for information/experiences with Hungary's relatively recent simplified naturalization procedure, allowing one with allegedly *any* Hungarian ancestry (specifically, relatives who were Hungarian citizens) to become himself a citizen if he "proves knowledge of the hungarian langauge" and is not a criminal.

As this route seems to be for me the best way of living in Europe long-term, I'm willing to put a lot of effort into making this happen. However, I need to find people with experience or more knowledge than I about the process to realistically inform me of what my chances are of sucessfully becoming a citizen.

And so, here is my situation: ****

My great-great grandfather (great-grandfather's father), as well as his wife and parents were born in Hungary, but their "mother tongue" was German, as listed on the 1910 and 1920 US census. At the moment these censuses are the only evidence I have that the ancestors of mine were Hungarian citizen's. I also do not have the originals, a relative of mine gave them to me from ancestry.com.

I am wondering, first of all, assuming I am able to provide reasonable evidence that these people are in fact my ancestors, will the US census be enough to establish that they were citizens of Hungary? Essentially two generations of my family, it seems, were in some way German but born and lived in Hungary, which I believe would have made them citizens.

Secondly, how much "knowledge of hungarian" does one need to have? At the moment I know very little Hungarian, but languages come easily to me and at the end of one year of study (I am also considering trying to get a residence permit and live in Hungary for some time, which will aid the process) my Hungarian will be decent. I will know enough to "get by" with the applications and basic conversation, but still be far from fluency.

***

So please, anyone with knowledge or experience, tell me what you think and what I need to know!

Many thanks–

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