Who can apply for the verification of his or her Hungarian citizenship?

Please refer to our page on Hungarian citizenship to make sure that this is the right procedure for you.

If you have proof of your Hungarian citizenship, you do not have to apply for the verification of the citizenship of your child under the age of 6, just initiate the registration of his or her birth.

Where can I apply?

Citizenship applications may only be submitted in person. Mailed-in applications will be sent back without further consideration.

The application of a minor who is at least 14 years of age has to be signed by both the minor and his or her parent, therefore both have to be present in person. Parents act on behalf of younger children, therefore the child's presence is not necessary.

The application may be submitted in Ottawa, in Toronto, in Montreal in Vancouver, or during extramural consular days, but cannot be submitted at a honorary consulate.

How much is the fee?

The verification of citizenship itself is not free of charge because a citizenship certificate is issued. As regards fee for citizenship certificate please see: https://ottawa.mfa.gov.hu/page/konzuli-dijak (I. Állampolgársági ügyek, állampolgársági bizonyítvány iránti kérelem):  

Information on the fees for vital statistics registration requests and an acknowledgement of paternity submitted alongside your citizenship application is avaialble here. 

Consular fees are payable by debit/credit card only. We do not accept either cash or cheques.

Which forms shall I fill out?

The form titled „Állampolgárság igazolása iránti kérelem” (Application for the Verification of Citizenship) and the registration forms (birth, marriage, divorce) listed a)-d) below. Please fill the form out with a computer or by a blue ink pen, with block capitals. Please use full names in the Hungarian name order, e.g. Smith John Thomas instead of John Smith or John T. Smith. When referring to Canadian cities, please also specify the province, e.g. Ottawa, Ontario. Guidance material in English - application for verification of Hungarian citizenship

Which documents shall I submit for the verification of my citizenship?

Usually it is enough to submit your own birth certificate and your parents' marriage certificate if

  • you were or one of your parents was born in Hungary, or
  • you or at least one of your parents had a Hungarian passport or ID card (booklet) before, or
  • your Hungarian citizenship or the Hungarian citizenship of at least one of your parents has been verified before (e.g. if you received a citizenship certificate).

If the above conditions are not met, usually the birth certificate of the parent who is (presumably) a Hungarian citizen and his or her parents' marriage certificate have to be submitted, as well.

If you or your ancestors left Hungary before 1945, it is useful to provide other Hungarian documents, e.g. old Hungarian passports and ID booklets, certificates of domicile ("illetőségi bizonyítvány") or old citizenship certificates, other old Hungarian official documents like school records, labor booklets ("munkakönyv"), military booklets ("katonakönyv"), address registration sheets ("lakcímbejelentő nap"), legal name change certificates ("névváltoztatási okirat").

Why is my marital status relevant?

Hungarian law foresees that all vital statistics events of a Hungarian citizen (birth, marriage, divorce, death) are registered in Hungary. Without this registration your Hungarian citizenship cannot be verified and you cannot get a Hungarian passport either.

a) What shall I do if my marital status is single (never married)?

If you were born in Hungary or your birth has already been registered in Hungary, you will just have to attach your Hungarian-issued birth certificate.

If you were not born in Hungary or you do not have a Hungarian-issued birth certificate, please fill this form out. 

  • Please fill the form out with a computer or by a blue ink pen, with block capitals.
  • Please use full names in the Hungarian order, e.g. Smith John Thomas  instead of John Smith or John T. Smith.
  • When asked about the delivery of the birth certificate, please tick option a) (delivery to a foreign representation) and specify "Ottawa". We will send your certificate to the Canadian address you specify.

Attach the following documents:

b) What shall I do if my marital status is married?

Please refer to point a) to see whether your birth has to be registered in Hungary.

If you were married in Hungary or your marriage has already been registered in Hungary, you will just have to attach your Hungarian-issued marriage certificate.

If you were not married in Hungary or you do not have a Hungarian-issued marriage certificate, please fill out this form. 

  • Please fill the form out with a computer or by a blue ink pen, with block capitals.
  • Please use full names in the Hungarian name order, e.g. Smith John Thomas instead of John Smith or John T. Smith.
  • When asked about the delivery of the birth certificate, please tick option a) (delivery to a foreign representation) and specify "Ottawa". We will send your certificate to the Canadian address you specify.

Attach the following documents:

  • Your marriage certificate. Not all Canadian marriage certificates are accepted! Please refer to the list found here.
  • The copy of the document proving the citizenship of your non-Hungarian parent, e.g. a passport or a citizenship certificate.
  • If the bride's or the groom's family status at the time of the marriage was divorced or widow, submit the Hungarian-issued or foreign marriage or death certificate or court decree. Not all Canadian marriage and death certificates are accepted! Please refer to the list found here. You will need a document from the Canadian provincial superior court which dissolved the marriage specifying the exact date on which the divorce took effect. These are usually called divorce certificates or absolute decrees.

c) What shall I do if my marital status is divorced?

Please refer to points a) and b) to see whether your birth and/or your dissolved marriage have to be first registered in Hungary.

If the divorce was pronounced by a Hungarian court, or if your Hungarian-issued birth certificate has a remark saying that the marriage was dissolved by a foreign court, just attach the marriage certificate.

If you do not have such marriage certificate, please fill this form out.

Attach a document from the Canadian provincial superior court which dissolved the marriage specifying the exact date on which the divorce took effect. These are usually called divorce certificates or absolute decrees. If you were not divorced in Canada, please inquire in an email sent to consulate.ott@mfa.gov.hu to see if you will need to obtain an Apostille or diplomatic legalization or have the divorce decree translated to Hungarian by an official translator.

d) What shall I do if my marital status is widow?

Please refer to points a) and b) to see whether your birth and/or your marriage, which was dissolved by the death of your spouse, have to be first registered in Hungary.

If your spouse was a Hungarian citizen, please submit his or her Hungarian-issued death certificate. If you do not have one, please have the death registered in Hungary.

If your spouse was not a Hungarian citizen, please submit his or her death certificate. Please refer to the list of acceptable death certificates, found here.   

Which Hungarian authorities are the ones responsible, where can I get more information?

 Budapest Főváros Kormányhivatala (Budapest Metropolitan Government Office) is responsible for citizenship applications the vital statistics registration.

​Forms

Application for the Verification of Citizenship

Guidance material in English - application for verification of Hungarian citizenship
Birth registration form 
Marriage registration form 
Divorce registartion form