Decision and Oath
The Decision
The decision is made by the central authority in Budapest — not by the consulate. The consulate forwards your file; Budapest decides.
Positive decision: You are notified through the consulate and invited to schedule the oath ceremony.
Negative decision: You receive a written refusal stating the grounds. See Refusal for what to do next.
Decisions are issued in writing. There is no appeal in the traditional sense — but reapplication is possible.
The Oath
The oath of citizenship (állampolgársági eskü) is the final step. Citizenship becomes legally effective at the moment the oath is taken — not at the time of the positive decision.
The oath is conducted in Hungarian. It is taken at the consulate that handled your application, or in Hungary.
Practical note: The oath ceremony is an appointment — you schedule it after receiving the positive decision. There is typically a short wait between the decision notification and the earliest available oath appointment.
After the Oath
After the oath you are a Hungarian citizen — but you will not leave with a passport. The documentation process is separate:
- The civil registry in Hungary registers the naturalization and eventually issues a Hungarian birth certificate (anyakönyvi kivonat). This takes 1–12+ months.
- You can apply for a Hungarian passport at the consulate — in most cases without waiting for the birth certificate.
See After the Oath for the full sequence of post-oath steps.