What Simplified Naturalization actually is
Hungary recognizes descendants of citizens who lost their citizenship through historical border changes, emigration, or persecution. If you can trace an unbroken family line back to a Hungarian citizen — even through a grandparent or great-grandparent — you may be able to reclaim citizenship through a process called Simplified Naturalization.
Unlike ordinary naturalization, there's no residency requirement, and in most cases no formal language test — instead, an interview conducted in Hungarian confirms your family connection and basic knowledge of the country. Honwards exists to prepare you for exactly that interview, and to help you assemble the documents the process requires.
Your path, mapped
3–12 months · most applicants finish in 6–9
This is the same map we work from internally — every step in order, including the two places it branches: a conditional Genealogy Review if something's missing from your documents, a real choice between the Foundations Course and heading straight to Document Generation, and a conditional Phone Interview Brush-Up during the appointment wait.
Genealogy Review and the Phone Interview Brush-Up only happen if needed. 1:1 lessons are available at several steps. Every service is billed separately, but your info carries over — you won't repeat your family history for each one.
Free Diagnostic
Determines your process — Simplified Naturalization or Verification of Citizenship.
Disclaimer: this sorts you into a process, not a guarantee — in rare cases, missing documentation means no path is available yet.
Document Collection
A quick review of what you have, done by us, to see what's necessary and what's missing.
Genealogy Review
If something's missing, we forward you to a genealogist.
Months — depends on government & genealogist
Translation
Once all documents are gathered. Done through OFFI, Hungary's official translation office — we handle the Budapest logistics.
Foundations Course
Every interview topic, taught in depth.
Recommended for most students
Document Generation
Skip the course, generate your document directly.
Best if you already speak Hungarian
Optional 1:1 Lessons
For clarification or extra practice, alongside the course.
Document Generation
A complete, personalized interview document. Save your input and come back anytime.
Interview Audio
Your own answers, recorded for study.
Filling Documents
An extra service — guidelines on completing the application form.
+ 1:1 lessons available if you need help
CV Preparation
Automated, based on your info — a citizenship-ready CV.
+ 1:1 lessons available if you need help
Contact Consulate
We help you reach the consulate and get on the books.
Pre-Interview Drilling
Timed drills and mock rounds — fills the appointment wait.
Interview
You sit down with the consulate official.
Phone Interview Brush-Up
If a phone interview is requested during the wait, a quick refresher.
As needed, within the 6–12 month wait
Oath Preparation
What to expect, what to bring, and what to say.
+ 1:1 lessons available if you need help
Citizen
Officially, permanently, yours.
Passport
Apply once your citizenship has settled in.
Scroll horizontally on narrow screens if the fork and its side branches don't fit.
Line meaning
- Main path
- Either path — a real choice
- Conditional — only if it applies to you
- Optional add-on
How to read it
- Dashed-bordered cards (Genealogy Review, Phone Interview Brush-Up, 1:1 Lessons) are conditional or optional — they only apply if the situation calls for them.
- The dashed italic pills with an arrow are stage notes — what's happening at that point in the process.
- Duration text is typical, not guaranteed — Genealogy Review especially depends on outside parties.
- One real fork: the Foundations Course, or heading straight to Document Generation if you already speak Hungarian.
Already have a Hungarian-citizen parent? You likely qualify for Verification of Citizenship instead — a shorter process with no interview. The free diagnostic sorts out which one applies to you.
Stuck at any point? You can always book a live lesson with Szabó Zsolt to talk it through.
Book a lesson