How Much Does Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Cost?

A free, up-to-date calculator for the total cost of Hungarian simplified naturalization (egyszerűsített honosítás) — the citizenship by descent pathway under §4 of Act LV of 1993. No government application fee — your main costs are OFFI-certified Hungarian translations ($60–$150 per document), apostilles on US vital records, and the FBI background check.

How many generations?

e.g. 3 = you → parent → grandparent

Conditions in your lineage

Conditional documents (death certificates, marriage records, divorce decrees) are added when the condition applies.

Married ancestors

Divorced ancestors

Deceased ancestors

Where do you live?

Used to look up your state's apostille fee. Choose “Outside the US” to skip.

Last verified 2026-04-26

These estimates are based on publicly available government fees and typical vendor costs. Your actual costs may vary. This is not legal or financial advice.

Estimated HU citizenship cost

$176 – $494

Most applicants pay around $382

Breakdown

Based on ~8 required documents for this scenario.

Government & filing fees

FBI Identity History Summary fee
Source: federalrecords.fbi.gov. Required for all honosítás applicants. Allow 10–14 weeks processing. State background checks (states of residence 6+ months) are typically free or $0–$30.
$18

Document acquisition

US vital record (certified copy)×2
Varies by state and county
$20–$100
Hungarian civil registry record (anyakönyvi kivonat)
Request from the anyakönyvi hivatal (civil registry office) in the ancestor's birth municipality, or from the Magyar Nemzeti Levéltár (MNL). Many records are free; certified copies may cost €5–€15.
$0–$18
€0–€15

Apostilles & translations

Federal apostille (US Dept of State — for FBI check)
FBI Identity History Summary requires a US Department of State apostille — not a state Secretary of State apostille. Source: US Dept of State apostille fee schedule.
$8
Apostille (on US vital records)×2
Required on all US-issued vital records (birth cert, marriage cert, divorce decree). State Secretary of State apostille. Hungarian-issued documents do not need apostilles.
$10–$50
OFFI-certified Hungarian translation×2
All US-issued documents must be translated by OFFI (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelesítő Iroda) or an OFFI-certified translator. Generic certified translators are NOT accepted. OFFI-certified translators in the US typically charge $60–$150 per document. Hungarian-issued documents need no translation.
$120–$300

Not included

Attorney or service fees if you hire help (consulate track is typically DIY)
Document corrections for errors on old vital records (~$200–$500)
Passport fees after your citizenship is approved
Travel to consulate or court appointments

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Most applicants pay around

$382

Range:
$176–$494

Gov fee

Free

No application fee for simplified naturalization

Typical total

$300–$700

Main cost: OFFI translations ($60–$150/doc)

Processing

6–18 mo

Consulate submission → Budapest review → oath

OFFI translation

$60–$150

Per US-issued document — required for ALL US docs

Hungarian citizenship by descent is one of the most cost-effective EU citizenship pathways — there is no government application fee for the simplified naturalization (honosítás) route under §4 of Act LV of 1993. Your costs are entirely document preparation. The dominant expense is OFFI-certified Hungarian translations: every US-issued document must be translated by OFFI (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelesítő Iroda) or an OFFI-certified translator at $60–$150 per document. Generic US-certified translators are not accepted.A typical three-generation Hungarian application from the United States can expect to spend $300–$700 USD in total. Cases with more generations in the chain cost more due to additional OFFI translations and apostilles on each US vital record. The FBI Identity History Summary ($18 + $8 federal apostille + OFFI translation) is a fixed per-application cost. Hungarian civil registry records (anyakönyvi kivonat) from the qualifying ancestor cost €0–€15 each and need neither apostilles nor translation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Hungarian citizenship by descent cost in total?

Most applicants spend between $300 and $700 USD in total. There is no government application fee for the simplified naturalization (honosítás) pathway. The main costs are: OFFI-certified Hungarian translations of US vital records ($60–$150 per document — the most significant variable cost), state apostilles on US vital records ($5–$25 each), the FBI Identity History Summary fee ($18), its US Department of State apostille ($8), and Hungarian civil registry records (€0–€15 per document). Cases with more ancestors in the chain cost more due to additional translations and apostilles.

What is OFFI translation and why is it so expensive?

OFFI (Országos Fordító és Fordításhitelesítő Iroda — National Translation and Translation Authentication Office) is Hungary's official translation authority. All US-issued documents submitted in a Hungarian citizenship application must be translated by OFFI or an OFFI-certified translator. Generic certified translators — including those certified by US courts or translation associations — are not accepted. OFFI-certified translators in the US typically charge $60–$150 per document. This is significantly more expensive than sworn translations for Italy ($30–$75) or Germany ($30–$85) because OFFI certification is rare among US-based translators. Budget one OFFI translation per US vital record in your chain.

Is there a government fee for Hungarian citizenship by descent?

No. The simplified naturalization (egyszerűsített honosítás) pathway under §4 of Act LV of 1993 carries no government application fee. This makes Hungary one of the most cost-effective EU citizenship pathways for those who qualify. Your costs are entirely document preparation: OFFI translations, apostilles, FBI background check, and vital record fees.

Do Hungarian civil registry records need apostilles or translation?

No. Hungarian birth certificates (anyakönyvi kivonat), marriage certificates, and death certificates issued by Hungarian civil registries do not need apostilles or OFFI translation — they are already in Hungarian. Request certified copies (hitelesített másolat) from the anyakönyvi hivatal (civil registry office) in the ancestor's birth municipality or via the Magyar Nemzeti Levéltár (Hungarian National Archives). Certified copies typically cost €0–€15 per document.

What is the FBI background check requirement?

All adult applicants must submit an FBI Identity History Summary as proof of a clean criminal record. The FBI fee is $18. After receiving the FBI document, you must obtain an apostille from the US Department of State (not a state Secretary of State — the FBI document is a federal document). The federal apostille fee is $8. Then get an OFFI-certified Hungarian translation of the FBI document. Order this document last — it has a limited validity window. Processing takes 10–14 weeks via standard FBI mail service; digital requests (via FBI-approved channelers) are faster. State criminal background checks for each state of residence after age 16 may also be required — confirm with your consulate.

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The Next Passport is not affiliated with the Hungarian government, Ministry of the Interior, OFFI, or any Hungarian consulate. Cost estimates are for informational purposes only and are not guaranteed. Fees change — verify all amounts with the Hungarian consulate and official Hungarian government sources at konzinfo.mfa.gov.hu before submitting documents.