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Citizenship by merit

Hungary Citizenship by Merit

Discretionary Hungarian citizenship under Section 4(7) of Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship.

Basis
Exceptional merit
Visa waiver destinations
184
Processing
Case by case
Visit / stay
Residence and naturalization conditions waived

Buy online · 2026

Hungary Citizenship by Merit

Hungary grants special merit citizenship to individuals with distinction whose skills, talents and accomplishments are considered to be of national interest to the country

  1. ReserveUS$500 online
  2. Pre-eligibilityDue diligence screening
  3. Build the caseEndorsements & evidence
  4. PassportCase by case

Who qualifies · Frequently asked questions

Overview

Hungarian citizenship by merit route (often referred to as naturalisation by important national interest under Section 4(7) of Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship) allows the President of Hungary to exempt standard requirements — such as residency, language/cultural exams, and proof of housing, — if it serves a vital national interest to Republic of Hungary.

Applications are considered on case by case basis. Applicants may propose significant philantropic charity contribution or specific capital investment.

Key benefits

  1. Fast tracked citizenship
  2. Residence and naturalization conditions waived
  3. Applications evaluated case by case basis.
  4. Provision to include family members.
  5. No military service required.
  6. Keep your existing citizenship

Who qualifies

prominent figures

Researchers and scientists

high-level athletes, cultural icons

Entrepreneurs making a direct strategic contribution to Hungary's economy

Family & requirements

Who can be included
Family members can be included
Visit or residence
Residence and naturalization conditions waived
Processing time
Case by case
  • Must have excellent background and references.
  • A clean criminal record under Hungarian law with no pending criminal proceedings before a Hungarian court.
  • Pass all public and national security checks. (Prove no threat to the state)

Hungary passport: travel access

184destinations without a visa in advance

Visa waiver, visa on arrival or electronic travel authorisation (eTA), per the Henley Passport Index. eVisas are not counted.

  • Schengen Area – no visa in advance
  • United Kingdom – no visa in advance
  • Ireland – no visa in advance
  • Canada – no visa in advance
  • United States – no visa in advance
  • Singapore – no visa in advance
  • Japan – no visa in advance
  • South Korea – no visa in advance
  • Brazil – no visa in advance
  • Russia – visa required
  • China – no visa in advance
  • United Arab Emirates – no visa in advance
  • Switzerland – no visa in advance
  • Australia – no visa in advance
  • New Zealand – visa required
Show visa waiver countries

Albania · Andorra · Angola · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Australia · Austria · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Burundi · Cambodia · Canada · Cape Verde · Chile · China · Colombia · Comoros · Costa Rica · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Estonia · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Fiji · Finland · France · Gambia · Georgia · Germany · Greece · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea-Bissau · Haiti · Honduras · Iceland · Indonesia · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · South Korea · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Malta · Marshall Islands · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Nepal · Netherlands · Nicaragua · North Macedonia · Norway · Oman · Palau · Panama · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · San Marino · São Tomé and Príncipe · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Serbia · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Suriname · Sweden · Switzerland · Syria · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Turkey · Tuvalu · Ukraine · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom · United States · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vatican City · Venezuela · Vietnam · Zambia · Zimbabwe

Count: Henley Passport Index, updated 7 Nov 2026 (227 destinations incl. territories). Country list: Wikipedia – Visa requirements for Hungarian citizens (sovereign countries only). Always confirm entry rules with the destination before travel.

How Citizenship Shop helps

Add the program to your cart or click Buy now to reserve it for US$500. Create your client account and complete the pre-eligibility questions at checkout. A senior advisor then reviews your profile within one business day, confirms the best investment route and the exact government fees for your family, and prepares your application with a licensed local agent.

Hungary Citizenship by Merit: FAQ

Can i make a philantropic charity contribution?

You can propose in the application. Applications are considered case by case.

How much is the minimum investment required?

No specific minimum is mentioned in the law.

Do i need to engage services of lawyer?

Yes, a Hungarian lawyer is required.

How are applications processed?

The application requires a formal submission and sponsorship from the minister of citizenship affairs before it reaches the President for a final decision. Merit based Citizenships are rare and not guaranteed. The Hungarian government makes a final decision.

Official source

Prices and rules on this page were verified on 28 September 2026 against: Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship – National Legislation Database (njt.jog.gov.hu).

Governments revise fees and thresholds without notice. Your advisor confirms the exact figures in writing before any investment is made.

Compare similar programs

See how Hungary Citizenship by Merit compares with every other program in our Top Citizenship By Investment Programs 2026 guide.

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