Discretionary re-naturalisation of former citizens — visszahonosítás (§5)

§5 is available to any person whose Hungarian citizenship has terminated (akinek a magyar állampolgársága megszűnt), regardless of the mode or date of termination. There is no enumeration of qualifying categories unlike §5/A. Conditions: (1) satisfies §4(1)(b) — clean Hungarian criminal record, no pending Hungarian criminal proceeding; (2) satisfies §4(1)(d) — naturalisation would not harm Hungary's public security or national security; (3) proves Hungarian-language knowledge (igazolja hogy magyar nyelvtudással rendelkezik).

Language requirement under §5: the applicant must prove Hungarian-language knowledge (igazolja hogy magyar nyelvtudással rendelkezik). Unlike the §4(1)(e) constitutional-basics exam route, §5 uses an informal language-knowledge standard verified by the body receiving the application — the same standard as §4(3)/(3a). This means no formal written exam for §5 applicants. The implementing decree (125/1993 §13) operationalises the verification; in practice, ability to conduct the procedure in Hungarian is the test.

Visszahonosítás under §5 is conditional, not declaratory: a former Hungarian citizen must satisfy §4(1)(b) büntetlen előélet (clean criminal record) and §4(1)(d) (the naturalisation must not harm Hungary's public/national security), AND affirmatively prove Hungarian-language knowledge ("magyar nyelvtudását igazolja"), but §5 imposes NO continuous-residence requirement. This distinguishes the discretionary §5 re-naturalisation from the declaration-based restitution of §5/A, which restores citizenship lost through communist-era deprivation/release without a language test. The applicant files the same honosítási/visszahonosítási kérelem and supporting birth/marriage extracts evidencing the prior Hungarian citizenship.

Application process: (1) Document prior citizenship and its termination. Certified Hungarian translation required for foreign-language documents. (2) File in person, in Hungarian, on prescribed form at anyakönyvvezető, kormányablak, or competent Hungarian consulate abroad (125/1993 §13(1)). (3) Examination by citizenship-matters organ (állampolgársági ügyekben eljáró szerv / BFKH — NOT OIF). (4) Language knowledge verified informally by receiving body during the procedure. (5) Ministerial proposal to the President. (6) Presidential grant (discretionary, §6(1)–(2)) — not an entitlement. (7) Oath/pledge before mayor or head of Hungarian consular mission (§7(1)) within 1 year of notification.

Estimated processing time: approximately 8–12 months for a complete application (T1 embassy guidance). No statutory maximum in primary text. Oath/pledge must be taken within 1 year of notification of the Presidential decision (§7(1)). Citizenship takes effect on the day the oath/pledge is taken, not the date of the Presidential decision.

Illetékmentes (fee-free) since 2021-01-01. The pre-2021 HUF 133,400 figure is superseded. Only consular translation fees for foreign-language supporting documents may apply.

Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship (1993. évi LV. törvény a magyar állampolgárságról), §5 (visszahonosítás — re-naturalisation), consolidated text at hatály 2025.XII.23. §5 is the discretionary re-naturalisation track for former Hungarian citizens whose citizenship has terminated by any mode. It is distinct from the §5/A declaratory restitution route (HU-RST-01 et seq.) and from the §4 naturalisation tracks.

Processing organ: citizenship-matters organ / Budapest Főváros Kormányhivatala (BFKH) — NOT OIF (OIF handles immigration/asylum and Guest Investor residence only). Decision: President of the Republic on the minister's proposal (§6(1)–(2)). Oath administered by: mayor (polgármester) OR head of Hungarian foreign mission/consul (§7(1) — §5 is one of the enumerated routes where consular oath is permissible alongside mayoral oath). Review of grant/refusal: EXCLUDED — ECN Art 12 reservation (EIF 2002-03-01).

Common scenarios: (1) Former HU citizen who acquired a foreign nationality under pre-2010 law when HU did not permit dual nationality and thereby involuntarily lost HU citizenship — now seeks re-acquisition; §5 is the appropriate track. (2) Person who renounced (§8) and later wishes to re-acquire — §5 applies. (3) Person deprived under the WWII-era anti-Jewish statutes (1939:IV §3) which are NOT covered by §5/A (§5/A starts at 1947:X) — §5 discretionary re-naturalisation is the available track if conditions are met. (4) Applicant who lost citizenship before 1993 by absence under 1957:V-era rules and is not covered by §5/A — §5 applies.