After the Oath
The oath ceremony is the end of the citizenship application process — but it is the beginning of a separate bureaucratic process to obtain actual Hungarian documents. These steps are often not discussed before the oath, and many new citizens are surprised by how much remains to be done.
What Happens at the Oath
The oath of citizenship (állampolgársági eskü) is taken at the consulate. After taking the oath, you are officially a Hungarian citizen. However, you will not leave with a passport or any other Hungarian document. The documentation process comes after.
Sequence of Steps
The steps after the oath do not have a rigid required order, but the following sequence is the most practical:
1. Hungarian birth certificate (anyakönyvi kivonat)
After the oath, the consulate registers the naturalization with the Hungarian civil registry. At some point — anywhere from a few weeks to over a year — a Hungarian birth certificate is issued and sent to you.
This is often the longest wait and the most frustrating step. See Hungarian Birth Certificate.
2. Hungarian passport
You can apply for a Hungarian passport at the consulate. In many cases, you do not need to wait for the birth certificate to arrive before applying for the passport. Confirm the current procedure with your consulate.
See Passport.
3. Lakcímkártya (address card)
If you plan to spend time in Hungary or establish residence there, you will need a lakcímkártya — an address registration card. This is a separate document from the passport and ID.
It can be obtained at a Hungarian kormányablak. Importantly, community experience shows it can be obtained without waiting for the birth certificate. See Lakcímkártya.
4. TAJ-szám (health insurance number)
If you plan to use Hungarian healthcare or social services, you will need a TAJ-szám. This requires registration and is typically obtained after establishing residency. See TAJ-szám.
The Birth Certificate Wait
The single most common post-oath frustration is the long wait for the Hungarian birth certificate. Timelines of 6–12 months are common; over a year is not unheard of.
The important practical point: you do not have to wait for the birth certificate before taking other steps. Passports and lakcímkártya can typically be pursued in parallel or before the certificate arrives.
If You Are Moving to Hungary
If you plan to relocate to Hungary after obtaining citizenship, additional steps apply beyond those listed here — establishing residency, the lakcím registration, healthcare enrollment, and for families with children, school enrollment. These topics are touched on in the individual articles below, but the full logistics of relocation are outside the scope of this knowledge base.