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Loss of Citizenship

Loss of citizenship is a critical issue when analyzing historical eligibility.

If citizenship was lost in one generation, transmission to the next generation may have been interrupted.

Grounds for Loss​

Depending on the historical period, citizenship could be lost through:

  • voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship;
  • formal renunciation;
  • other statutory grounds defined by the applicable law.

The exact consequences depend on the legislation in force at the relevant time.

Voluntary Acquisition of Foreign Citizenship​

In several historical periods, voluntary naturalization in another state resulted in automatic loss of Hungarian citizenship.

The decisive factors are:

  • the date of foreign naturalization;
  • whether it was voluntary;
  • whether restoration occurred later.

Modern Framework​

Under the Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship, multiple citizenship is permitted.

Today, acquiring another citizenship does not automatically result in loss of Hungarian citizenship.

However, historical cases must be analyzed under the law applicable at the time.

Interesting Fact

Many families assume that emigration automatically resulted in loss of citizenship. In practice, the outcome depends on the specific legal framework in force at that moment.