Foreign Ministry to Screen Hungarian Citizenship Applications
- 15 Jun 2026 12:23 PM
The foreign ministry will launch an internal investigation concerning foreign individuals granted Hungarian citizenship in recent years, László György Velkey, the ministry's parliamentary state secretary, said on Facebook on Friday.
"Many have been granted Hungarian citizenship without valid justification or eligibility ... we will conclude an era of privileges at the foreign ministry," Velkey said.
He said databases related to citizenship and diplomatic passports are being reviewed, with new details about those involved emerging daily.
He noted that "some people quietly returned their diplomatic passports before the election", adding, however, that "their responsibility will not lapse even if they have returned their passport."
Velkey said hundreds of persons without any significant connection to Hungary had received Hungarian citizenship, adding that certain cases raised suspicion of financial gain.
"This was not a series of mistakes; a systemic method seems to have emerged," he said.
"Behind high-sounding sovereigntist slogans there were private interests, support for business circles and friends in the background, in many cases to the detriment of Hungary's very sovereignty and security," Velkey said.
In future, the ministry will apply more stringent rules for issuing such documents, he said.
In each case the passport will need to be linked to a mission, while legal and national security aspects will also be considered, he added.
"A diplomatic passport is a means to support a mission; it is not a privilege, not a gift, and should not serve to advance a business," the state secretary said.
MTI Stock Photo
Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.
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